CivilWarveteranJosiahGreycomestoasmalltowntobeagospelminister.Intimehehasafamilyandmanyfriends,buthealsofindsfrictionwithafewofhisparishioners.Ayoungdoctorgratesatwhathefeelsistheparson'sinterferenceinthescientifictreatmentofpatients,andamineownerresentsGrey'sprotectionofanoldsharecropperwhosesmallplotoflandstandsinthewayofhiscontinuedmining.Greymustfaceapublichealthcrisisandalynchmobasaresult,allseenanddescribedthroughtheeyesandmemoryofGrey'syoungnephewJohn.
