CivilWarveteranJosiahGreycomestoa求爱alltowntobeagospelminister.Intimehehasafamilyandmanyfriends,buthealsofindsfrictionwithafewofhisparishioners.Ayoungdoctorgratesatwhathefeelsistheparson’sinterferenceinthescientifictreatmentofpatients,andamineownerresentsGrey’sprotectionofanoldsharecropperwhose求爱allplotoflandstandsinthewayofhiscontinuedmining.Greymustfaceapublichealthcrisisandalynchmobasaresult,allseenanddescribedthroughtheeyesandmemoryofGrey’syoungnephewJohn.