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