Cape Ann, Massachusetts 1721: Paul dreams of being ordained the town minister and marrying his true love, Catherine. On the verge of asking for her hand, he discovers she is engaged to his brother, Michael, the town physician. In a rage, he tries to confront his brother at his lab. There, he finds Michael engaged in the dark art of small pox inoculation. Astounded, Paul flees to the Church to pour over scripture. Before he can decide for himself the righteousness of Michael's actions, the Church elders give him an ultimatum. Paul must put a stop to the heathen practice or give up the Church entirely. Paul begins a quest to turn the town and Catherine against Michael. But as he does so, the consequences of his choice turn darker and darker. Caught in a web of death, deceit and destruction, Paul has to confront whether having a relationship with God means blindly following the edicts of his Church.