In the town of Freeland, the Reverend Sylvester Laing's meeting house stood virtually empty. His sermons were misconstrued, and he was the butt of everyone's jokes. The principal tormentor was young Vic Donlan, the son of wealthy, retired rancher, Frank Donland. On the day our story opens, Vic (accompanied by a group of hangers on) had caught the minister outside his meeting house and was enjoying himself at Laing's expense.