- An unscrupulous gambler is falsely accused of murder. To avoid capture, he disguises himself as a priest. But his priestly role causes a change in his life and he finds himself making unusual choices.
- Although he had been educated for the priesthood, Raymond Chapelle has become a professional gambler in an Alaskan mining town. He has a change of heart and returns winnings to a young gambler. For his good deed, Chapelle is put out of camp. Thus, he loses his faith. Chapelle's dying friend Blondin asks him to take a bag of gold to his mother in Quebec. On the train to the city, Chapelle makes the acquaintance of a priest named Father Aumont, who is to take over the parish where the two are heading. They arrive in Quebec just as a tremendous storm hits. Chapelle discovers Mrs. Blondin is an old hag who has a useless son. The son is ready to take the gold in place of his mother. A scuffle ensues, and the mother, intending to shoot Chapelle, kills her son. She then swears it was Chapelle who did the shooting. Chapelle escapes, and encounters Father Aumont, who has been injured by a falling tree. Noting the resemblance between the two, Chapelle changes clothes with the priest and assumes his identity. He takes the real Father Aumont, now wearing Chapelle's clothes, to the rectory, where the housekeeper, Madame Lafleur, along with her daughter Valerie, care for him. The police arrive and accuse the injured man of murder. On several occasions, Chapelle is tempted to strangle the priest to save himself, but the faith of Valerie prevents him from doing so. Eventually, as Chapelle takes up duties as Father Aumont, he wins the love of the community, and his character changes due to Valerie's influence. When the real Father Aumont regains his faculties, he is taken to prison. He is convicted and sentenced to die. Chapelle worries day and night about what he should do, and imagines confronting his former self. The bishop of the diocese unexpectedly visits the town and realizes that Chapelle is an impostor. Chapelle confesses everything to the bishop and is ready to go to the authorities. Just then, Madame Blondin falls ill on the doorstep of the church, and confesses to the accidental killing of her son. Father Aumont is freed and Chapelle is also free to pursue a romance with Valerie.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content