The book is religious in a different way. Fred Hastings, a drunk, is taking a trip through the south and meets a religious person, John Christian, that befriends him. The story takes place on the edge of a mountain taking the name, God's Pulpit. He sees a Mary being beaten and sees her shoot the man in the hand. Hastings helps her escape and eventually they marries they get married. In the end, John Christian had left his wife. Christian and his wife get back together and find that Mary is their daughter. Hastings by being a good samaritan quits drinking.