Reverend Alden falls ill while collecting donations for a struggling town. He is taken in by an ex-convict named Caleb Hodgekiss and his wife. Caleb helps the Reverend by traveling to Walnut Grove and encourages everyone to donate money. He earns the community's trust with his sensitive and caring personality, but because of his dark past, it's hard to tell what he might do.

Johnny Cash and his wife, June Carter Cash, play the roles of Caleb and Mattie Hodgekiss in this episode.