John Murphy is a man of little character who desperately wants to attain rank, authority and respect within his volunteer fire company.His covert campaign to garner enough votes to win the position of second lieutenant comes to an end on election night leading to an epic confrontation between Murphy and his nemesis Gus Bennett, a former Marine who possesses all the virtues that Murphy desires.Later that same evening with snow falling from a late November cold front, a fire erupts at the Stokes Boarding House. Murphy rescues a woman and a child only to learn later of the death of one male resident. The investigation into the cause of the fire by county detective George Hampton reveals the truth of what happened at Stokes.A story of character, morals, faith and discipline told through the lives of the residents of Liberty Falls, New York in 1962.