About the title
On a tree where, 150 years ago, a woman accused of witchcraft was hanged and burned, the deaf-mute niece of a small-town priest sees the Virgin Mary. A chance witness to the event is reporter Jerry Fenn, who has come to the town chasing another occult story. The next day the girl regains her hearing and speech, and soon after heals a sick boy. Word spreads, the Vatican sends a representative to verify the miracle, the bishop plans to turn the tree into a shrine, and reporter Fenn, digging into the town's history, finds much that is suspicious.