A provincial cobbler in a lively market town becomes enmeshed in local religious strife and public spectacle after encountering a displayed condemned Huguenot; drawn into romantic and social entanglements, he navigates rival suitors, a devoted hunchbacked friend, and moral tests that expose loyalties and temptations. Episodes range from fairground scenes and secret visits to forest encounters and perilous bargains, moving through comic and dramatic turns toward crisis, resolution of personal faith, and an outward journey by sea.