Moses Karnowski is the black-sheep son of the Chasidic rabbi of Lasin in Prussian-dominated Poland. As an itinerant peddler driving his wagon loaded with wares he has ample opportunity to seduce housewives while husbands are out doing compulsory labor on one of lord Romuald Rogozinski's farms. Moses impregnates a 15-year-old Polish peasant girl - Marta Nering. She gives birth to a son - Valentine, who will be the thread uniting subsequent books. Upon his birth her alcoholic father Adalbert expels her from her home. Due to her beauty she finds a position as a housemaid in the palace of lord Rogozinski, where she must endure the unwelcome passes of the spoiled heir, John, and the jealousy of lady Rogozinska and her two spoiled daughters. Prussian detective Theo Welsch, a non-practicing Lutheran, doesn't like Poles, but tries to be fair as the town's police chief. Moses commits three murders, and hides in the house of the parish priest. Judging Moses demon-possessed, the priest sends a parishioner to Wiele to fetch an exorcist. He meets all manner of demonic oppression on the trip. All hell breaks loose during the exorcism, which proves successful. Moses is put on trial for the murders and is convicted and sentenced to death by firing squad. There is a surprise ending.