A brutal winter storm sweeps through the mountains of New England, forcing a young man to seek shelter. A kind family welcomes him into their humble home, tucked away in a remote mountain pass. The traveler is the story's eponymous "Ambitious Guest," as he tells the family about his aspiration to make a mark on the world. The evening takes an ironic turn, however, when an avalanche heads straight for the house in this story based on the real-life Willey Family Tragedy.