Rabbi Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev faces his very first case as the new Rov of the city. It seems like an open and shut case- property in the possession of orphans cannot be claimed by a merchant with no document and no witnesses. But the Berditchever Rov suspects there is a deeper lesson to be learned, and his caution and patience is rewarded when the merchant remembers an event from fifty years earlier.

R. Eliyahu Baal Shem gives R. Avraham Moshe a set of instructions to arouse his great-uncle Moshe to teshuva. When he puts up a mezuzah on the front door of Moshe's house, this opens up the gates of repentance. As the Baal Shem Tov concludes the story 160 years later, the mysteries of hashgocho protis, Divine Providence, are revealed in all their detail, right down to the drink of fresh springwater R. Chaim Rappaport had enjoyed just a few weeks earlier on the site of the ruined estate of R. Moshe, son of R. Shmuel Tzadok.

Back in Prague, R. Yehudah Aryeh slowly forgets about his brother R. Moshe's sorry state. He sends his grandsons to learn with the Tosfos YomTov, and one of them, Avraham Moshe, receives special instruction in Kabbalah. Soon, an old friend of the family reminds them that their ancestor R. Shmuel Tzadok was punished with a son like R. Moshe because he himself would ridicule those who studied kabbalah. Avraham Moshe is saddened to hear of his great-uncle Moshe's situation, and asks R. Eliyahu Baal Shem, recently moved to Prague for advice.

After R. Shmuel Tzadok goes away from life, his business affairs are handled by his son R. Yehudah Aryeh while his son R. Moshe learns Torah all day. However, within a few years, R. Moshe turns his back on the straight path and follows the lifestyle and customs of the local nobility. This causes anguish to his brother R. Yehudah Aryeh, who moves back to Prague to ease his pain.

Several weeks later, in Elul, R. Chaim Rappaport visits the Baal Shem Tov in Medzibuzh and hears the underlying story behind his mission to the abandoned estate. 160 years previously, a talmid chacham from Prague moved to Lvov. Known as “R. Shmuel

Meanwhile, R. Chaim Rappaport must travel to an abandoned estate outside Lvov to learn the first four chapters of Hilchos Brochos. A torrential rain almost prevents the journey, but as soon as the Rov begins to learn, the clouds part and the sun shines forth. He drinks a cup of water from a nearby spring before returning to Lvov.

The Baal Shem Tov sends his talmid Moshe Meshel to deliver two letters, both to residents of Lvov. The first, to the Av Beis Din R. Chaim Rappaport, contains mysterious instructions for an upcoming journey. The second, to R. Chaim Yisroel the Potter, is delivered in silence. Unbeknownst to anyone, Chaim Yisroel is a hidden tzaddik who must act soon to prevent a calamity.

When the Count makes a rash threat against the Jews, he soon regrets it and wishes to take back what he said. The local priest offers to help out, as long as he can debate one of the Jews. Hershel the fool soon makes a fool of the priest.

The Baal Shem Tov offers a brocho to a confident businessman, who turns it down. When the businessman loses his fortune 16 years later, he has a second chance thanks to the Baal Shem Tov's ruach haKodesh.

When a fire threatens to destroy a small town, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi extinguishes the fierce flames with a glance. Later, a Russian Army captain who had sent soldiers to unsuccessfully fight the fire shares a story about the holy Baal Shem Tov with the Rebbe.