In which the day of Reuben Butler’s ordination to the ministership of Knocktarlitie dawns amid rustic fare and the earnest preparations of his new parish, revealing a community where Highland traditions blend with mild mirth and the stern decorum of the kirk. The solemnity of the occasion is tempered by the whimsical indulgences of the Captain of Knockdunder, whose unorthodox conduct during service sets an apprehensive elder to pondering the delicate balance of authority and reverence in this pastoral valley.