Suffering under a great plague, Salem's leading witch, Mary Sibley, faces both foreign and domestic challenges to her authority.
A lone traveller's wearying journey is interrupted by new acquaintances, some of whom become friend, others who become foe.
Mary's penance for her betrayal takes a deadly turn while Cotton is forced to perform an exorcism of his own.
With her mission seemingly accomplished, the Countess Marburg learns a game-changing truth about the object of her devotion.
Even if the devil is defeated, the threat from his brother remains. Guardian's suggestion to eliminate the brother would mean the destruction of Salem. Tituba puts forward a gentler method, but John does not really trust the witch.