Suffering under a great plague, Salem's leading witch, Mary Sibley, faces both foreign and domestic challenges to her authority.
Mary begins the second act of the great ritual, at the same time as Alden returns to Salem. Meanwhile, Dr. Wainwright searches for clues to cure the plague, using worrying methods.
After the latest attack, Mary finally wants to find out who could be behind it all. Despite Tituba's warnings, she also begins to teach Anne Hale about witchcraft. Cotton and Dr Wainwright don't hit it off straight away.
Mary receives much needed assistance from a former foe to keep Salem under the management of the witches.
After Mary's public humiliation, Hathorne continues to try to gain control of the town. His behaviour eventually forces Mary to have her enchanted husband appear again so that he can do something about it.