Act I

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Salem, 1692. The rye crop has gone to mold, and tensions are high. When Richard Saltonstall returns to Salem after fighting in the King Philip War, he finds that the towns unrest seems exacerbated by some unknown force.  Though Salem has always had its problems, never before had there been such widespread accusations of witchcraft.  Once reunited with his old friend (and now-sheriff) George Corwin, Richard tries to settle back into civilian life.  However, when both Richard and Sheriff Corwin see Margaret Scott (newly arrived from Rowley), their friendship undergoes the strain which comes from two men wanting the same woman.  Richard wins her, and finds himself agreeing with her objections to the witch trials.  When he publicly denounces them while sitting on a panel of jurors at Bridget Bishops trial, he too is ostracized by those seeking to separate Salem down the middle.  Margaret is imprisoned for publicly rebuking the courts decision, and Richard decides to help her escape from the Salem prison.

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Act II

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Once the authorities realize that Margaret has escaped, Sheriff Corwin is tasked with finding and returning Margaret to the prison, as well as bringing in anyone connected with the escape.  When Sheriff Corwin finds Margaret alone in the woods while Richard is away, he makes one more attempt to win her over.  But Margaret makes it clear that she has chosen the other man, and Sheriff Corwins heart can take no more.  He has his men return her to Salem, while he stays behind. Richard returns, and demands to know what happened to Margaret.  Richard and the Sheriff cross swords, but at his moment of victory, Richard is shot by a returning deputy. On his deathbed, he vows to stay by Margarets side, no matter what. The Sheriff returns to Salem, and finds the town at Gallows Hill. . .