Rose's best friend Lyda Belier is on trial for witchcraft and murder. As law was practised in Colonial America, Lydia's defense attorney can do little but watch the prosecution bring up witness after witness claiming to have seen Lydia do everything from fly a broom, change into a black cat, and cast spells intended to murder her enemies. Lydia's only hope is that the judges will permit her lawyer to call a character witness who will speak to the goodness of Lydia's Christian life. Such permission is rarely given but if it is Rose will be the one who must testify. Can she find the right words, words that could save her friend's life? And with her fiancé Juerg turning his back on her will she find that Ethan Daniels also rejects her for running to defend a woman the people of Lancaster swear is the bride of Satan?
