Born out-of-wedlock, Hezekiah (Kiah) Grave assumes he's the shameful consequence of love gone sour. He and his mother live in squalor while his wealthy father, whom he's never met, enjoys a life of luxury. When three self-righteous judges from a little country church inform his mother that her kind aren't welcome in their fellowship, Kiah makes a dual vow to never fall in love or darken the door of another church. However, the vow becomes a hard one to keep when the prettiest girl in the land of cotton-the parson's daughter-moves to Mississippi and sets her sights on him. When the parson's car shows up repeatedly at a known prostitute's house late at night, Kiah faces a dilemma. The thought of the preacher getting away with his little shenanigans infuriates Kiah; yet, revealing the incriminating truth could cause him to lose the only girl he's ever loved.