In a snowy village bathed in moonlight, the church bells ring for Vespers, while old Fitch, a cunning and debauched man, indulges in his vices. As his wife heads to church, seeking change for the offering plate, Fitch reads a newspaper article about the escape of a dangerous criminal, Henry Kattermol. Intrigued, Fitch fixates on the article and wonders how long Kattermol has been free. As Fitch's thoughts consume him, the peacefulness of the night is shattered by the possibility that danger may be lurking nearby.
