John Hendricks, who, having abandoned a path in the Church, becomes the tutor to Lord Ernie, the son of a prominent family. As they travel through various locales, Hendricks becomes increasingly frustrated with Ernie's feeble disposition and lack of passion for life, which he perceives as a failure of their educational journey. The narrative focuses on their trip to the Jura mountains, where Hendricks hopes to rekindle some desire for life in his charge, especially as he recalls the influential presence of a local pastor, Leysin, from his youth. A sudden, powerful storm serves as a backdrop for the developing story, hinting at the awakening energy within Lord Ernie and setting the stage for the mystical experiences to follow. (This is an automatically generated summary.)