His name is Philip Dempster. Where he goes, fire follows. Investigating a number of phony "churches," Dempster becomes caught up in a web of intrigue, arson, and murder. Shortly after he visits each tabernacle, the building goes up in flames—often with the preacher still inside. Each time, Dempster is found near the fire, not knowing what he is doing there or why he is wandering the night-darkened streets. Each night, Philip Dempster dreams of flames and death. Is Dempster the firebug, or merely an innocent victim? He must learn the truth before his sanity crumbles to white-hot ash.