A struggling farmer in 1840 New Hampshire makes a pact with Satan for economic success, then enlists famed orator Daniel Webster to extract him from the consequences of his contract.
A down-on-his-luck farmer makes a deal with the devil for seven years of prosperity. When Mr. Scratch comes to collect, orator and hero of the common man Daniel Webster comes to the rescue.—Little Pine Weasel <[email protected]>
In 1840 in New Hampshire, the unfortunate farmer Jabez Stone is a poor but good man that lives a simple and hard life with his beloved wife Mary Stone and his mother "Ma". One day of bad luck, Jabez curses and tells that he would sell his soul to the devil to have a better life; immediately after the devil appears posing as a man named Mr. Scratch. He offers seven years of good fortune and money to Jabez for his soul and the farmer signs the contract. Soon Jabez improves his life and after a hailstorm, his crops are the only ones not damaged. Jabez lends money to his neighbours and soon Mary gets pregnant. When she delivers the baby Daniel, she asks her prominent friend Daniel Webster to be his godfather. Meanwhile Jabez is charmed by the gorgeous Belle - he hires her as a maid and soon she becomes his mistress. Jabez does not know that Belle was sent by Mr. Scratch and soon he becomes an evil man. After seven years, Mr. Scratch returns to collect his soul and offers an additional period for the soul of his son. Jabez realizes that he is doomed but Daniel Webster offers to defend him in a trial. What will happen to Jabez and his family?—Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
1840. The God-fearing Stones - husband and wife Jabez and Mary, and Jabez's "Ma" - are a poor New Hampshire farming family. Some of their farming neighbors want Jabez to join them in forming a grange to help each other during hard times. This measure is above and beyond legislation being written by Congressman Daniel Webster - one of the most respected men of the area - it which will not make farmers beholden to loan sharks in perhaps turning to anyone who can help them through hard times. But a string of bad luck leads to Jabez making an off the cuff exclamation to sell his soul to the devil for two-cents. The devil, in this instance calling himself Mr. Scratch, has been monitoring the activities of many, including Congressman Webster and Jabez, and pounces upon the opportunity to take Jabez up on his offer for his soul. The contract the two ultimately enter into is for Mr. Scratch to give him exactly seven years of wealth in return for his soul, the contract end date etched into a tree trunk on the farm property so that Jabez can be constantly reminded of the deal. In entering into this deal, Jabez disregards both the grange and Congressman's Webster's legislation. Over the course of those seven years, Jabez has both regrets and living life to the fullest in that seemingly unending wealth, the latter prompted largely by Scratch throwing other temptations in Jabez's direction. Through it all, Mary and Ma stand by Jabez's side, despite not indulging in any of the wealth which they feel is evil and which has turned Jabez solely into a self-indulgent human being at the expense of all others. Is there a point of no return for Jabez? He may find out upon discovering Scratch's grander plan, and upon the request to Webster, a lawyer, to plead his case.—Huggo
