A lunatic has escaped from an asylum, one who had never been allowed to attend the public school of a mountain village in the Washington Cascades. The teacher of the school has disappeared -- just vanished without a trace. Two retired university professors have been killed at their doorstep by an axe murderer -- and their daughter, Mary, has been hired to replace the missing teacher. The town minister has psychic visions that she will be killed, too, and to save her the school must remain closed. Although she will never admit it, Mary has nightmares that tell her the same thing. She is as determined to teach as the minister is as determined she not do it and the school remain closed.