Michael, the Angel, is appointed to gather souls departing in the hour of death. He fails in one of his divine missions, and as punishment is sent to dwell in the cottage of a Russian peasant boot-maker. Through the events of his life with these humble folk he learns the answers to three questions: ‘What dwells in Man?’, ‘What is not given to Man?’ and ‘What does Man live by?’
Having learned that it is not given to man to know his own needs, and it is Love by which he lives, he imparts this knowledge to those who have housed him, and is permitted to return to his labours.