The story of Agnes DeWitt's shape changing life from leaving the convent and her life as Sister Cecilia, to becoming Berndt Vogel's lover and then losing everything to two tragedies: a bank robbery and the murder of her lover and later the loss of their home to a flood. Agnes once again changes shape and dons the cassock of Father Damien, who died in the rising flood waters. Agnes/Father Damien proceeds to his original destination, the reservation at Little No Horse. The majority of the novel tells the story of Father Damien caring for his flock. As with other Erdrich novels, the characters and their lives intertwine, but this book brought to the forefront the themes of religious dogma, love, not romantic love but "in service of the spirit of goodness, love," and the notion of appreciating a culture for all its wisdom and not trying to change it.