In a small town at the foot of a mountain in Alsace lives Matthias, who dreams of becoming mayor. In order to fulfill this dream, he had to pawn the tavern and mill to his neighbor Franz for six thousand francs. But the deadline for repayment is approaching, and Franz threatens to throw Mathias' entire family out on the street. Matthias had a lot to think about on Christmas night during the worst of the storm, when a wanderer, a Polish Jew Baruch Koweski, knocked at his tavern wanting some warmth and respite. And in his belt, Matthias saw a lot of bright, shining, alluring gold...