Allie Fuller is a wealthy widow living next door to her friend, Mrs. Simmons. Long before Allie met her deceased husband, Mr. Fuller, she was best friends with a boy named John. THey grew up together in the same town, fishing together every summer until he left to go work at his uncle's farm when they were seventeen. At this time, Mr. Fuller and Allie met and soon asked her to marry him. Allie waits until Christmas time, when John came home to visit, to answer him. When John is home that Christmas, Allie marches over in the snow to give his mother a loaf of raisin bread, as an excuse to see John. John is withdrawn because his sisters have told him Allie is already engaged, even though she isn't technically yet. Allie walks back home alone without John and agrees to marry Mr. Fuller. Years later, it is the summer after Mr. Fuller passed, and Allie is coming home from church one night. SHe sees a light on the porch that ends up being John come to see her. THe two spend time together in the following days, cooking meals together and talking. Eventually, John asks ALlie if she wants to marry him. SHe says only if he can promise to love her forever, a promise which he says he cannot wait. The two part for a second time, both upset and wishing it would have worked out. AFter this happens, Allie's church has a meeting, or revival. The meeting is lively and the speaker is powerful, and Allie begins asking God for a sign as to whether or not she should marry John. SHe has not been able to forget about him and constantly works out the dilemma in her mind. Suddenly, she is gripped by the spirit and knows she must go to John. She marches out of the church and they ring the bell signalling someone has had a true encounter with God.