Father Malt is the head of the rectory, and his cat is the unofficial favorite. It is an unusually clever creature that eyes the ambitious priests circling Father Malt like vultures and wonders what will happen to it when the power shifts. Unfortunately, Father Malt has to travel for three days, and in his absence, he leaves the institution in the hands of Father Burner, Father Philbert, and a young missionary. Burner and Philbert are bitterly opposed to the cat, and do everything in their power to drive it away. In Father Malt's absence, Burner shifts his seat to the head of the table and refuses to feed the cat, forcing it to choose between mousing and starvation. After a while they hatch a more sinister plot: Malt is known for his controversial animal exorcisms, so they decide to convince him that his cat is possessed. Holding up a crucifix to the animal's face, they begin to hit him so that he is conditioned to associate the crucifix with pain. Even though the cat is aware of their intentions, he can't hide the fear that rises up within him at the sight of the crucifix. Father Burner and Father Philbert report to Father Malt that his cat is possessed; they hold up the crucifix, knowing that the conditioning will take effect, and the cat will flee the symbol of Christ just as one who was truly possessed might. The young missionary drives up just then and runs over the fleeing cat. But when he looks to find the corpse, it is not there. The cat miraculously comes back to life; much to the horror of Burner and Philbert, it sits smugly at the dinner table in its usual place.