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This fantasy tale uses the Salem witch hunts as its backdrop and was based on the play The Scarecrow by Percy Mackaye. Goody Rickby (Maude Hill) has a child out of wedlock, but it dies when the father, Gillead Wingate (Frank Tweed), refuses to acknowledge the child or help the mother get medical aid. Wingate becomes one of the foremost figures in the witch hunts, and Goody plots her revenge with Dr. Nicholas, who is really the Devil (Osgood Perkins). Dr. Nicholas breathes life into a scarecrow (Glenn Hunter), which he plans to marry off to Rachel, Wingate's ward (Mary Astor). When the truth is discovered -- that Lord Ravensband is a mere scarecrow brought to life -- Wingate will be charged with practicing witchcraft and put to death. But the scarecrow actually falls in love with Rachel and because of that he finds his soul. The plan of Goody and Dr. Nicholas is foiled, and the scarecrow gives up his life so that Rachel can marry her true love, Richard Talbot.