  The story takes place a few miles from Boston, Massachusetts.  There is treasure buried in the swampy area by Charles Bay. It was buried by Kidd the Pirate.  Tom Walker and his wife are greedy and selfish— they even hide things from each other.

  While walking through the swamp, Tom Walker meets The Black Woodsmen/Old Scratch (the devil).  Old Scratch offers Tom Kidd the Pirate’s gold on certain conditions and Tom accepts eventually.  Old Scratch burns his fingerprint into Tom’s forehead as his “signature.”

  Tom Walker doesn’t want to take the deal at first just because his wife wants him to.  Tom’s wife decides to try to make a deal with Old Scratch. She takes a silver teapot and spoons as well as other valuables.  She does not return; Tom goes looking for her and finds a heart and liver wrapped up in her apron, tied up in a tree.

  At first Old Scratch wants Tom to use the money to buy a slave trading ship and Tom refuses. But, Tom agrees to become a usurer.  Tom becomes a rich man.

  Toward the end of his life, Tom begins to regret his decision about signing his life over to the devil. He becomes a very devout Christian.  However, Tom cannot outrun the devil and he dies and his wealth disintegrates.