Reaching back through several centuries prior to the Reformation, there lived in the Alphine valleys of northern Italy a race of stalwart people. The Waldenses were condemned as troublemakers of the state.

Despite their daily bloody decimation for being heretics by Pope Innocent VIII, and being pursued by papal soldiers bent on their extermination, they continued to train their youth to leave for foreign countries, thus scattering their seed of reformation. Pietro and his mates train as doctors at the top universality in Florence and now Pietro is offered a position as head of medicine at the prestigious hospital in the rich center of the city.

Pietro accepts his new position. But soon after arriving in Florence, he falls in with old school buddies who themselves have become Generals and Dukes, belonging to the very elite of the glitzy town.

Pietro unknowingly catches the eye of the Pope. The Pope issues his bull for Pietro's extermination, but how was he going to do this while Pietro was under the Duke's protection? Then Pietro visits Rome for his friend Gerardo's wedding, placing himself in great danger.

He is watched, caught and taken to the martyr-pyre. .