To free themselves from the unbearable forced labor of their lord, the inhabitants of a small village in the Emmental ask the devil for help, who demands an unbaptized newborn as payment. The farmer's wife, Christine, makes the pact, with the devil kissing her on the cheek. However, when the villagers repeatedly deny the devil the promised child, a sinister mark suddenly appears on Christine's cheek, swelling larger and larger. Eventually, the mark bursts, releasing countless small spiders...