In 1776 Vienna, imperial counselor Henryk Klein investigates allegations that the charismatic Jewish nobleman Jakub Frank is a fraud whose sect has ruined Galician Jew Jakub Goli艅ski鈥檚 family and fortunes. As Klein鈥檚 inquiry uncovers Frank鈥檚 secret militia, escalating influence, and suspected treason against Empress Maria Theresa鈥檚 court, he must decide how far to expose the messianic impostor without igniting sectarian unrest.