Inuit hunters bring a dying man to the camp of the administrator of Baffin Island. Revived by the officer, the man, Shoona, lives long enough to tell his story. An unwanted orphan, Shoona is taught to be a 'spirit wrestler, ' a shaman capable of influencing the demons and spirits that control human destiny. Revered at first for his magic, Shoona becomes a feared outcast when his enemies are overtaken by uncanny and fatal events. Then, out of pride, he steals the sacred amulets of the powerful sea goddess Sedna, and is confronted by a mysterious white man who is obsessed with Inuit lore, and who soon attracts Shoona's wife.