The Least of These My Brothers is the story of a printer, Dick Falkner, who arrives in Boyd City nearly penniless. Times are hard and beggars abound, and Falkner lives among them until finally landing a job at Udell's printshop. When he begins attending a young people's group at a large church, his influence results in the youth starting a program for the down-and-out of the city.

But this is quickly met by church opposition. Complicating matters further, a class-conscious elder is offended at his daughter's interest in Falkner and forces her away into the world of high society with all its corruption. Meanwhile, the death of a nameless man on the steps of the church leads to a mystery that threatens Falkner's life.