Marlene Rutledge, a young artist from Philadelphia, inherits an estate that once belonged to her grandmother in the forests of Massachusetts. While investigating the long lost estate, she discovers her family’s erotic relationship with a group known as The Circle. Ranging in age from the late teens to early fifties, the women of the Circle explore the vast ranges of sexual expression with the help of their immortal lovers. Marlene eventually comes face to face with the possibility that the men of The Circle may be angelic or demonic in nature. The Fifth Gate blends mystery and sensuality as Marlene uncovers her family’s past, how it affects her life now and the identity of the mysterious Sarah and Michael Gutherie.