One night, when the devil came to take Jack's soul, Jack tricked him into giving him an extra year to live. When his year ended, the Devil came to take Jack's soul, and once again, Jack tricked the Devil; but this time the Devil was tricked into leaving Jack alone forever. When Jack died, heaven turned him away because of his cruel ways and having nowhere to go, he went to the Devil who, honoring his promise, turned Jack away. Before Jack left, the Devil threw him a hot coal which he placed in a turnip. Since then Jack has wandered the earth with his lantern looking for a place to live (Renaud & Powell