Bearskin by Brothers Grimm

A poor soldier makes a deal with the devil: he must wear a bear’s skin and not wash or pray for seven years in exchange for great wealth. Shunned by all but one family, he endures ridicule and loneliness until he triumphs. The plot mixes horror, perseverance, and morality. A dark tale of sacrifice and redemption. A powerful story about inner worth and the cost of temptation.