The others nodded.

“Did he ever,” Peter went on, “make an important decision that he didn’t try to look to the good and the future of Lost Chief?  At least, I gathered that from the things Doug’s mother used to tell me about the old man’s pipe dreams.”

John spoke soberly.  “He was a just man.  They don’t make ’em that way any more.”

“He was more than just,” insisted Peter.  “He was forward looking.  But he led with the wrong foot.  He laughed at the church.”

“Sure he did,” agreed Charleton.  “Why not?  Remember old Fowler?  A fine sample of the church!”

Peter rose and paced the floor a minute.  “Let me tell you folks something.  I laugh at the cant they’ve wrapped the church up in.  But I don’t laugh at the system of ethics Christ taught.  I’m here to tell you folks, He put out the finest, most workable system of ethics the world has ever known.  And folks can’t live together without a system of ethics.”

“It’s a wonder you don’t subscribe to ’em, Peter,” jibed Charleton.

“It’s too late.  But that don’t say that I don’t realize clearly that I’ve failed in life because of it.  What do you say to that, Charleton?”

Charleton’s lips twisted.

“Why all the Saints and Sages who discuss’d
Of the two Worlds so wisely—­they are thrust
Like foolish Prophets forth:  their Words to Scorn
Are scattered and their mouths are stopt with Dust.”

John laughed.  Peter shrugged his shoulders and said, “Suit yourselves.  As for me I believe everybody is destined sooner or later to deal squarely with right and wrong.  Sooner or later every community has to wrestle with the question of social ethics, or fail.  Fate has written it of Lost Chief.  You’ll see.”

“I’m with you there.”  Frank Day spoke soberly.  “I believe in fate.  You can’t ride these hills and not.  It’s all written beforehand.”

Douglas cleared his throat.  “I’ve got an idea,” hesitatingly.  “I’ve been thinking for a long time that somebody in Lost Chief that has a homestead right ought to homestead that shoulder of Lost Chief mountain that cuts off Elijah Nelson from our valley.  If we don’t, he will.  I can’t do it because I’m not of age.  But Scott can, and he can find plenty of work for that six-shooter of his, worrying the Mormons and keeping ’em out of Lost Trail.  I’ll agree to let Scott alone if he’ll let me alone and undertake that job.”

There was silence, Scott staring at Douglas with a mixture of contempt, belligerency and surprise in his face.

“But,” protested John, “that’s no punishment, and it don’t say a thing about Judith!”

Douglas shifted his feet impatiently.  “I’m not going to punish any guy for running after Jude.  That’s a fair fight.  What I’m sore about is his lying about me and shooting at me when I wasn’t armed.”

“I’d planned,” said Scott gruffly, “to try to buy back our old place from the Browns.  They’ve got more than they can carry and I’m sure getting nowhere renting that piece from Charleton.”