How does Eldon attempt to save his paradise from destruction on the novel, Fallen Man?

The cost of maintaining Hal's style of living was the destruction of "paradise" by means of strip mining the mountains and polluting its creek. Eldon, on the other hand, in his attempts to keep the ranch pure, left Hal to die of exposure on a ledge near the top of Ship Rock and murdered Austin Maryboy to cover up this fact. His choice was either to go to jail or to jump to his death, and, unable to face life without the freedom the ranch offered, he chose the latter.