49 pages 1 hour read

Zane Grey

Riders of the Purple Sage

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1912

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Chapters 20-23Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 20 Summary: “Lassiter’s Way”

In light of Fay’s disappearance, Jane says that she will give in, and that she’ll go to Tull and agree to marry him. Lassiter refuses to allow her. Instead, he gets his guns and tells Jane to have the horses packed and ready to go when he comes back. Jane argues with Lassiter, trying to convince him not to turn to violence. Lassiter explains this isn’t about revenge for his sister, but to avenge Jane. However, Jane doesn’t want the death of Dyer on her conscience. She tells Lassiter she loves him, and she’ll go away with him if he promises not to hurt anyone, but he continues to argue that this is the only way. Finally, Jane tells Lassiter the truth: Her father was the Mormon proselytizer who preached to Milly Erne. Jane also says that her father was likely the father of Milly’s child as well as Fay’s father. Jane understands that her father was not a good man and says that he is likely meeting his punishment in the afterlife. Lassiter brushes her off still, insisting that he is not going after Dyer for Milly’s sake, and Jane faints.

When Jane wakes, Judkins is with her. Judkins tells Jane that Lassiter found Dyer and shot him.