*LAW-ABIDINGNESS> IN THE SOUTH-WEST 235 



regarded. Needless to say that not a jury 

 could be found to convict ; and, indeed, who 

 would desire in such a case to see the death 

 penalty inflicted ? But that a murderess 

 should escape, not only unpunished, but re- 

 warded and glorified, is not only a grave 

 reflection upon law and morality, but upon 

 Christianity as it is practised, too. ' Are we, 

 or are we not, a Christian people ?' quoth the 

 few. ' Is not the religion we profess that of 

 love and forgiveness, and " Thou shalt do no 

 murder " ? If so, then there can be no com- 

 promise.' 



As in the evil treated of earlier, here 

 also one wrong springs from another. The 

 custom, almost universal in some sections, 

 of permitting, nay, even encouraging, a 

 wronged husband to avenge himself as he 

 will, without fear of the law, was simply in 

 this case applied to the wronged wife. 

 ' Public feeling ' is often quoted as being 

 responsible for many things that hinder the 

 higher civilization in an emotional people. 



One who has watched through a score of 

 years the fluctuating fortunes of a great and 

 impressive nation, and has long outgrown 



