But he says no more, for Erma Travenion sweeps in between the men, with such a look in her blazing eyes that they both fall back from her.
She cries, "Father, you pay no tithing to the Mormon Church. Your daughter takes none of its vile mysteries of endowment!"
"Quit yer blasphemy of the Church of Zion!" yells Kruger to the girl. Then he turns on Travenion and rebukes him sternly, "Bishop, your darter's been brought up wrong! She's too high-spir'ted and wayward! I never 'low no woman in my household—wife or darter—to lift up her voice ag'in me and my doin's. If Miss Upity were my gal I'd take the blaspheming out of her with a heavy hand."
But here astonishment comes on Erma. Her father says: "Kruger, you're right! My daughter has been brought up wrong! I now see my error in not bringing her into the true faith. She shall take her endowments!"
"First kill me!" cries the girl, who cannot believe what she hears.
"Kill ye!" answers Lot. "Why, it will be the making of ye. Saving yer soul from perdition, is yer daddy's duty, my child."
"Saving my soul?" screams Erma. "Saving my soul?—by making me one of your horrible sect that degrades both women and men also by its bestial creed!" And indignation makes her beauty greater than it was before—so great that fanatic Lot's eyes grow as bright as hers, though with a different gleam.
But her father stops more, by saying hastily: "Kruger, go up to Salt Lake. Tell them I'll pay my tithing in the Central stock at their figure. Tell them I'll vote the balance as they please, and my daughter shall take her endowments!"
"Swear 't as you hope for Heaven!" cries Lot.
"As I hope for the Mormon paradise!" answers Travenion.