Money Lending and Other Sins IV

At Clemens Point, Leopold Strauss sends Arthur Morgan after two overdue debts. Arthur first goes to the undertaker in Rhodes, where Gwyn Hughes is working on a coffin. Gwyn says he can settle what he owes by taking jewelry from Mrs. Claypole's grave. He leads Arthur to the churchyard, but people nearby make the theft too risky. Arthur drives the civilians away and watches the gate while Gwyn opens the grave, then accepts a diamond brooch as payment.

Arthur then finds Winton Holmes asleep at a camp north of Strawberry. Winton admits he has no money yet, but says he has tracked a rare cougar whose pelt will cover the debt. Arthur presses him into leading the way, and the pair ride toward Mount Shann before entering the cougar's cave. At a fork in the passage, Winton takes one route while Arthur follows the other. The cougar kills Winton in the darkness.

Arthur finds and kills the cougar, skins it, and carries the pelt back to Strawberry. He sells it to the butcher for the money Winton owed Strauss. With Gwyn's brooch and the proceeds from the pelt collected, Arthur returns to Clemens Point.