Chapter 20 Summary: The Absolution of Three-Persons

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

The chapter is a diary entry dated May 1, 1912, written by the Lutheran pastor who has been recording Good Stab's visits. The pastor admits that Good Stab knows his true identity, though no proof exists—the incriminating letter is long gone. Despite this, the farce of the confession continues until the pastor can no longer bear it. He decides to abandon his post and hide his log book in a buckskin pouch, coating it with sacramental wafers and holy wine so that even Good Stab's keen senses cannot find it.

The pastor fears he is beginning to believe Good Stab's claims of being a supernatural creature, even though such a being would defy natural and divine order. He hypothesizes that Good Stab will keep visiting until he extracts a confession. The pastor insists that a different man committed the acts Good Stab accuses him of—a man from another life and time. He apologizes for the white buffalo and acknowledges Weasel Plume, Yellow Kidney, and the bereft mother. He admits that if he had committed such deeds, he too would invent a monster to cover his own nature.

The pastor catalogs evidence of Good Stab's supernatural nature: drinking mole blood without flinching, blood-rimmed eyes, leaping from a crucifix without sound, light-sensitive eyes, and an impossibly sensitive nose. Still, he asks whether these add up to truth or a convincing charade. He challenges Good Stab to prove himself by showing his sharp teeth in the moment before an attack, which would grant the pastor certainty even in death—something he cannot offer his parishioners, who must rely on faith.

But the pastor will not remain. He humbly leaves the posting for the next pastor, hoping that man has no sordid past and has never committed acts that would later haunt him. He apologizes to Good Stab, knowing Good Stab cannot read the diary, but hoping his absence will appease the creature and spare Miles City. He mentions the need for a new sheriff—the previous one, Chance Aubrey, has vanished, and children whisper that the horse Aubrey shot into so many times has risen to seek justice.

The pastor closes his log by stating he will not reveal his retreat's direction. He intends to walk, afoot and without food, to the site of his greatest sin, where his bones will bleach in the sun. He believes God never promised ease; if absolution were easy, everyone would receive it. That grace is the only nourishment he seeks.

Key Events

The pastor decides to abandon his parish and hide his diary in a protected pouch.
He expresses fear that Good Stab's supernatural claims may be true.
He apologizes for the white buffalo and references Weasel Plume, Yellow Kidney, and a mother who lost two children.
He lists physical evidence of Good Stab's unnatural abilities: drinking blood, silent leaps, light sensitivity, keen nose.
The pastor challenges Good Stab to kill him and prove his nature, but he chooses to flee instead.
He leaves the post for an unknown successor and hopes Good Stab will not take revenge on Miles City.
He mentions the missing sheriff, Chance Aubrey, and whispers about his horse seeking retribution.
The pastor resolves to walk to the location of his past sin and die there, seeking absolution.

Character Development

The Pastor (narrator): This chapter reveals the depth of the pastor's guilt. He admits to past crimes involving the white buffalo, Weasel Plume, and Yellow Kidney's mother, though he claims the perpetrator was a different man from a different era. His decision to flee rather than confess shows his inability to face Good Stab directly. Yet his plan to walk to the site of his sin and die there demonstrates a desire for genuine atonement. His faith is shaken; he can offer his parishioners only hope for a better world, but he cannot secure certainty for himself.
Good Stab: Though not directly present in the diary entry, Good Stab looms over the chapter. The pastor's observations—his drinking of blood, silent movements, light-sensitive eyes—build a portrait of a creature that may or may not be supernatural. Good Stab becomes an agent of conscience, forcing the pastor to confront his buried past.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Confession and Absolution: The chapter's title and content center on absolution. The pastor sees his walk to the sin-site as the only way to receive grace, but he also questions whether Good Stab can provide proof that would end his doubt.
Supernatural vs. Rational: The pastor oscillates between believing Good Stab's supernatural claims and dismissing them as a "convincing charade." This tension mirrors the larger conflict in the novel between the natural world and the monstrous.
Guilt and the Past: The pastor insists that a different man committed the crimes, yet he carries the guilt. His flight and intended death show that the past cannot be escaped; it must be confronted.
The White Buffalo: This symbol recurs as a reminder of a specific sin that connects Good Stab, the pastor, and the broader community. The pastor's apology for the white buffalo suggests it represents a profound loss.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 20 is a turning point for the pastor's narrative. It confirms that he is connected to the crimes Good Stab has been circling. His decision to flee and seek death at the scene of his sin raises the stakes: the reader now knows the pastor is not an innocent observer but a guilty participant. The chapter deepens the mystery of Good Stab's true nature by presenting credible evidence of his abilities while leaving room for doubt. It also sets up future consequences: the pastor's absence may provoke Good Stab into acting against Miles City. The reference to the missing sheriff, Chance Aubrey, hints at another unresolved thread.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does the pastor insist that a "different man" committed the crimes Good Stab accuses him of?
The pastor uses this claim to distance his current self from his past actions. He argues that time and circumstances have changed him, making the perpetrator a separate person. This psychological defense allows him to avoid full responsibility while still feeling guilt. However, his plan to die at the sin-site shows that he ultimately accepts the connection.
What evidence does the pastor offer for Good Stab's supernatural nature, and how does he undermine it?
The pastor lists concrete observations: Good Stab drank mole blood, has blood-rimmed eyes, leaps silently, is pained by light, and has an extraordinary sense of smell. Yet he immediately asks whether these add up to "truth or a convincing charade," leaving open the possibility that Good Stab is an expert performer. This ambiguity keeps the reader questioning the novel's reality.
What does the pastor hope to achieve by leaving Miles City and walking to the site of his sin?
He seeks absolution through suffering and death. He believes that if he returns to the place of his greatest sin and dies there, his bones bleaching in the sun, he will finally receive the grace of absolution. He rejects an easy path, stating that God never promised ease. This journey is both a punishment and a hope for redemption.