Thou Shalt Not Kill

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Judge Meredith, of Lexington, Kentucky, has two sons, Harry and Douglas, Harry, the younger, being a civil engineer, and Douglas, the elder, an attorney-at-law. At the opening of the story, Judge Meredith returns home in the evening, after having sentenced to death James Wilmot, who has been found guilty. Shortly afterwards, Harry, the younger son, goes to the mountains of Kentucky on his first job, to survey a branch railroad. He falls in love with a mountain girl and is secretly married to her. He continues his habit of drinking, which causes much friction with Zeke, the father of the girl. A tramp visits the mountains and is arrested for trespassing upon the neighborhood. Out of revenge, he sets fire to the neighbor's place. Meantime, the little mountain girl wife has written to Judge Meredith that his son is drinking and not attending to his work, which causes the Judge to send his son, Douglas, to the mountain to correct the younger brother. Harry has an altercation with his wife's father in the presence of the Sheriff and Deputy, and threatens to "get even," with his father-in-law. At this time, the Sheriff appoints Zeke, and his son Jack, deputies to assist him in tracking and arresting the tramp for his crime. A little later, Harry Meredith returns to the cabin in hopes of seeing his young wife and sets his shotgun, which was presented him by his brother. Harry hears his father-in-law approaching and conceals himself. Zeke coming upon the tramp attempts to arrest him and is fatally shot. The tramp escapes through the underbrush. Harry goes to the assistance of his father-in-law who dies in his arms. In this position, his own shotgun still hot from the discharge of its load, Harry is found by the Sheriff, and is taken into custody on the charge of murder. The young wife also witnesses the incriminating scene, and suffers the agonies of torment between her love for her reckless young husband and her duty as a Kentucky mountain girl to avenge her father's death. Meantime, Harry's mother, while attending a social function, has a premonition that her boy is in danger, and goes to the mountains to see him. She learns that he is accused of murder and telegraphs her husband, the Judge, to come at once. That same night the Judge has read in the newspaper that the man, James Wilmot, has been found to be absolutely innocent by the deathbed confession of the real murderer and immediately upon the head of this he receives his wife's telegram that his own son is accused of murder. He leaves at once to join her. Harry Meredith is tried and convicted upon circumstantial evidence, which apparently leaves no room for doubt that he committed the crime, is sentenced to death and is executed. The tramp having been crushed between freight cars, sends for the Priest, on the night of the day of the execution, confesses the crime, thus proving Harry Meredith innocent.