
A year after the birth, 1901
The Naming of the Twins
Samuel Hamilton returns to the Trask ranch to help name the twins. The three men—Adam, Samuel, and Lee—discuss the story of Cain and Abel. Lee reveals his years-long study of the Hebrew word 'timshel,' which he translates as 'Thou mayest,' signifying that man has the choice to triumph over sin. This concept becomes a central philosophical theme of the novel. The twins are named Caleb and Aaron.