He had no compunctions for the lie, if only it had done any good.

It had done harm; he could see now that it had.

But he could not believe that it would make any material difference in Aleck's case.

As the story had been repeated to Lite by half a dozen men, who had heard him tell it, Aleck's own testimony had been responsible for the verdict.
Men had told Lite plainly that Aleck was a fool not to plead self-defense, even in face of the fact that Johnny Croft had not drawn any weapon.

Jim had declared that Aleck could have sworn that Johnny reached for his gun.