This "nevertheless" seemed to express her better self; to correct the rude tendencies of her nature.

Had she been educated in her early days, this tendency to self-correction would have made her an ideal woman, but she owed nearly all her intellectual training to the sermons of the Rev.Jason Lee, which she had heard in some obscure corner of a room, or in Methodist chapel, or under the trees.
Her early experience with the Indians had not made her a friend to the native races, notwithstanding the missionary labors of the Rev.Jason Lee.
The first Indian that made her a visit on the donation claim did not leave a favorable impression on her mind.
This Indian had come to her door while she was engaged in the very hard work of sawing wood.

He had never seen a saw before, and, as it seemed to him to be a part of the woman herself, he approached her with awe and wonder.

That the saw should eat through the wood appeared to him a veritable miracle.
Mrs.Woods, unaware of her visitor, paused to take breath, looked up, beheld the tall form with staring eyes, and started back.
"Medicine-woman--conjure!" said the Indian, in Chinook.
Mrs.Woods was filled with terror, but a moment's thought recalled her resolution.

She lifted her hand, and, pointing to the saw in the wood, she said, with a commanding tone: "Saw!" The Indian obeyed awkwardly, and wondering at the progress of the teeth of the saw through the wood.