In the village square elders shame the Lewis family over Priscilla's disappearance, blaming Paige and shouting insults. The father forces Paige to kneel and submit to six lashes; she begs, offers to take the blame as her sister and repeatedly admits, "I do," to stop the crowd and protect her injured mother. Mr. Brown accuses her of helping the runaway, and the elder declares both sisters banished from the Lewis family. As the family reels under public punishment, a voice cuts through the chaos: "Paige, I'm back."