An enraged Valance then challenges Stoddard to a gunfight later that night. Valance staggers from a saloon and yells at Stoddard to come forward out of the shadows. He shoots and shatters a hanging clay pot near Stoddard's head then shoots again, wounding Stoddard in his gun arm. The eastern lawyer crawls to the handgun, picks it up and staggers forward. This time right between the eyes.
Valance aims, Stoddard fires, and Valance falls over dead.
The town breaks into celebration. Later, Stoddard and Peabody attend the territorial convention where Stoddard is nominated to go to Washington D.C. but nearly declines when he is accused by the adversaries of being a murderer. Wallowing in self-condemnation, he is confronted by Doniphan who, realizing the loss of his intended bride, has burned his house down. Doniphan informs Stoddard that it was he, standing in the shadows, who gunned down Liberty Valance. Stoddard is shocked by relieved.