# Tull — Riders of the Purple Sage character guide > Tull in Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Elder Tull, Elder, Brother Tull **First appearance:** 0001-ii-cottonwoods ## Snapshot A Mormon elder whose cold ambition to marry Jane Withersteen and control her ranch hides behind the authority of the church. ## Who they are Elder Tull is the hand behind the pressure on Jane Withersteen, calling in her riders, driving off her herds, and using the church's long reach to bend her to his will. His rivalry with any Gentile in her employ, and his willingness to work alongside rustlers like Oldring, show a man whose greed and hate wear the mask of piety. Venters traces the shadow of an unseen hand to Tull, making him the human face of the power that threatens everyone the novel follows. ## Relationships ### [Lassiter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/riders_of_the_purple_sage_se/characters/lassiter) _rivalry_ Lassiter and Tull are bitter antagonists, with Tull representing the oppressive Mormon leadership that Lassiter opposes. ### [Jane Withersteen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/riders_of_the_purple_sage_se/characters/jane_withersteen) _psychological_ Tull manipulates and pressures Jane Withersteen through religious authority and social control, creating a tense, coercive dynamic. ### [Lassiter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/riders_of_the_purple_sage_se/characters/lassiter) _rivalry_ Lassiter and Tull are bitter antagonists, with Tull representing the oppressive Mormon leadership that Lassiter opposes. ### [Jane Withersteen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/riders_of_the_purple_sage_se/characters/jane_withersteen) _psychological_ Tull manipulates and pressures Jane Withersteen through religious authority and social control, creating a tense, coercive dynamic. ### [Lassiter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/riders_of_the_purple_sage_se/characters/lassiter) _rivalry_ Lassiter and Tull are bitter antagonists, with Tull representing the oppressive Mormon leadership that Lassiter opposes. ### [Jane Withersteen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/riders_of_the_purple_sage_se/characters/jane_withersteen) _psychological_ Tull manipulates and pressures Jane Withersteen through religious authority and social control, creating a tense, coercive dynamic. ## In the story ### [Lassiter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/riders_of_the_purple_sage_se/chapters/i-lassiter) Elder of Jane's church, leads seven men to confront Jane and Venters. He is determined to whip Venters and drive him from Utah, embodying the harsh authority of the Mormon creed. ### [Cottonwoods](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/riders_of_the_purple_sage_se/chapters/ii-cottonwoods) Mentioned as the Elder who threatened Venters and is in love with Jane; his actions drive the conflict. ### [III: Amber Spring](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/riders_of_the_purple_sage_se/chapters/iii-amber-spring) Mentioned as Venters' antagonist; seen riding at night with Jerry Card; his cottage is dark. ### [The Masked Rider](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/riders_of_the_purple_sage_se/chapters/v-the-masked-rider) Referenced in Venters's thoughts as an adversary who would be surprised by his feat. ### [The Mill-Wheel of Steers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/riders_of_the_purple_sage_se/chapters/vi-the-mill-wheel-of-steers) Implied to be behind the calling-in of Jane's riders and the pressure on her to marry a Mormon. ### [The Daughter of Withersteen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/riders_of_the_purple_sage_se/chapters/vii-the-daughter-of-withersteen) Confronts Jane in the village, criticizing her hiring of Lassiter and revealing his secretive, oppressive nature. ### [Faith and Unfaith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/riders_of_the_purple_sage_se/chapters/xi-faith-and-unfaith) Mentioned in Lassiter's accusation as a man who has killed and drawn on others, representing the darker side of Mormonism. ### [XV: Shadows on the Sage-Slope](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/riders_of_the_purple_sage_se/chapters/xv-shadows-on-the-sage-slope) Tull is confronted by Venters in the meeting-room. He is accused of conspiring with Oldring to steal Jane's red herd and of persecuting Jane. ### [Oldring's Knell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/riders_of_the_purple_sage_se/chapters/xviii-oldring-s-knell) Appears briefly at his cottage door, then bars it; Venters sends a message to him about Jerry Card. ### [Lassiter's Way](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/riders_of_the_purple_sage_se/chapters/xx-lassiter-s-way) Mentioned as being away from the village with most of his riders, expected back later; Jane had offered to marry him to get Fay back. ### [XXII: Riders of the Purple Sage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/riders_of_the_purple_sage_se/chapters/xxii-riders-of-the-purple-sage) Leads a band of riders pursuing Venters and Bess, but is outrun. ### [XXIII: The Fall of Balancing Rock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/riders_of_the_purple_sage_se/chapters/xxiii-the-fall-of-balancing-rock) Leads the pursuing riders on a white horse, relentlessly chasing Jane and Lassiter. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/riders_of_the_purple_sage_se/characters/tull - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/riders_of_the_purple_sage_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/riders_of_the_purple_sage_se/characters