Bret Harte was an American author and poet, best remembered for his accounts of pioneering life in California. Harte moved to California in 1853, later working there in a number of capacities, including miner, teacher, messenger, and journalist. His story, "The Luck of Roaring Camp," appearing in The Overland Monthly magazine, propelled Harte to nationwide fame. "The Bell-Ringer of Angel's" details the relationship between Madison Wayne, one of two brothers who "spend their Sundays at a grim Presbyterian tabernacle in the next town, to which they walked ten miles, where, it was currently believed, "hell fire was ladled out free," and "infants damned for nothing", and the wife of Alexander McGee, the bell-ringer of the title. McGee earned his title by his accuracy in shooting at a mechanical taget which rang a bell when hit. There is a history between "Mad" Wayne and Mrs. McGee, who fancied him before marrying her husband. Will Andrew's rifle aim at a different target?
Other tales in this collection include "Johnnyboy," "Young Robin Gray," "The Sheriff of Siskyou," "A Rose of Glenbogie," "The Mystery of the Hacienda," "Chu Chu," and "My First Book."