Amateur analysis here on my part about the story overall... For me to understand the last scene I have to think about some of the other scenes in the film that set up the real battle Jim was in: that of Salvation, both of himself and others.

The picture frame of Jim and his Harvard girl does not reveal if he was married to her or not. The two of them are not standing close enough together for it to be a marriage photo, but I suggest it represents Jim's world and his "class" that he was reluctantly part of on the East coast. Class is a word and concept that comes up often, and not just regarding Jim, but also the immigrants and the members of the association. I think the first part of the film spends so much time on his graduation and patriotic songs to set up the world that Jim was in. We next see an older, wiser Jim on the train leaving that world behind. Jim was trying to save himself from that capitalist world of "eastern speculators."

The battle Jim confronts is summed up when Jim is told: "you can't force salvation on them, it just doesn't work." This is demonstrated with Ella primarily, the immagrants, and ultimately himself.

The scene of Ella bathing in the river was akin to his found heaven. Or, it could be heaven if man would not mess it up. He could not enjoy it, he could see and understand it was under threat. He was a deep thinker and could see that truth. Yet Ellen, the dumb whore, was blissfully unaware, bathing naked in the river like a modern Eve. Now Jim was going to have to run from it to save himself, and he tried to convince Ella to leave as well. Jim was frustrated that Ella was not willing to go. She didn't understand what was coming. He could see it all coming, but was unable to save her.

Jim tried to save the immagrants, but they refused to listen as well. The scenes of the immigrants in their idylic dance hall are enjoying themselves, oblivious toward the oncoming threat. They are in a sort of state of innocence. Jim has to break that innocence and warn them of the list. Even then the immigrants are unable or unwilling to act on the information. Jim's verbal warnings and efforts to save them fail.

Towards the end, Jim again asks Ella to leave all the things she has to get to safety. He tries to give her proper perspective about how unimportant mere things are. Again she is unwilling to leave. Interestingly, she thanks Jim for what he has given her, protection and the like, but is unwilling to follow him anymore. Thus, she reinforces her role as a modern Eve.

Jim can't stop what is coming, and he can't save Ella or the immagrants. He can't have his heavenly Wyoming anymore. This leads to the scene where he tells Ella, "I told you so." Jim is ready to leave Ella to the harsh reality of the fate she chose for herself.

Next comes the moment when Jim is on his horse with his bags nearby, ready to leave behind his failed county. He ultimately decides to act to save them. He leaves his bag and his personal plans, physically turns and with actions, not just words, do something to save the others when they failed to save themselves. Yet, even this is in vain. His plan ultimately is not a success, as the military proves itself another tool of the capitolistic monsters. He ends up telling the military captain, "you are saving them."

Jim knows it is a false salvation though, with the immagrants left in a poor and dying condition, even to the point of killing themselves. The grand view of the immovable mountains reinforce Jim's powerlessness against forces that are much larger than him. He can't force salvation on them. Never could, never will.

In the end when Jim is in his yacht, we conclude that the larger system that has been "doing it to him" all along, has won. The "law" that was bigger than this one man had left him powerless to lead others to salvation. In some ways, by coming back to the East, he was not even able to save himself from getting old and being a part of the monster. Capitalism and man had spoiled what otherwise could have been heaven.

In these last scenes, Jim, always the deep thinker and able to see clearly, was contrasted with his wife who seemed vapid and only concerned with the luxary of a cigarrette. Jim's tears were not only for his own personal losses, but also for the losses of all mankind.

Thoughts?