The story follows (Michael Landon) as he witnesses the immediate aftermath of a mine cave-in .
: A pivotal 10-minute conversation occurs between Joe and his father, Ben Cartwright (Lorne Greene) . Ben argues that life is sacred and humans do not have the right to end it, even to ease suffering, famously asking Joe, "Don't you know?" . "Bonanza" The Quality of Mercy(1963)
: Bill Clark, who played Sara's father, was famously known as the regular stunt double for Dan Blocker (Hoss) . The story follows (Michael Landon) as he witnesses
: Joe’s childhood friend, Seth Pruitt, admits to killing his future father-in-law, claiming the man's back was broken and he was begging to be put out of his misery . : Bill Clark, who played Sara's father, was
: Richard Rust played the troubled Seth Pruitt, while Nancy Rennick portrayed Sara, the woman caught between her father's death and her fiancé's secret .
: The episode holds a somber place in history as it aired the same week President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. In parts of Britain, the broadcast was pulled immediately following the news of his death . Production Highlights
: The title is drawn from William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice , specifically Portia's speech: "The quality of mercy is not strain'd; it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven..." .