So he's back from the dead?

I think he was an avenging ghost since he was shot in the tub at point blank and came out without a scratch. I also see Pale Rider as a sequel to it where he is a ghost or avenging angel. Note the circle of bullet hole scars on his back when he had his shirt off, how Stockburn said he looked familiar but said the man he was think of was dead. Also the look of shock on Stockburn's face when he came face to face with him and he shot him point blank and the bullet did nothing to him.

I read somewhere that Clint Eastwood's background on the character that he had been one of Stockburn's deputies and challenged Stockburn when Stockburn went over to the dark side. Stockburn had murdered him by shooting him in the back. Like I said, I think he was basically the same character, an avenging ghost/angel, in two very good movies. May he thoroughly enjoy his retirement from acting and direct as long as he wants to.

As I understand it, the original script did state that but the information didn't make it into the film itself - leaving the stranger's identity open to question.

I still prefer the avenging angel concept - primarily based on the scene where the woman shot him virtually point blank in the bathtub without even wounding him.