The European mind cannot comprehend that any of our backwoods jug-hooters are so steeped in musical tradition and possessed of such virtuosity that even a naive lad may meet Satan's own challenge in a violin duel. Johnny's sole moment of hesitation in wagering his very mortal soul was the thought that it may be sinful to accept the devil's bet.

P.S. Before fiddlin' against the devil, Johnny boasts that he is the best that has ever been and that Satan will regret his challenge. This braggadocious act overturns thousands of years of Western understanding of hubris as fatal flaw going all the way back to ancient Greece.