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- Daisy Crane, the village good-for-nothin' and town charge, is farmed out for her keep to Mrs. Gray. Mischievous and eternally at war with the rest of the children, Daisy is a burden to the townspeople and particularly to the schoolmarm. After a stormy episode at school, the board decides to employ a male teacher and engages Robert Manning, a man of deep understanding. He is instructed not to spare the rod, and special attention is directed to Daisy, His handling of the good-for-nothin' seems to awaken a new spirit in the girl and soon she realizes that Manning is a friend. In his determination to develop what good there is in the girl, he gives her his undivided attention outside of school hours, all of which affords the busy-bodies of the community food for scandal. The gradual taming of Daisy becomes obvious and a deep friendship springs up between the child and the school master. One day Daisy sees Manning walking with two other girl pupils of the class and she becomes jealous. Her childish attitude at viewing the situation causes her to run away and brood. In the meantime, Mrs. Gray institutes a search for her and the scandal mongers of the town and the school board suggest that Daisy could be found at Manning's home. Unable to control her jealousy, Daisy at last decides that she will return a little book of poems that the schoolmaster gave her as a present. She goes to his home and as she is about to enter she sees the school board coming toward the house. Fearing them she secludes herself close by. Manning receives the members of the school board and invites them to enter his home. While they are inside, Daisy gains an entrance to the place and hides in a closet in another room. The board members tell of Daisy's disappearance and almost openly accuse the schoolmaster of having her in hiding in his place. He therefore invites them to make a search. This startles Daisy and she runs for the window to escape, but in doing so attracts attention by the noise she makes. Manning is astonished. The deductions are inevitable. Manning cannot explain and Daisy will not. Realizing he must act quickly, Manning announces Daisy as his future wife stating he will marry her on the morrow. The members of the board leave the house and stand gossiping outside, one urging that Manning be informed of the origin of the child. Manning escorts Daisy to her home and as he arrives he is confronted by Silas Hodges and others who tell him of the Brat's life. Daisy steals away and Manning finds only traces of her at the lake.
- Symbolisms: "The Trap." Scene 1: A bear trap on the ground; a man's hand enters the picture from above, presses down the jaws, shows how they work, and as they spring back into place his hand begins to scatter the leaves over the trap. Scene 2: Close-up of a saloon doorway, showing the swing doors opening in and springing back to place. The movement is the same as the bear trap. "The Bait." Scene 3: A bear trap is shown on the ground covered with leaves. A man's hand enters from above with a leg of meat. He holds it above the trap for a moment then lays it gently on the trap. Scene 4: The saloon swing doors are again drawn back by unseen bands and as they open just wide enough to make a panel in center of picture "Margot, the bait," is shown sitting on the edge of a table, and talking and laughing to unseen people. "The Game." Scene 5: Close-up is shown of rocky background. A puma is shown coming from behind the rocks with a snarl. Scene 6: Close-up of exterior of barroom doors. Camera shows Ed Mitchell, the stranger, halt intoxicated and a man's hand on his shoulder trying to lead him into the barroom. He registers disinclination, laughs in maudlin manner. Man's hand urges him in. Camera then shows Tom, the gambler, with his arms reaching out toward Mitchell; he opens doors and gently pushes Mitchell through. The story opens in a symbolic vein: the bait, the game, the trap. The analogy is drawn between the catching of big game with the usual bait in the trap, and the luring of big game with the bait of lovely but pathetic Margot, victim of a low man whom she believes to be her husband, and who has her in his power through a hold upon her father. The bait is sent into the saloon to fleece "the stranger" with the big roll. He discovers the game, the trap and the bait and a shooting tray takes place. Tom, the gambler, is badly wounded, and his partner in the game, "Old Bill," is slightly injured. Margot, believing Tom dead, escapes with her father. The scene then switches to the big trapping vicinity of which Bruce Powell, the trapper is the big man. He is shown trapping pumas. "Old Bill" and Margot make their way across country. A trap has been laid for game and "Old Bill," stumbling with exhaustion and illness, falls into it. Margot's screams attract Powell, who hurries to the scene. He carries the old man to his cabin where he expires after confessing to Margot that Tom was not her husband. The trapper soon learns to love the girl. Four months later they are happily married when the vultures, headed by Tom, arrive in the community, having exhausted the old fields. The wages have been dissipated and the next check being belated the trappers mutter and rebel against Powell, the paymaster, holding him responsible. Powell draws his own earnings from the bank and by announcing that the money is forthcoming stems the tide of rebellion. The father of Greta, the child of a neighbor, cared for by Margot, spends his hours in the saloon gambling and drinking. Margot, with Greta, goes to the saloon to get the derelict and is discovered by Tom. He follows her to her cabin. Powell has placed his money in his home for safekeeping. Tom makes Margot give him the money while Powell is absent. Arriving home he discovers his loss and attributes the crime to some outsider. The men, hearing of it, are calmed by the arrival of the belated payroll. Meantime, Tom fleeces the trappers of their remaining wages. Powell comes to the saloon and announces that the men are to be paid. Tom recognizes the purse of Margot, which Powell carries, and makes reflections upon Margot's character. Powell threatens to kill him if he finds he lies. In the meantime the trappers have left the bunk house for the paying station. Tom steals the money which the trappers have pooled from their earnings, leaving the big knife of Powell to deflect the blame. Tom then goes to Powell's cabin and demands that Margot turn over the money to him. She promises to meet him later with the money. Mitchell, the stranger, who also comes to the community, overhears the conversation. Margot meets Tom. The scene is witnessed by Powell from the distance. Margot leads Tom to a trap, killing him. The trappers, receiving no money and finding their fund stolen, suspect Powell through finding his knife. They hurry to string him up and find him lifting the dead Tom from the trap. Mitchell suggests that they search the body of Tom. The stolen money is found. Mitchell then looks at the fainting Margot and the stricken trapper. He leads the mob away from the scene, saying that the settlement is between these two souls. Powell's arm goes around Margot in love and protection and they go toward their cabin.
- Marion, who has kept house for her father since her mother's death, has two suitors, Rufus Strong, the village blacksmith, and Eph Little, the village beau brummel. She favors the latter and marries him. After their marriage Eph becomes a loafer, and Marion does the work, greatly to her father's disgust. One of the village boys has become a sailor and comes home with the wonderful tales of the sights he has seen, and Eph decides that that is the only thing that will make a man of him. He steals off with the family wealth. The father, hearing someone moving about in the living room, decides to investigate, and gets to the door in time to see Eph remove the money from the old sock, but doesn't stop him as he is glad to get rid of him. Months later the villagers learn that the ship on which Eph sailed was lost with every soul aboard, and immediately inform Marion. After a long period of mourning, Marion marries Rufus, but still worships her dead hero. Meanwhile Eph is tossed up on an unchartered island, and is rescued by the natives, and being the only white man on the island, is worshiped by all of the women, much to the displeasure of the natives. A ship being blown out of her course by a storm, sends ashore for water, and the captain offers to take Eph back to civilization, but he is too well pleased where he is, and refuses to go with them. As the crew starts back for the ship the natives beg them to take the bad man away, which they finally succeed in doing. Like the proverbial bad penny Eph turns up and walks right into the house, not knowing that his wife has re-married and has a child, but notwithstanding this fact she rushes into his arms like a happy child. Rufus tells Marion to choose between he and their child or Eph, and she decides to stick to the father of her child.
- David Quixans. a young Jewish violinist living in the town of Kishineff, Russia, is left an orphan through the massacre of the orthodox Jews upon the "Black Easter" of Russia, when under the leadership of Baron Revandel, Governor of Kishineff, who has been commissioned by the Czar to baptize one-third and massacre one-third of all the Jews in Russia, he is left orphaned in his ruined home. The sympathy of Vera, the daughter of the Baron, is aroused in connection with the Jewish outrage of which she is a witness. While upon an errand of mercy, she attracts the attention of the Czar's spies and is subsequently made a prisoner, where her father refuses to recognize her and she is sentenced to Siberia. A Jewish woman who wishes to join her husband in Siberia induces Vera to change places with her and Vera successfully makes her escape upon a trading vessel bound for America. David is exiled with the Jews to America. He joins his uncle in "The Music Master" and "Grandmother" in New York. Vera in America finds employment in a Russian Mission upon the East Side, where she attracts the attention, by her beauty and culture, of Quincy Davenport, a patron of music in search of genius upon the East Side. Vera interests Davenport in David, whom she has met, and Davenport offers to send him abroad to study, realizing the possibilities of his music. David refuses to be patronized by a man who had no greater aim in life than amusement. Instead, he interests a German music master in a wonderful symphony symbolic of the amalgamation of all the foreign races in the great "melting pot" of America. David and Vera through a bond of music find themselves in love with each other to the horror of David's uncle, who considers David false to his race in loving a Christian. Davenport cables Vera's father of her presence in America and her engagement to a common Jew peddler. The Baron hastens to America, where meeting Vera he reproaches her for forgetting her country and birth. Vera finally induces him to meet David. Throughout the year the memory of the man who ordered the massacre that left him an orphan has been an obsession with David, and when he sees and recognizes in Vera's father the specter of the past, he is overcome with horror, declaring that a river of blood separates them forever. Overcome with sorrow, the Baron offers to let David take his life, but at the crucial moment David discovers a broken string upon his violin and realizes that rage had for the moment swept aside the brotherhood of the great land of the free. He controls himself and leaves the Baron. The great symphony finished, David appears before a brilliant audience and is proclaimed a genius. The audience is swept to its feet with enthusiasm as the music vividly portrays the saving of all the races in the great crucible of the "melting pot" of America. Overpowered by his success, David leaves the theater seeking refuge in the solemn quiet of the night, where he is followed by Vera, who convinces him that here in the new land all race prejudice has been swept aside and love and liberty can walk unmolested together.
- Crossing the veldt in Africa, "ticket of leave" man Dick Caulder comes across a prairie wagon and sees a lion about to enter. He kills the lion and finds within a dead woman and a little girl of about seven years, crying beside her. Taking the child, he finds her father further on, lying dead. He had been on his way to a doctor for his wife when he encountered a lion. Dick Caulder takes the child to a lonely cabin. Being a criminal of long career, he pursues his dark ways. He takes as partner another evil fellow by the name of Tom. The girl grows up in a dark and menacing atmosphere. The two men are diamond '"fences," getting the diamonds from a kaffir and passing them to smugglers. Sid Rolfe is sent from a London office to discover the source of leakage. It is a month before he finds any duo. He then discovers Caulder in a low saloon, and comparing him to an old photograph taken from the Rogues' Gallery, he spots him as a desperate character. Following the men, he sees the meeting with the kaffir and calls the halt. They, shooting wildly, escape him, but he marks their vicinity and later is saved from a lion by Marta, who gets him to the cabin. He finds a hand-bill of reward and suspicions that he is in the den of thieves. He questions the girl, learns her story, and is persuaded by her to hide in the room above when she hears the men coming. They discover his presence, know he is the man that is after them, and trap him, inasmuch as he cannot come down without being attacked. After many ruses, he comes down and bravely enters a battle with them. In his encounter with the lion, his horse has escaped and returned to headquarters. Suspicion is aroused and a searching party sent for him. The party arrives at the crucial moment. Caulder is killed and Marta, the poor little victim, is freed at last from her dark surroundings. She goes into the sunlight with Sid.
- Stanley Clark seduces innocent young Marion in a hotel room, then tears out the incriminating page from the hotel register to use for blackmailing. Years later, Marion marries Governor John Loring whose brother, Richard, overhears Clark extorting money from Marion. Richard follows Marion to Clark's room where she begs for more time to raise the required money. As Richard fights with Clark, Marion picks up a gun and accidentally shoots and kills the blackmailer. Richard takes the blame for the murder, is convicted and sentenced to be executed. Out of guilt and fear, Marion remains silent during the trial, but eventually tells her husband the truth. In order to save his brother, John sacrifices the governorship and moves his family to another city.
- H.M. Stanley exploring Darkest Africa, struggles on through the jungle with his dissatisfied native followers. With the assistance of Bonavita, who has joined him, and the exercise of the strictest discipline, he manages to keep his load bearers on the move. But when his alert eye relaxes for a moment there are desertions. Food is scarce and complaints are so numerous that Stanley, coming upon a small village, decides to pitch his camp. Subsequently, when death from lack of provisions is imminent, Stanley names this resting place "Starvation Camp." The fast disappearing rations are measured out in small quantities and close guard is kept over the scant supplies. Ada, Nina and Jack, with the Old Hag as a guide, decide to keep near Stanley. The White King, being more determined than ever to regain possession of Ada and force her to become his wife, formulates a plot to lead the little party astray. He sends a trusted lieutenant to intercept them. The lieutenant declares that he has forsaken allegiance to the White King and wishes to help Ada. Promising to lead them to a place where great quantities of food is hidden, they unsuspectingly follow. As night falls they prepare their camp and light a fire to keep the animals away. This serves as a beacon for the White King. In the middle of the night a powerful hand is placed over Ada's mouth, her cries are stifled and she is abducted without abducting Jack, Nina or any of the others. Ada is conveyed to the edge of a remote village. The White King arranges that a missionary perform the marriage ceremony. While the White King is gloating over Ada's helplessness a hue and cry arises from the village. The Raiding King has entered the village to sack it and make slaves of its inhabitants. Being rivals in the practice of cruelty, the White King dashes away to gather his shattered forces and to offer battle. While they are away Ada escapes and rides into the jungle, where she meets Bonavita, Jack and Nina with their followers who have organized a searching party for her. They witness the fight between the two kings. The Raiding King wins the battle and the White King's escaping natives. Ada, with her companions, is captured and brought back to camp. The guiding party from Stanley's camp being too small to effect a rescue, hurries back to Stanley for enforcements. Stanley and his entire party start on a rescue trip. Meanwhile Ada is obliged to undergo the torments of the White King and the Raiding King, both of whom curry her friendship. The Old Hermit is impatient and hurries ahead of Stanley's party. Through a ruse he effects the release of his friends and they have started to escape when an alarm is sounded. In the blackest of the night another battle follows. Stanley's party arrives on the scene, and pitching into the natives, conquer them. The slaves are released and a search instituted for Ada, Jack, Nina and their party. They have disappeared, however, as if swallowed up by the earth. Disconsolately, Stanley retraces his steps. His next move is to locate the missing party.
- Captain Vincent is in command of an outpost in Arabia. Mr. Calvin, a naturalist on his way to the interior to collect fauna or flora, presents a letter of introduction, as he wishes to leave his daughter who accompanies him, at this post, and to await letters of importance. While there are soldiers in the post, the servants are natives. Carol is oppressed by their silent ways, and ever-present watchfulness, but the young captain assures her that she will become used to it in time. As the days pass, the young people become more interested in each other. One day one of the servants steals a razor from the Captain who orders him whipped and in revenge the native conspires to kidnap Carol and sell her as a slave to a traveling band of Arabs. The letters arriving, the naturalist, escorted by the Captain, starts for the interior. This pleases the Arab as he will now be able to carry out his plans. He sends one of his tribe to the interior to get an elephant that he may get the girl through the jungle. Carol, in spite of warning, leaves the post and the Arab follows her and lifting her to a horse, rides away with her. The other native aids him. Lieutenant Dagwell, learning of the abduction, hastens in search of her father and the Captain to tell them of the girl's fate. In the meantime, the wandering tribe refuses to send back the elephant to their leader as they are terrorized by a man-eating lion in the neighborhood. When the Arab gets the girl to the hut appointed as the meeting place, he does not find the elephant. He is afraid to lose time, so leaving the girl pinioned in the hut, he starts away to find the elephant. He is caught by the lion and killed. A night of horror follows, in which the hunting party struggle through the jungle hoping to find the girl, while she, a prey to terror, is menaced by the animals who try to get in the hut. Just at daybreak the hunters come upon the hut, and the shot of the Captain kills the lion, who has at last broken the door and is springing within. So all ends happily.
- Mary Harding and Frank Manley love each other and the old folks agree that they shall marry. A week later a mining expert, accompanied by Devoe, a stockholder, while prospecting, finds a rich vein of silver ore on the Harding farm. Frank witnesses this discovery and follows the two men to the farm house just in time to prevent the Hardings from selling their farm with its hidden treasures for a paltry sum of money. After a fierce fight Frank destroys the bill of sale and the Hardings are the possessors of a fortune. Devoe has been attracted by the beauty of Mary and he determines to win her and the wealth that will be hers. The next day Devoe calls and so turns the mother's head with his attention to herself and Mary that when Frank calls the scheming mother tells him that now they are rich "Mary can marry a better man." Poor Mary surrenders to her scheming mother and becomes betrothed to Devoe. The wedding day finds Mary bedecked in bridal finery, but most unhappy. Meanwhile, Frank has come for an explanation from his sweetheart. The English butler who orders him away is thrown down the stairway and Frank enters to find Devoe, who insolently bids him leave the house. Frenzied by such treatment, Frank knocks Devoe down and the two men have a terrific fight, which is interrupted by the entrance of the father with Mary's note. Frank dashes out to find her. The old man follows. Back in the old home once more. Mary in her old gingham dress needs only one thing to make her perfectly happy, that is Frank, who enters, and then, Old Father enters with the minister, who marries the couple.
- In punishment for a mortal sin committed, the soul of an Egyptian Prince has been reincarnated in the body of Monte, an African lion, and as time passes the fallen one ever seeks release to the soul of man. Sin has not been eliminated from the world, and extreme evil resides in the heart of Krama, an Indian Rajah. There is but one influence which this wicked Prince fears and that is the influence of the lion Monte which is now a member of his menagerie. Major Grey, an English army officer, is stationed at the military post in the district over which the Rajah rules. The major's daughter, Margaret, has just been betrothed to Capt. Carlyle, a young officer in the major's command. The Rajah conceives a wild infatuation for Margaret and being possessed of a weird hypnotic power, he proceeds to exercise it on the young girl to further his evil designs. The young captain is mystified at Margaret's growing indifference towards him and her apparent interest in the Rajah, not being aware that his sweetheart's will and mind are under the control of the Prince. At an embassy fete the Rajah, by silent command, compels the girl to meet him in the gardens. The captain jealously follows them, witnesses Margaret about to yield to the Prince's advances and promptly challenges him to combat. The guests interfere and a tragedy is averted. Margaret's father believes the captain to be a victim of unreasonable jealousy, and thus the breach between the young couple is widened. Irritated by the apparent animosity of the lion Monte towards him, the Rajah orders the beast killed, but the animal's keeper, who has become greatly attached to the lion, cannot induce himself to carry out his orders and to avoid his master's displeasure sets the lion free in the desert. The Rajah utilizes his power over Margaret and forces her to a clandestine meeting, whereupon he proceeds to forcibly carry her off. A guard, who has witnessed the event, reports the occurrence to Capt. Carlyle. The young captain, with a small detachment of his company, proceeds to the Rajah's palace to demand the return of Margaret, because from the reported events he now suspects the Prince's undue influence over his sweetheart. A servitor of the Rajah, whose ill-will he has gained, informs the captain of the secret retreat to which the Rajah takes his favorites and from whence they never return. Meanwhile, the Prince, who is carrying the unconscious girl across the desert, encounters Monte, the lion, which attacks him. The Prince is killed, and, having destroyed a thing of evil, the soul of the old Egyptian Prince is released from the body of the beast. The captain, in rapid pursuit of the abductor of his sweetheart, comes upon Margaret just as she regains consciousness, and now relieved of the Rajah's influence and once again her old self, a happy reconciliation takes place between the young lovers.
- Expert photographer Paul Grainy receives an assignment from a society of Natural History to go to Africa to gather specimens and photographs of the beasts of the jungle. He is accompanied by his wife, Margaret, and Thelma, their daughter, and Al Morse, his chemist. Arriving at their destination they make camp at the edge of the jungle. A band of natives have established a settlement on the other side of the jungle near a stream. Among the number is the water-carrier, the drudge of the tribe, whose only friend is Ena, a big elephant. Because of his love for the beast, the carrier arouses the enmity of the Chief and he is ordered thrashed. Ena comes to the rescue of the defenseless man. Paul engages guides and starts off into the jungle. He leaves his wife and child behind in the care of Al, his chemist. Al is satisfied with the manner in which events have turned out, for alone with the young wife, his cherished opportunity for love scenes with the little woman has come. The following day the chemist accidentally cuts his finger. He succeeds in arousing the sympathy of the wife, who volunteers to bandage the wound. The two enter the living tent and as Margaret binds the injured finger, Al embraces her. While she struggles with him Thelma is heard outside the tent. Al departs, leaving the wife in fear. Paul, in the thick of the jungle, is successful in his photographic work and with all of his plates and film exhausted he starts for the camp. He is greeted by his wife and baby but notices a change in Margaret. He questions her, but she fears to tell him the truth. The following day Paul and his party start out again. Some hours after the party has departed, Thelma wanders away from the camp and when nightfall comes she has not returned. Margaret is frantic, and she appeals to Al to help her find her child. With Thelma out of the way, the chemist believes he can gain his end, and Margaret's wishes fall on deaf ears. Paul comes in contact with the leopards and lions and the guides telling him that they are close to a nest of the beasts, he rigs up his flashlight apparatus, spreading out wires which cause an explosion when coming in contact with anything. Thelma has wandered into the jungle. Soon she hears the howling of a lion and she runs down a steep embankment, spraining her ankle. She crawls along. The lion is in pursuit. Thelma reaches a water hole where, not far away, Ena, the elephant, is waiting for the water-carrier. The youngster's screams are heard by Ena and the big beast answers the call. Ena picks Thelma up in her trunk and carries her to safety. The child and beast are found by the water-carrier and guided back to the natives' camp. A runner comes to the Grainy camp with plates which have been used and Al receives them. Margaret writes a letter to her husband and tells him of the disappearance of Thelma. The letter is delivered by the runner. Al develops the plates and is astonished when he comes across one showing Thelma and the elephant. He goes to Margaret and displays the plate and tells her that she is probably in the jungle with her father. With no one about, the chemist makes efforts to cause Margaret to be unfaithful to her husband with the result that the wife faints. When Margaret regains herself he proposes that they start out to find the party in the jungle. Margaret agrees. Paul receives his wife's letter and orders a hurried trip back to the camp. While riding fast he is thrown from his horse and forced to discontinue. The party is close to the native village and Paul is taken there and cared for. There he meets his daughter. While Al and Margaret are driving in the jungle, the chemist suddenly forces his obnoxious attentions upon her. She manages to get away, and providentially she walks into the native camp where she meets her husband and tells him of her predicament. Al, believing that Margaret is near, accidentally approaches the camp, Margaret sees him and informs her husband, who thrashes him. As he is backing away he fires at Paul. The bullet misses its mark. The chemist runs into Ena, who happens to be standing at the back of him. The beast throws the chemist upon the ground and crushes his brains out with his foot.
- Young English engineer Richard Mann has been commissioned to make a preliminary survey for a new railroad in South Africa. At a farewell luncheon at his club, the charm of the ultra-fashionable young ladies of the metropolis is the topic of discussion. The subject does not interest young Mann, who assures his friends that his work will always be his bride. In the Transvaal, the Boer population is resentful towards all modern improvements and particularly against the proposed encroachment of their lands for railroad purposes. Jan Kruger, a prosperous farmer and leader among his neighbors, was particularly bitter against any and all changes in the general conditions of their country. His daughter, Hilda, a sweet and lovable young miss, quite naturally was a partisan to her father's views. These were the conditions that Richard was obliged to contend with upon his arrival at the field of his activities, in addition to the hardships of his work and the dangers of the wild beast-infested jungle through which he was to blaze the way. Hontas, a half-breed, was Kruger's foreman and had long cherished a wild desire to win Hilda's love. While the old Burgher was away from home one day, Hontas, after being repulsed by the girl, attempts to use force, for which he receives a beating from her father, and is summarily discharged. Kruger is a man of violent temper and given to beating any lazy blacks who worked for him and has thus earned their hatred, which fact the discharged foreman uses for his purpose later on. The surveying party pitch their camp near Kruger's land and in the course of events, Richard calls upon Kruger with his credentials, but is ordered away at the point of a rifle. Hilda joins her father in berating the intruders. A few days later Richard rescues Hilda from the violence of the half-breed and wins her gratitude and also the knowledge that she is a most adorable young lady, and proceeds to mentally compare her with the fashion plates of his country. The appearance of the surveying party causes the Burghers to hold a meeting at the trading post, and Richard plans to attend this meeting to plead his cause. Hontas learns of the proposed all night absence of Hilda's father and plans to seize this opportunity to carry her off, enlisting the help of several of Kruger's resentful blacks to accomplish his purpose. Richard proceeds alone upon his mission, but is beset by lions in the dense jungle and forced to return to camp and in doing so is obliged to pass through Kruger's land. Hilda hears the approach of the vengeful half-breed and his followers and makes a brave resistance, but outnumbered, she is surprised from behind by one of the crafty blacks. Richard arrives upon the scene in time to save the girl from her captors, whom he puts to flight. The cowardly half-breed, knowing that quick justice awaits him if caught, seeks the darkness of the jungle for safety. The lions which blocked Richard's path, have been driven from their haunts by hunger and have invaded the outskirts of the settlement, surprising Hontas in his flight. A short pursuit, a vain struggle and Hilda was avenged by lions.
- Valentine Maynard, being ambitious to climb the social ladder, decided that his first steps must be to secure a brilliant marriage for his daughter, Dora. Sir Percival Bonehead therefore easily secured a cordial invitation to lay siege to the hand and heart of the great heiress, for Maynard had assured himself that while his Lordship's finances were low, his social position was exceedingly high. However they bad both reckoned without their host, for Dora was secretly engaged to Wallace Ross, who no sooner learned of her father's matrimonial plans for her than he decided to administer the love cure to his Lordship by having his mischievous chum, Roy Cheves, impersonate Dora. Sir Percival proposed and Roy promptly accepted with a vigorous embrace, and upon being complimented upon his strength, begged his Lordship to put on the gloves with him. The unsuspecting Earl complied and as a result received so sound a beating that Maynard's profuse apologies were of no avail. In the meantime, Dora and Wallace had been quietly married on the lawn, and when Maynard seemed inclined to storm, Roy again stepped forward with his boxing gloves, and as a result the young couple received a submissive father's blessing.
- Bruce Lloyd was in the seventh heaven, for not only had he won Clare Sutton's consent to an early marriage, but her father's approval and hearty congratulations. But be had forgotten the ambitious and commanding Mrs. Sutton, who no sooner learned of her daughter's engagement, than she announced that Sir Percival Bonehead had been selected as a docile and more suitable son-in-law. Fate, however, was for once against the energetic lady, for scarcely had she ordered the rebellious Clare to her room and followed to sing the Earl's praises, than Harry Way and Joe Howard dropped in on their way to the club, where they were preparing for the masquerade. Howard had on his bear's suit, and this gave Sutton and Lloyd an idea; they would send a letter to Sir Percival saying that he must join their lodge, the Royal Gazabos, if he wished to marry Clare, and what they would do to him. The Earl, being determined that nothing should prevent him from winning the Sutton millions, duly arrived to be initiated into their secret order. Way, with Howard in devil's costume, blindfolded his Lordship, and taking him to the top of the house, quietly dropped him through the chimney, and as he landed in the fireplace below, Sutton and Lloyd, in bears' costumes, pounced upon him and succeeded in tearing off every shred of the Earl's outer garments. In this ridiculous predicament, he managed to dart out of the door, and seeing a blanket on a horse nearby, snatched it and ran panting down the street. The owner of the blanket gave chase. Thus attired, with an officer and a mob at his heels. Sir Percival ran straight into the arms of Mrs. Sutton, who, Clare had seen to it, was ready to appear the moment her father and lover sent word. One glance at his Lordship and the scandalized lady fainted in the arms of her delighted husband. Clare and Lloyd fled to the minister, and Sir Percival, a sadder, and let us hope, wiser man, was led away by the officer.
- Annie Welslie, a charming society girl, and her maiden aunt Julia are stopping at a winter resort in Florida, where they meet Jack Barton and Bill Lanison, who are pals. Both are gamblers, but honest, big-hearted and true. Jack is a handsome, dashing fellow, very manly, somewhat rough, but one of nature's noblemen. Annie falls in love with Jack, but conceals the fact from her aunt, who is a great stickler for propriety, and Bill falls desperately in love with Aunt Julia. Lewis Waldron, who is also in love with Annie, tries to poison her mind again Jack, telling her that he is a gambler. Annie refuses to believe this; she defends Jack and dismisses Waldron, telling him she never wishes to see him again. Jack appears, offers Waldron his hand, which is refused. Waldron leaves vowing vengeance. Jack declares his love for Annie, and in spite of her aunt's objections, is accepted. Bill, his pal, taking courage from Jack's success, tries his hand at love-making, but is a dismal failure; however, he does not despair, and concludes to try again. Seven years elapse. We find Jack and Annie happily married and living on a ranch in Colorado. A little daughter (Irma) has been born to them, who is the pride of Jack's heart. Aunt Julia visits them, and Bill, who has been a true pal to Jack, sharing his fortune in the west, again meets her and renews his love-making in his earnest and ridiculous fashion, and this time with more success, as Aunt Julia accepts him on condition that he renounce gambling, which he does. Waldron, under the guise of a friend and brother, has also followed them west. Jack has implicit confidence and trust in his false friend, and being called away to Texas on business, leaves his wife and baby under Waldron's protection. After an affecting scene. Jack takes his departure, but in his grief leaves his traveling bag behind. No sooner bas Jack gone than Waldron proceeds to poison Annie's mind against Jack, telling her that there is another woman, and Jack has gone to Texas to open a gambling house. He convinces her of this by false proofs. In her desperation she decides to leave him and return with her aunt and Waldron, whom she regards only as a brother. During this scene Jack returns for his bag. He overhears the conversation and learns of Waldron's treachery. As they are about to depart, Jack intercepts them. Here follows a thrilling scene in which Jack attempts to kill Waldron. Annie stops him and pleads for Waldron's life. Jack permits Waldron to go unharmed, but tells Annie they can no longer live together. At this point Irma, their little daughter, in her baby way tries to reconcile them. Jack demands that the child choose between mother and father. The child attempts to join their hands. The father relents and decides to go away and leave the child with its mother, giving Annie, his wife, the house and all it contains. While he is in another part of the house looking for the deeds, Waldron returns to take Annie away. She sees her error and tells him to leave the house. He attempts to embrace her, when she picks up the revolver Jack has left on the table. She levels it at him at him and commands him to go. He does so. Jack in the meantime has returned and witnessed this scene, unseen by them. He goes to Annie, who is sobbing, and he begs her forgiveness. As he takes her lovingly in his arms, Irma kneels before them in an attitude of prayer.
- When Mr. Jonathan Swell of the city, glancing idly through the "for sale" column in his perusal of the morning paper, found that a small house in the country was to be sold, it took him just long enough to get into his hat and coat, leave orders with his housekeeper and catch the first train to look the place over. Arriving upon the scene, learning the right direction he jaunted happily along almost as light as the country air he breathed. He soon discovered his path led him along the banks of a stream. The warmth of the summer air; the re-awakened desires and pleasures of boyhood seized and permeated his veins. With an outburst of enthusiasm he looked carefully about, then hurriedly disrobing plunged into the stream to enjoy a good old-time swim. Miss Evergreen of Lonesomeburg, the seller of the house, above mentioned, had living with her, two nieces, the youngest of whom was a veritable tomboy and at the moment Mr. Swell was disporting himself in the water Jennie, the tomboy, was rolling an empty barrel along the lane. At a turn toward the river she was confronted by a pair of trousers hanging from a bush. "Just what we need for a scarecrow," said she, confiscating them at once and making a beeline for home, minus the barrel. The ensuing adventures of Mr. Swell in the barrel, a substitute for his trousers, which he later discard for a skirt belonging to Miss Evergreen, furnish an abundance of fun. In the last scene Mr. Swell is seen again in his palatial city home enjoying its comforts and vowing to never again seek divertisement in the country.
- Marion, the beautiful daughter of the Castlewoods of Maryland, is loved by Harry Fairfax, an American, and Captain Blackford, of the British Army. Fairfax is the favored suitor. The Revolution of '76 separates the lovers. Fairfax, now a lieutenant in an American regiment stationed near Castlewood, visits his sweetheart. A company of British soldiers under Captain Blackford take possession of the Castlewood house. Fairfax secretes himself in a closet. Captain Blackford enters and mad with love for Marion, he embraces and kisses her despite her struggles to get away from him. Fairfax comes to the rescue of the girl he loves. Blackford summons his soldiers who take Fairfax as a prisoner of war caught in the enemy's lines. Blackford then offers the terror stricken girl this proposition: if she will marry him he will permit Fairfax to escape; if Marion refuses, her lover will be shot as a spy. The Englishman gives her one hour to decide the matter. The brave girl, left alone, writes a message to the American Commander asking that he rescue Fairfax, and she sends her brother, a lad of ten years, on horseback to the camp. There follows a thrilling ride by the lad, shot at and pursued by the British outposts until he delivers the message to the American troops, who start to the rescue of their brave lieutenant. Blackford comes for Marion's answer and when he shows her, through the window, Fairfax bound and facing six rifles which, on a signal from the English captain, will kill her lover, Marion consents to marry the villain to save Fairfax. A minister, who has been summoned, makes Marion the wife of the dastardly Englishman. Fairfax is released and permitted to go in the uniform of a British soldier, but Blackford has instructed his villainous sergeant to have Fairfax shot as he is about to leave the British lines and the brave fellow falls seriously wounded. The American troops surround Castlewood, the British are driven off. Captain Blackford is killed and Marion is once more free to marry the man of her choice. Fairfax is discovered by American troops and taken to the Castlewood mansion, where Marion's skillful nursing restores him to health. Our last scene shows the marriage of the lovers. In the midst of their happiness a courier summons Fairfax to join his regiment, and the bride of a moment, shows her true American, spirit by fastening her husband's sword on his belt and bidding him go and fight for his country.
- Steve Martin, a sheep-herder, has been living happily in the love of his daughter, Beulah, when a shadow of his past looms up before him. Years before he had become involved in a counterfeiting scheme with Tom Walsh, who remained to expiate the crime, Steve escaping. Walsh, who alone shares Steve's secret, is now a nefarious character engaged in rounding up sheep which he steals and drives over the government lines. When he finds that he is in Steve's neighborhood his mind reverts to their common past. Cunning and revenge combined prompts him to go to Steve's house and by menacing him with the past makes him a tool in his criminal undertaking. Steve, to shield his daughter, weakly consents. In the meantime, Jim Thorne, a government ranger, in love with Beulah, senses something wrong and instructs his assistant to be on the lookout, promising to meet him at a certain time. Steve and Tom are rounding up sheep when the assistant appears. Tom kills the assistant, and Steve also fires but believes it was his shot that went true. The dying man manages to slash Tom on the arm in the death struggle. The assailants escape. Jim, according to arrangements, arrives at the spot and finds his dying comrade, who tells him that he has slashed his murderer on the arm and to look for him. He then dies and Jim, putting the body on his horse, takes him to Steve's house. A frightful storm comes up and Tom decides to take refuge in Steve's house. Looking through the window he sees Jim examining the arm of Steve and then knows that he is a marked man. The next day, overheard by Beulah, he threatens Steve and also the life of Jim. He has conceived a cunning revenge for the ranger. From the cave of a puma he takes several cubs to Jim's cabin knowing that the mother will follow. In the meantime Beulah goes to warn Jim of the criminal's design. Jim laughs at her fears but is on his guard when he happens to meet Tom. He is quicker with the gun than Tom, however. He fires and fearing that he has killed him Jim carries the unconscious form to his cabin and places it upon a couch under which the puma cubs are lying. He goes to a stream to get water to revive him, but while absent the revenge Tom so cunningly planned proves a boomerang, for the puma enters and finding Tom helpless draws his life. Beulah has heard the shots exchanged and she and her father, coming to the cabin, finds the two terrors of the fold have passed and the slash on the arm proves that the murderer of the ranger has been found.
- Jim Carr is the owner of the water rights which irrigate a great number of ranches. He is an unscrupulous man and decides to confiscate all the ranches by ruining the ranchers. This he does by raising the already high rates to an impossible price per acre. Robert Wilton owns a ranch and is the accepted lover of rancher's daughter Mary Mills. This arouses Carr's jealousy. When Wilton, whose lands are already perishing for water, received the notice of the extortionate raise, he rides furiously to the dam and accosts Carr, whom he finds there. Carr laughs him to scorn. Wilton rides to the sheriff and hopes that he may invoke the law, but the sheriff is "fixed" and he finds himself helpless. Murder comes into his heart almost when he thinks of the ruin that is coming to himself and other ranchers, who have pioneered and have made the desert to blossom like a rose and now are threatened by ruin. Mary's father deeply fears Carr, because his land is mortgaged to him, and when the outraged ranchers form a mob to take the law into their own hands, he joins the faction that comes to Carr's defense. One of the poor ranchers who has toiled for years on his little piece of land is a Mexican. He joins the mob, and in the deadly battle that ensues, he and Mary's father are killed. Robert in the meantime has refused to join the mob, believing that the law can still be invoked. After the battle, the Mexican woman, Pedro's wife, goes mad with grief and despair. She swears vengeance over her husband's dead body. She goes to Carr's cabin and shoots him. In the morning Robert goes to plead with Carr. He, to be sure that his own passion of soul does not master him, empties his gun and leaves it near the house. This, with the many quarrels and his words to the rancher, "Do not do this, boys, there is a better way," forms a chain of circumstantial evidence that convicts him of killing. In the meantime, the Mexican woman has gone into the desert, but realizing that another life is coming, she returns. Mary finds and nurses her, and through this charity Robert is saved. Justice at last hands down a decision and peace and love at last reign in the valley.
- Having conquered the Bungangetas and destroyed their village, Stanley and his party move onward to find Ada, who has been kidnapped by Andrea and taken through the jungle to reach Andrea's home. Jack, Ada's sweetheart, becomes impatient at the slow progress, and hurries ahead. In the jungle a tiger separates Andrea and Ada. She takes refuge in the hollow of a giant tree trunk where she finds some lion cubs. As she fondles them the lioness approaches and plunges at Ada, who drops prone to the ground. Her presence of mind has saved her for the animal, mystified, stands over her for a moment and then returns to her cubs. Ada silently rolls into a creek running close by. Ada unsuspectingly walks into the camp of the Babusosses, a band of crocodile worshipers, while they are making the religious sacrifice of throwing their girl-babies to the crocodiles. She denounces the ceremony and as the headman tosses an infant form into the water. Ada swims after and rescues it. A giant monster of the deep makes its way toward Ada but Jack, who has just arrived on the scene, takes in the situation at a glance, and swimming to her aid brings her to the shore unharmed. The incident is witnessed from the distance by Andrea who, realizing in it an opportunity to gain possession of Ada. explains to the headman that the act is a desecration to the Babusosses idol, and incites them to punish the malefactors. Andrea holds a peculiar authority over the Babusosses. At his command they tie Jack to a stake and send for a witch-doctor to marry Andrea and Ada. Preparations for the ceremony are well underway when native scouts report the approach of Stanley. The active force is divided into sections to meet the invaders. A pitched battle follows. Stanley's party is compelled to retreat and Stanley is captured. Ada and Jack escape, however. Not to be thwarted Andrea, now the spokesman for the victors, sends word to Ada that he will release Stanley if she will surrender herself to him. reminding her that Stanley has done so much to help her that she should not deny him. He adds unless she consents he will kill Stanley. The party is at its wits end at this news. Proceeding further in order to be out of the range of the Babusosses and to formulate plans for regaining Stanley, they meet Livingston. The forces of the two parties united, an attack is made upon Andrea with the result that the Babusosses are overwhelmingly Stanley and Livingston and Jack are united, and all the expedition turned into success.
- John David, a spender, promises marriage to the Worldly Woman. He suggests by letter that their engagement be announced at a big dinner he will give. The Worldly Woman is also admired by the Libertine, who calls at the Worldly Woman's apartment and is admitted by a Japanese butler whom he abuses, arousing a hatred which the Jap keeps well under control. The Libertine attempts to make love the Worldly Woman but she holds him off by flaunting David's offer of marriage in his face. When she leaves the room the libertine turns his attentions to a Japanese maid, the wife of Yamato, the Jap butler. His attempt to caress her frightens her and she screams, bringing Yamato into the room and between the two struggling people. The Libertine slaps Yamato across the face for what he terms insolence. The little Jap bows his way out but with suppressed anger in His heart. The night of the big dinner arrives and John announces his coming marriage. One of the suddenly discovers that there are but thirteen people at the table, and John leaves the party to go out and find the fourteenth. He chances to meet the Wanderer, an individual he once knew but who he does not recognize. John meets a pretty girl and grabs her by the arm and begs her to join his party. The Wanderer makes John let her go. John is furious but the soothing words of reproach of the Wanderer change his mind, whereupon he smilingly admits his wrong, gives him his hand and takes him to the banquet room. The newcomer is greeted with hilarity and is called upon to speak. After a toast he turns to John and quietly but forcibly berates him for his waste. He describes how this waste would give life to starving families and as he finishes a butler enters with a telegram which reads: "Cut expenses immediately. Your entire fortune swept away. Letter explains." The guests leave, and John is left alone with the Wanderer, and he asks the Wanderer's identity. The Wanderer answers: "I am your conscience." Thereafter the Wanderer is called Conscience. John and Conscience go to the home of the Worldly Woman, Conscience remaining at the door. John discovers her in the arms of the Libertine. She says that the Libertine is now her accepted lover. John attacks the Libertine and flinging him over a couch attempts to throttle him. From under the draperies of the couch a brown hand steals. It clutches a long needle which it plunges into the neck of the Libertine. The head of the Libertine falls back dead. John thinks he has strangled his adversary. He and Conscience leave for the west. Days pass. On the train he reads in a newspaper that evidence points to the Woman's guilt and that she has been indicted for murder. The presence of Conscience torments him and to escape he leaps from the train and boards a freight train going in the same direction. Conscience follows, however. They take refuge in an open coal car where they are held up by two tramps and forced to exchange their clothing and to give up their valuables. The town of Laurel Run is in the throes of excitement, a string of horses belonging to the sheriff having been stolen. The unknown criminal is the Gambler and he has sold the horse to two Mexicans. One of the horses, a pony, and the Sheriff's favorite mount, escapes the Mexicans and wanders into an open plain. John and Conscience, discovered by the train crew, are thrown from the car and wandering along come upon the pony. John mounts it and with Conscience at his side, goes to Laurel Run. The sight of two vagabonds entering the town, one of them riding the Sheriff's pony, is positive proof to the villagers that the strangers are the thieves; that is, all except the Sheriff's daughter, the postmistress of the village. Instinctively she feels they are innocent. The Gambler proclaims that they be punished, and incites a mob to wreak its vengeance. The Girl steps in, however, and at the point of a gun stays them off, pending the return of her father, who, with a posse, has gone after the thieves. Meanwhile the Sheriff returns with the stolen horses and the crowd's temper changing, it disperses. In time John becomes a popular citizen. He has fallen in love with the Girl, much to the chagrin of the Gambler. Through the Girl's efforts John gets a place as a rural free delivery letter carrier. Meanwhile the Gambler's antipathy for John has increased, and he attempts to find a way to discount him in the eyes of the Girl. One day he spies John intently reading a newspaper which carries a story to the effect that the Woman had been acquitted in the Libertine murder case and that a search has been instituted for John David, whom she has accused. John hurries away leaving the paper lying on the ground. The Gambler picks it up and divines through the story the cause of John's agitation, wires the New York police department of John's whereabouts. John proposes marriage to the Girl and is accepted. Some days elapse when a long legal-looking envelope addressed to the Sheriff arrives. John discovers it as he sorts the mail. Fearing the worst, he succumbs to temptation, opens it and finds an announcement of a reward for his capture. Resolving to keep his secret he places the envelope in his pocket. Later a stranger arrived in the city. His mission was unknown, though he posed as an automobile salesman. The Gambler, still alert for evidence, shadows John and one evening finds him alone in his cabin gazing meditatively at the reward sheet and the photo of the Girl laying on the table before him. The Gambler enters and at the point of a gun obtains the sheet. A fight follows, a lamp is knocked down, the house is set into flames and John, after overcoming the Gambler, escapes just before the house collapses. The next day John and the Girl are to be married. The Stranger enters the post-office, obtains his mail from John and leaves. At noon the wedding ceremony is held. In the midst of it John suddenly draws back in horror and shouts that the marriage cannot continue, that he is a murderer. At this point the Stranger introduces himself to the Sheriff as a detective, and taking from his pocket a letter from his chief reads an announcement of John's innocence; that the Libertine was killed by Yamato, who confesses on his death bed. So the Conscience of John David was satisfied and glorified. John turns to go out but the Girl holds out her arms to him and the Sheriff clasps his hand and gently moves him into the arms of the Girl.
- When sober, a better father than John Claton could not be found, but, alas! both Grace and Frank knew to their sorrow that when under the influence of liquor their father was quite a different man. This he fully illustrated as he came in to-day, and when Frank attempted to shield his sister from the old man's abuse, he was savagely ordered from the house. Jain Buckstone, who had come in during the quarrel, was greatly elated because Frank was out of the way. He had but to supply Claton with liquor and pretty Grace would soon be forced to listen to him. The old man, all unconscious of the other's thoughts, demanded his companion's flask. No, not one drop should he have. With an oath, Claton sprang upon him, but, being no match for the younger man, was mercilessly hurled over the cliff. Now, at last, Grace should be his be determined, as he stumped hurriedly along, and, upon reaching their cottage, opened the door and stepped boldly inside. Frank who, during his year's absence in the West, had struck it rich, and hastening home to bring the glad tidings to his father and sister, reached the garden just as Buckstone entered the house. He was, therefore, in time to administer a thorough thrashing to the drunkard, while Claton, who had almost marvelously escaped with only a sprained ankle, and now came limping in, wished to have it repeated. Fully realizing the dreadful havoc which liquor had almost wrought, John Claton swore never again to touch the poisonous fluid, and from that day to this, he has kept his word.
- Ben Thompson is the Sheriff of Loredo County, Arizona. Ben and fear have never been on speaking terms. Ben is visiting his sweetheart, Belle Gordon. Sandy Jones, who runs the poker games at the Horseshoe Gambling Saloon, rushes up and informs the Sheriff that he is wanted in a hurry, our first scene has shown the interior of the Horseshoe gambling room. Bad Bill and his gang have entered and held up Sandy Jones, have taken all of his money and jewelry and have abducted "Big Lizzie," one of the dancing girls. The Sheriff bids his sweetheart good-bye and after a brief investigation at the Horseshoe, he dashes off, accompanied by a trusty lieutenant, in pursuit of the bad man. An exciting chase on horseback follows, and we show real riding of a kind that makes one hold his breath as the Sheriff and his man follow the trail of the four outlaws. The bad men catch sight of the Sheriff following them, and, leaving the girl beside the road, they double back, hoping to catch the Sheriff and finish him. Ben is as tricky as a fox. Making a detour, he gets behind the outlaws, finds the girl, and conceives a bold plan for capturing Bill. He hides the girl and his horse in the woods, then, disguised in the girl's mantilla, he seats himself at the roadside and awaits the coming of Bill. Bill returns, places him arm affectionately around what he supposes to be the girl, and the next instant he is startled to see Ben Thompson's six-shooter shoved into his face and to hear the command "Hands Up!" Ben takes the girl and Bad Bill back to town and deposits Bill in the county jail. Bad Bill's accomplices abduct Belle, the Sheriff's girl, carry her off and tie her to an old post on the bank of the river. Then they send a note to the Sheriff, in which they inform him that if he does not release Bad Bill within three hours, the rising tide of the river will drown his sweetheart. The Sheriff determines to be faithful to his duly as Sheriff and also to save his girl. A wild ride brings him up to where the outlaws are resting. Here follows a thrilling revolver fight, three men on horseback dashing down a steep hill against the plucky Sheriff. Two of the outlaws are killed, and the Sheriff pursuing the third one comes to the point on the river bank where his girl is waiting in agony a fearful death. He dashes into the water, unties the girl and lifts her head, just in time to rescue her from a watery grave.
- The wealthy orphan, Ada Payne, determines against the wishes of her guardian to go to Africa and join her lover, Jack Wilson, whom she supposes to be with Stanley's party. Meanwhile Jack and his chum, Tom Dixon, are returning to America with Nina Mannering, whom they have rescued from the Hidden City. They arrive in New York to find Ada gone and resolve to return to Africa and find her. Tom marries Nina and they start. Ada reaches the Hidden City. The guard left behind by Stanley can give her no information. It is an even chance whether he has joined Stanley or has returned to America or is dead. Ada, half distracted, resolves to push forward and join Stanley's party. Jack, Tom and Nina land on the coast and push forward to the Hidden City with various adventures with animals and natives. Stanley, seized with fever, is delayed weeks in an interior town. Jack, Tom and Nina reach the Hidden City and find that Ada has been there and has gone forward. Ada falls in with an eccentric old man with an elephant, known as the Jungle Rat. He becomes the companion of her wanderings. Stanley recovers and moves on up the Congo River by boat. Jack is seized with fever and lies at death's door. Ada is captured by natives. The Jungle Rat is left for dead. Stanley is attacked by natives, but beats them off and fires their town, escaping in the confusion.
- Mrs. Pensonby Smythe is the frivolous young wife of an elderly millionaire whom she does not love. Mrs. Smythe's younger sister, Grace, is a member of the family. Mrs. Smythe secretly accompanies "Billie" Carrington, a social adventurer, to "The House of the Mask," a notorious gambling palace where the rich play in secret with masked faces. Belmont Blair, a gentleman gambler, sees and recognizes Mrs. Smythe when her mask accidentally falls from her face. Later in the evening Blair comes to her defense when Carrington makes a drunken attack upon her in a private lounging room in the gambling house. In the ensuing struggle Carrington is accidentally killed. Blair gets Mrs. Smythe out of the house before the body is discovered and with his aid she reaches home without detection. Captain Radcliffe, a noted criminal investigator, takes the case and in a pocket of the dead man's coat he finds a curious fan, the property of Mrs. Smythe. When Mrs. Smythe misses the fan, she is distraught and again turns to Blair for help. A costume ball is given at the Smythe country home in honor of the "coming out" of Grace, the younger sister, and Radcliffe and Blair are both present. Beside the fan, Radcliffe has evidence in his possession which convinces him Blair is the guilty man. Blair meets Grace and the two fall in love. That night he cleverly steals the fan from Radcliffe's room but is seen by Radcliffe himself. To escape Radcliffe, Blair is forced to take refuge in a room which proves to be Grace's sleeping-room and rather than compromise the girl by being discovered there he leaps from a window to the ground many feet below. The next morning Radcliffe discovers Blair in the act of burning the fan in a fireplace grate. He attempts to rescue it from the fire but Blair holds him back until the sole evidence against Mrs. Smythe has been destroyed. Radcliffe then produces his evidence against Blair and accuses him of killing Carrington. Blair is forced to admit his guilt, and although it would save him to divulge the woman's name, he remains silent. His love for the woman's sister and his own heart prompt him to sacrifice himself for a woman's reputation.
- Allan Dwight, sheriff, and Jean Belleau, a young French surveyor, live in Circle City. They bear such a striking resemblance that they can hardly be distinguished one from the other. Jean has a half-wit brother, Paul, whom Holden, a political crook, teases and bullies. Dwight catches him in the act, thrashes him, and incurs the enmity of the bully. That night Holden and Pascal, a Mexican, meet McFadden to get from him their share of money contributed by Senator Thurston tor certain nefarious undertakings. McFadden does not turn over what Holden and Pascal consider their rightful share and they vow vengeance. Their opportunity comes when Paul, the half-wit, in trying to enter McFadden's outhouse to get his runaway dog, is menaced by McFadden. Pascal fires at McFadden, killing him, and then throws the gun and Paul beside the dead man. When the crowd, which is attracted by the shot, gathers around, Holden accuses Paul of the murder, and incites the mob to lynch him. Bob Clayton, a friend of Jean's, attempts to stay them, but, being unsuccessful, he hurries to notify Jean and Dwight. Dwight arrives first and tries to circumvent the mob's fury. A struggle follows in the course of which Dwight is thrown against the barrel upon which Paul is standing and the boy is hung. Jean arrives and swears vengeance upon those responsible for his brother's death. Dwight is in love with Evelyn, the daughter of Senator Thurston, who is in control of the party known as the Thurston gang. Dwight makes his feelings known in the matter of the gang's activities, and Evelyn feels that her father is the brunt of his remarks. Dwight, however, continues his course of attempting to stamp out the work of the gang. A month or so rolls by and a mysterious bandit appears. After each successful robbery he leaves a note signed "The Devil." He becomes so daring that a vigilante committee is organized to capture him. In his mountain lair it is seen that "the devil" is none other than Jean Belleau. His lieutenants are Clayton and Holden, the latter having confessed to Jean that Pascal was his brother's murderer, causing Jean to end the Mexican's existence. Holden has grown jealous of Jean and makes known the bandit's identity to two detectives, advising them that he may be known by his horse, which is branded with the form of a pitchfork. When Jean goes to town he is pursued by the officers, but escapes capture by hiding in Dwight's automobile. Dwight learns that he is in his car, and desirous to save the good that is in him, Dwight permits the bandit to take his car to escape while he takes charge of Jean's horse. Jean returns the car the next morning and leaves with it a note saying that he has decided to give up his lawless life. Soon after Jean leaves after extracting a promise from his friend, Clayton, that he, too. will also abandon the lite of an outlaw. Holden assumes the leadership of the gang and plans a bold daylight robbery, proposing to assume the character of "The Devil." Clayton overhears the plot and determines to frustrate it for the sake of "The Devil's" name. In the attempt Clayton is shot by Holden, who, with his gang, escapes to the mountain retreat. When Dwight hears of the robbery and is told that "The Devil" is responsible, he determines to seek out Jean and either make a man of him or bring him back a prisoner. He starts out on Jean's horse. Meanwhile the vigilante committee is also bent upon entering the bandit mountain stronghold. Holden was badly wounded in the affray at the bank. Holden wounds Dwight, and noting the remarkable resemblance between the sheriff and Jean, he places evidences of the bank robbery upon the man he has wounded. So the posse finds Dwight, and of course, their natural assumption is that Dwight has been the bandit. Dwight is taken back to town and arraigned before the authorities. An account of the bandit's career is printed in the papers and attributed to Dwight. Jean, speeding eastward on a train, reads the story, and realizing the situation, wires back to the Circle City authorities to stop prosecution until he arrives. He does return and Dwight is released from custody. The police are anxious to run down Holden and offer Jean certain clemency if he will lead them to the mountain stronghold, where Holden and his men are hidden. Jean consents to avenge the death of his friend Clayton, at Holden's bands. When Jean and the posse arrive a pitched battle takes place. At last Jean and Holden meet. After a terrific fight Jean succeeds in rolling Holden over to the edge of a cliff. Holden falls over it, but Jean, with a firm grip upon his wrists, holds him suspended in midair as he himself lies at the edge of the cliff on his breast. One of the bandits takes aim and fires at Jean. As the bullet enters his body Jean, with a convulsive movement, loosens his hold on Holden's wrists and the latter is dashed on the rocks thousands of feet below. Jean struggles to his feet and tries to make his way back to the posse, but only succeeds in reaching his faithful horse and at her side he falls. Meanwhile Dwight has recovered from his wounds and found a happy resting place in the arms of Evelyn.
- Welden Shaw, a man of about twenty-eight, is the husband of Myrtle Shaw, an ambitious, frivolous social climber. They have one daughter, a little child of four, the only light of her father's life. Mrs. Shaw constantly complains of her husband's lack of ambition and drives him from the home with her nagging. He seeks solace among his men friends and drops into loose companionships and looser habits. His one pleasure, however, is to dangle his baby girl on his foot and tell her animal stories. The domestic affairs of the family grow from bad to worse until the wife, beginning a flirtation with a smooth, suave old roué, leaves her husband, takes her baby with her, and obtains a divorce. She then marries the new love and he takes her to his luxurious home. The first husband, broken in spirit, becomes a burglar. In the course of several years the wife finds her new life less happy then she expected for she has a different man to deal with and he holds her to her bargain, making her life miserable. For comfort in her grief she turns to her daughter, now advancing into womanhood. The stepfather plans to marry off Rhoda to a libertine friend of his, and preparations for the wedding are pushed ahead. The news leaks out into the slums through the papers and the first husband decides to rob the house for the wedding presents. He enters at night, makes a noise, and his daughter, hearing it, slips from her bedroom, comes down the stairs and confronts him. She recognizes the burglar as her father and explains to him of her forced wedding. Rhoda has a sweetheart of her own. Having been denied the right to see him she induces her burglar-father to aid her. This he does, his efforts ending in their marriage. He brings the young people to the girl's home and there confronts Wells and his wife. The latter is in tears straining against the bonds which hold her, and complaining bitterly under the new humiliations which Wells is laying upon her. Shaw recognizes in Wells the man who has deserted a woman he met in the slums. This woman produces proof that Wells has been illegally married. Confronted with the proof Wells breaks down, promises to mend his ways, and an unhappy situation is turned into a joyous one. The picture closes with Shaw and his wife again happily reunited and the little girl seated at his feet listening to his stories of wild animals.
- A negro comedy of unusual merit, beautifully photographed, and will make a hit with any audience. Times are hard with the Parson, but he doesn't intend to let that keep him from having a turkey for Thanksgiving, so we see him approaching Dr. Stevens' chicken coop, where the biggest gobbler in the town is kept, and after carefully approaching the coop he starts to climb in. when to his amazement he meets one of his parishioners, Rastus, climbing out with the turkey in his possession, whom he severely lectures on the sin of stealing. Becoming repentant, Rastus turns over the turkey to the Parson. The Parson relents of his severity with Rastus and sends him an invitation to Thanksgiving dinner, which Rastus joyfully accepts. Then we see the Parson preparing the dinner and putting the turkey in the oven, which is taxed to its utmost capacity. The ladies are setting the table as the company arrives, whom they greet with great enthusiasm and all sit down to eat as the Parson brings out the bird from the oven, but, alas! the bird was older than he looked and the Parson calls on Rastus to help carve, which brings out the funniest piece of farce comedy ever seen in a moving picture, and the picture ends with Rastus finishing up one of the legs, which he seems to enjoy in spite of its apparent toughness.
- Of course everybody in the village turned out to see the old maids meet in front of Zeke Spevins' general store. There were maidens tall and maidens short, maidens fat and also lean; all spick and span, bent on their annual picnic. An occasion that none of them had missed for the past forty years and that each and every one looked forward to participating in for the next forty years to come. However, they met with experiences in this picnic that they hope never to battle with again. The village bad boy followed them and after stealing a bottle of whiskey from a tramp he emptied it into the teapot and so tickled the palates of the old maids that they actually fought with each other in their eagerness to refill their cups. With the working of the tea they began their childhood pranks and when the excitement was thickest the prankish lad dropped upon them a bunch of live snakes that he had saved for the occasion. The "maidens," in a wild rush down the road, never stopped running until they dropped of exhaustion upon the steps of Zeke Spevins' store again; as sick a bunch of old maids as ever gathered in one spot.
- William Carr, manager of an ostrich industry, receives a big order for feathers and boas from an heiress, who selects colors of the off-shade and pastel tints. The head dyer is ignorant of some of the necessary formulas, but insists that he can act on the order successfully. The tints are not according to order, and the heiress refuses to accept the feathers. Carr sends for the most expert dyer in the world, John Williams, severely reprimanding the head dyer. When John Williams arrives, he brings with him his daughter, Bessie. Judd Brown, the dyer, leads the other dyers in revolt. He is determined to get the formulas from the old man and when he adds an insult to the daughter he is discharged by the manager. Judd Brown then begins an active campaign of enmity and determines that he will get the formulas at any cost. He excites the other men to his way of thinking, and they go to the cottage of the old man one night to bully him into disclosing the formulas. The old man is teaching his daughter the formulas in cipher when the men enter. He quickly tears the formulas into ribbons. This infuriates the ruffians and they drag the old man and girl to the dyeing room. In the struggle along the path, Bessie's hat with a beautiful feather, which the manager presented her, is lost. In the dye rooms the villains torture one against the other, trying to coerce the secret from Williams. Failing to get the secret, they drag the girl off, telling the father they are going to cast her into the ostrich pen, stampede the ostriches and the girl will be kicked to death. Car has worked late that night and coming from his office he finds Bessie's hat. Knowing the insubordinate attitude of his men and the ruffian, Judd Brown, his suspicions are aroused and he goes to the dyeing rooms and sees evidence of a struggle. From a window he witnesses the outrage of Brown and the ruffians as they drag the father and daughter toward the pen. He makes all haste to the scene, rescues the girl and her father, and a struggle follows, the manager and the old man conquering Brown and his gang. The simple little English girl has wound herself around the manager's heart with her sweet way, and all ends happily.
- Harry Laughton, a college man, had fallen in love with and married Daisy Woods, a country maiden, during his vacation, despite his father's commands and entreaties. Harry loved his simple, untutored little wife, but her lack of style and ignorance of his favorite books shamed and annoyed him. He grew more and more irritable, until broken-hearted little Daisy, believing that he no longer loved her, sorrowfully departed for her old home. But the streets were strange to her, and as she was looking up at a lamp-post to read the name, an automobile came suddenly around the corner and knocked her down. The owner of the automobile proved to be her father-in-law, who was soon captivated by her sweet simplicity, and gladly sent for his distracted son, to whom he gave a little fatherly advice, thereby preventing a repetition of what so nearly cost him his happiness.
- Captain Delmar resumes command of Tower Post, India, after an absence of twenty years. In his commission is an order to make a secret investigation of some famous jewels, which are indemnity to the English crown and have mysteriously disappeared. The Rajah selim, an Indian prince, while reading the official communication that he is to pay his allegiance to Captain Delmar, relives the past, a past or hatred for the captain who, when a young man, was successful in winning of the heart of Tara, a Harem favorite of the prince. Captain Delmar really loved the Indian girl, and upon being called back to England, resolves to marry her. When he returns to the garden to get the girl, he finds her dead body. Her death is clothed in mystery and the young captain believes that she has been murdered by Hindoo slaves for the wonderful jewels she wears. He proceeds in England broken-hearted, but eventually marries an English girl. It is his daughter, Dorothy, now grown to young womanhood, whom he brings to India with him upon being ordered to the Post. The Rajah has carried out a secret, but hideous revenge upon the girl Tara. It was he who had her stolen from the garden and stabbed her to death. Only the departure of the young English officer at that time had saved him from a similar fate and now that he has returned, as commanding officer of the Post, his revenge again burns deeply. With Hindoo subtlety he covers up his deep designs, giving the usual audience to the captain and his daughter. He places at the disposal of the young English girl some of his own court servants. These servants are headed by Sahan, spy, through whom the Rajah is to carry out his plot. There is a secret passage from the palace to the Post, the trap door entering to the library of the Captain. Through this secret passage the spy carries messages, and at the Rajah's command he cuts the telephone wires, intending that night to steal the Captain and his daughter and bring them to the palace. By burning the bungalow he thinks to deflect suspicion, leaving the impression that they have been burned to death. The Captain, finding the telephone wires cut, has sent Lieutenant Grey, who is the fiancé of Dorothy, to a nearby post to investigate conditions. When the lieutenant returns he finds the bungalow burned and believes, as the Rajah has intended, that the Captain and his daughter have met their fate within it. In the meantime the Rajah has the Captain and the girl in his power. He tells the Captain that he will throw him into a cell and keep Dorothy for himself. The girl, as she sees her father dragged away, almost goes mad. Soma, the present favorite, but who has never won the love of the Rajah, as his heart is with the past, realizes the awful fate that is about to overtake the English girl, but can do little to help her. Fate steps in when the girl loses her mind under the strain, and the superstition of the Rajah places her beyond the earthly pale. The lieutenant has discovered the secret passage. His suspicion aroused, he makes his way to the palace and comes upon his sweetheart and the Hindoo girl. Dorothy regains her mind when she sees her lover. When the Rajah is about to enter, Soma, now the guardian angel of Dorothy tells the lieutenant that if he is to save the Captain and his daughter he must bring help. The lieutenant escapes through the secret passage and sends to a neighboring Post for a small company of cavalry. Meanwhile the Rajah has discovered that Dorothy has regained her mind. He brings forth the jewels that once bedecked Tara. He adorns her with the jewels, has the Captain brought before him and shows him his daughter dressed as a harem favorite. He gives orders to have the beasts, lions of the royal menagerie, starved. Soma has secreted herself in Dorothy's room, with the intention of stabbing the Rajah when he comes. The Captain is dragged forth to the jungle. The Rajah goes to bring Dorothy before he shall give the final order. The young Lieutenant arrives with his company and a battle ensues, as they are denied admittance to the palace. When the Captain is freed through this timely interference, he rushes to save his daughter and arrives just in time, as the arm of the brave Soma is not strong enough to deliver the death she intends. They find upon Dorothy the jewels that are sought by the English government.
- John Wilson is the owner of a ranch in Wyoming. He goes out to his work, leaving his devoted wife and the beautiful little boy, five years old, his son Willie. Grey Eagle, a peaceful but hungry Indian, who has been kicked out of the ranch-house several times, comes again to beg for food. The child, fascinated by the Indian's beadwork, gets him food and permits the Indian to take a bottle of whiskey. As the mother enters, the Indian goes out, followed a few minutes later by the child. We next see the Indian in the woods, enjoying a drink of whiskey, and the child approaches. Little Willie gives to the Indian a silver charm that one of the cowboys had presented to him that morning. The Indian and child are met by a cowboy from the ranch, who sends the child back towards home, and the Indian in another direction. As soon as the cowboy is out of sight the child again follows the Indian, is lost in the woods, and in a very pretty scene, after saying his prayer, the child lies down and goes to sleep. Meanwhile, the Indian, in trying to remove the cork from the bottle, has cut his finger and blood from the cut runs on his garments. Grey Eagle finishes his whiskey and falls asleep in the bushes. The mother of the child, alarmed by his absence, goes in search of him, and meeting the father, tells him of the child's prolonged absence. Cowboy Dick rides up and tells of having seen the child with the Indian. The mother is crazed with fearful foreboding, and the father starts off with a number of his cowboys to find the Indian and the child. The Indian is found asleep and dead drunk. One of the cowboys notices the silver charm hanging to the Indian's coat, and recognizes it as the one he had given to the child that morning. Then the bloodstains on the Indian's sleeve satisfy the distracted father and the enraged cowboys that the Indian has, in a drunken fury, killed the child. They seize Grey Eagle, tie him to a tree, and with threats of death, try to compel the poor Indian to tell them where the child is. The Indian's only answer to their demand is a shake of the head, indicating that he does not know. Wilson orders the Indian to be tortured by fire to compel him to tell where the child is. The cowboys bring dry brushwood and pile it around the Indian. One of them lights a match and sets fire to the wood. Meanwhile, shorty, a cowboy, returning to the ranch, stumbles across little Willie, fast asleep in the hushes. He picks the child up and dashes upon horseback toward the ranch house. The flames are creeping nearer the Indian, Grey Eagle. The father begs the Indian to tell where the child is. The Indian shakes his head; he does not know. The flames are just reaching the Indian's feet when a cry is heard. Up dashes Shorty with the child in front of him. The father grasps his beloved little boy, the cowboys scatter the fire and release Grey Eagle, none the worse for his terrible close call. Our last scene shows the mother praying to God to restore her child, As if in answer to her prayer, the father appease, carrying little Willie in his arms. With a cry of joy the mother seizes and kisses her little darling.
- Margaret Gilbert, a student at a seminary, is more devoted to love-story novels and clandestine meetings with Al Drake than to her studies. Her many capers at school bring protests from the president of the institute and the climax comes when Margaret is caught in the act of eloping with Al and expelled from school. Her older sister Nan is devoted to their father and engaged to William Clifton. Nan exerts herself greatly to develop the good in her sister, having taken the place of her mother who passed away when Margaret was little. Al is the son of a millionaire lawyer. His father's will is that the youth follow the same course in life as he and he showers his boy with every luxury, including unlimited finances and a racing automobile. His father's profession does not appeal to him and Al neglects the study of law, spending his time perfecting a new automobile device, it being his desire to pursue a mechanical career. The youth's habits become known to the father, who informs the youth that his income has been stopped until such time as he proposes to resume the study of law. Disregarding his father's wish, Al starts out to find employment for himself and applies for a position as a chauffeur. He is engaged by William Clifton. William arranges a weekend visit at the home of Nan, his fiancée, and is driven there by Al. It is then that Al sees Margaret again and they are later detected in a love scene by William and Nan. William discharges Al on the spot and the older sister rebukes Margaret for her conduct. William and Nan notice the change in Margaret and wonder at her brooding. William tries to console Margaret, who informs her prospective brother-in-law that she is the wife of Al and that it was a romance of several weeks previous. With pity for the girl, William folds her in his arms, assuring her that he will rectify matters. At this point Nan approaches the couple, and she gathers the impression that William and her younger sister are having a love scene. William's protests fall on deaf ears, but with a mission to perform he goes off satisfied that time will adjust matters. William goes to the city and seeks Al. He hears Al's story of having been cut off financially by his father and decides to go to the father and attempt to bring about a reconciliation. This proves unsuccessful. William is not defeated, however, for he telegraphs Margaret to come to the city at once, it being his plan to bring the girl face to face with her father-in-law. Margaret leaves her home rather mysteriously and later Nan finds the telegram from William, She is heartbroken and tells her father, who urges her to forget. Margaret goes to Al's father, and after much coaxing he finally accepts the girl as his daughter-in-law, forgives his son and there is a happy reunion. Margaret telegraphs her sister that she is coming home with her husband and asks forgiveness. When Nan reads the message she is horror-stricken, believing that William and Margaret have been married. Al and Margaret, with William and the millionaire, arrive at the Gilbert home. They are received by the father, who is wrought up over the whole affair until the correct circumstances are revealed and then he readily forgives. Nan has not made her appearance and she is sought by Margaret. With bowed head the older sister clasps hands with Al, feeling all the time that it is William. She finally raises her head and recognizes Al and realizes the folly of her thoughts. Asking forgiveness of her sister and William, Nan falls into William's embrace.
- Upon her deathbed Mrs. Sherwood entrusts her son Richard to the care of his older brother Darrell. Years pass and Darrell becomes the village preacher and Richard a lawyer. Darrell is a favorite of the community; Richard is a would-be daredevil and a modern swashbuckler. Clandestinely Richard has been meeting Molly Foster. One night while at his club gambling and drinking heavily, he receives a note from Molly asking him to see her at once. At the gate of her home Molly tells him her dread secret. Warning her to keep silence and making promises he leaves. The following Sunday, when the services at Darrell's church is over, Richard greets Faith Richardson. Faith shows an interest in Darrell, which Richard notes with disfavor. The brothers accompany Faith and her father Colonel Richardson, to their home. At the Foster home, Molly lies in bed with the newborn babe. Her father demands to know the name of the child's father, but Molly refuses to answer. He gives her the option of telling her secret or leaving home. She accepts the latter course and goes to live in a cottage on the edge of town provided by Darrell through Faith. Later at a meeting of the "Ladies' Aid Society" the cat element decides that Molly and her baby must leave town. Just as the Society, which has gone to Molly's abode with two constables, is denouncing her, Darrell, who has been apprised of their decision, arrives and in a fury of indignation he berates the committee soundly and they leave the room. Molly is taken very ill and realizing that her end is near, takes her child and makes her way to Darrell and Richard's home. She begs Richard to give her child a name, but he throws her off as Darrell enters; Molly confesses her secret to him. Darrell insists that Richard marry Molly at once and the ceremony begins, but Molly dies before it is finished. Richard steals from the room. Making his way to the Richardson home he leads Faith back to the window giving a view of Darrell's study. He is seen carrying Molly in his arms to the sofa. Richard points to the scene and swears to the truth of the situation the action implies. With Molly gone Darrell adopts the baby. Later Richard and Faith are married. Time passes. Richard grows tired of Faith and gambles heavily. He takes all of his brother's money, and heavily masked holds up Col. Richardson. He commits a number of robberies in the vicinity, and a vigilance committee is formed, headed by Col. Richardson. Hounded, Richard makes his way to the cottage wherein Molly lived. As he rushes into the darkened room he becomes conscious of the fact that he is not alone. He draws his pistol hut before he can use it the figure jumps upon him and unmasks him. Richard faces his brother, whose sorrows had driven him from his study that night. Richard pleads with Darrell to save him, and remembering his oath to his mother the latter assumes the guilt when the committee arrives. An impromptu court is held and Darrell is ordered to leave town the following morning. By morning Richard has not returned and fearing for his safety, Faith starts in search of him. Intuition leads her to Molly's cottage. In the center of the room she finds Richard dead. A scrap of paper beside him tells the story. In the meantime Darrell has started his weary way. Realizing the great wrong done him Faith hurries to her father with Richard's dying confession. Mounting his horse Col. Richardson starts after Darrell. At a fork in the road he overtakes him and there gently breaks the news of Richard's death and shows him the message. The Colonel grasps Darrell's hand and starts to lead him home.
- Helen, the pretty daughter of John Wright, a blacksmith, is the belle among the working girls of a small village near New York. Helen is a bit of a coquette and when she takes her father's lunch to him at his shop, she causes a flurry in the hearts of the blacksmith's two sturdy helpers, Jim and Tom. Helen really cares for Jim, who is madly in love with her. When Jim sees Tom trying to make up to Helen, he challenges the rival to a fist fight, and we see the two giants at the rear of the shop punching each other for fair. Meanwhile Arthur Langley, a handsome stranger from the city, has ridden up to have a shoe put on his horse. While the father is at work on the horse, Langley flirts with the beautiful daughter. The two rival smiths are still punching away at each other. Jim whips his rival, but his triumph is short lived, for when he comes back to Helen he finds her absorbed in the stranger and himself ignored. The next day, in a picturesque spot in the woods, Jim finds Langley kissing the girl. Jim demands that she choose between them, and Helen goes to Langley. The next morning the girl elopes with Langley and she sends a note from a hotel in New York to her father, telling him that she is married to Langley. The distracted father shows the letter to Jim, who goes to New York. Providing himself with a wedding ring and securing a minister, Jim calls on the eloping couple. Jim, with the aid of a pistol, makes Langley understand that if he wishes to be happy and keep lead out of his system he, Langley, will marry Helen right then and there. The minister enters and marries the couple and Jim departs. A month later we find Helen enjoying the luxuries of life in New York, but a rude awakening is at hand. Langley is arrested by two detectives and the blacksmith's daughter is informed that "Langley" is really the notorious forger and bigamist "Bob Hayes." The next day, crushed by a realization of her terrible mistake, Helen determines to end her misery by suicide. Jim reads in a newspaper of Langley's villainy and arrest and he goes to New York to help Helen. He finds in her room a note, telling her father that she is about to drown herself. Jim rushes frantically to the nearest dock. He is not an instant too soon, for the poor girl has just leaped into the water. Jim dives into the river and after a heroic struggle, saves Helen. An officious policeman comes up and declares that he must arrest Helen for attempting suicide. Biff! Jim's powerful fist shoots out and Mr. Policeman goes into the river, and while he is struggling in the water, Jim carries Helen to safety. Some months pass and Jim visits the house of his old boss the blacksmith, who is happy again in the possession of his dear Helen. Jim does not mention his love of the girl for whom he has done so much, but Helen's experience has taught her that "true hearts are more than coronets," and she tells Jim so. Jim takes the hint and the blacksmith's daughter becomes a blacksmith's wife.
- Peyton Carothers and Margaret Grayton fancy themselves in love. Through reverses in fortune both are penniless and to these two, marriage without money is hopeless. The millionaire, Robert Van Allen, is deeply in love with Margaret and has asked her several times to become his wife. She and Carothers plan to attain their ends by making a fool of Van Allen. When he proposes marriage again, Margaret makes a cold-blooded proposition to marry him for the sum of one million dollars. Thinking he can gain her love after marriage, Van Allen agrees and gives her a promissory note to be paid following the ceremony. They are married, and Carothers, Van Allen's false friend, officiates at the wedding as best man. Van Allen takes his bride to a beautiful country home he has had built for her reception and there, too, Carothers goes as a guest. He and Margaret plot to betray Van Allen. A few months pass with nothing serious happening except the bitter disappointment and heartache of Van Allen, he realizes that his bargain was indeed a cold-blooded proposition. He is called away to the city on a business appointment. He accidentally misses his train and he returns to his home to find Carothers and his wife in a love scene. From Margaret's lips he overhears the bitter truth. Van Allen decides to teach the couple a lesson and acting on the theory that enforced familiarity breeds contempt, locks the two together with handcuffs and drives them before him under the lash of a whip to his lodge in a secluded and desolate spot in the mountains. The guilty pair are locked in a cabin, which is well stocked with food and there he leaves them to the consequences of their own wrong doing, while he sets up a camp outside to watch developments. The weeks pass none too pleasantly for the would-be lovers who find their love a bitter delusion and each other's company a curse. With his wrist locked to that of the woman he has sworn to love, the caddishness of Carothers turns to savagery and he treats her brutally. One night Van Allen leaves the cabin door open and Carothers forces Margaret to steal away with him. Van Allen trails them. After an all-night walk they find themselves lost in the desert. Margaret is exhausted and unable to continue and drops to the baked earth. Van Allen is moved at the plight of the woman he loved and unlocks the handcuffs and gives her water. Carothers steals upon the millionaire, tears the revolver from his side and snatches Van Allen's rifle. He tossed the revolver to Margaret and tells her to cover Van Allen with it. Then denouncing the millionaire as a fool and vowing he will kill him, Carothers aims the rifle but is shot himself by the woman he stole away. Unable to endure it any longer Margaret pleads to regain the love of her husband and there is a happy ending.
- Kindheart is a shepherd employed by Infirmity. He woos Devotion, the daughter of his employer. Valor, the girl's brother, discountenances Kindheart's presumption, and strikes the simple shepherd in the face, but the humble lad refuses to retaliate, explaining that he cannot harm anyone. Valor brands him a coward before a gathering throng. Later Valor, while hunting in the mountains, falls to the bottom of a ravine, and is badly wounded. Kindheart finds him and carries him to his home. Valor begs forgiveness for his former hostility and the two swear eternal friendship. Ewes straying from the herd are devoured by a panther, Finding the trail of blood, Kindheart follows it to the panther's lair, and kills the beast. Valor witnesses the deed and proclaims Kindheart's fearlessness to the villagers. Valor removes all his objections to Kindheart's marriage to his sister. The lovers' troth is plighted and Devotion becomes the promised wife of Kindheart. Later, while the wedding is being celebrated, Braggart, a recruiting sergeant, with a company of soldiers, makes his appearance and announces that war involving their country has been declared. All the able-bodied men of the village enlist, except Kindheart, who exclaims: "I cannot shed the blood of my brothers." Everybody turns against him except his wife, Devotion, and Infirmity. The months pass. A baby is born to Devotion and Kindheart. Near the village is the camp of a company of renegade soldiers, who raid the community, killing many helpless women and children, among them being Devotion, her baby and Infirmity. Returning from the hills Kindheart is horrified at the sight that greets his eyes. On the walls of his home he discovers a picture with a bloody hand imprint clearly defined, and he swears to find its owner. With his violin and the bloody imprint he starts on his mission. Time passes. Kindheart's face becomes haggard and his hair unkempt. He wanders from camp to camp within the enemy's lines, a wandering musician, telling fortunes. By means of a smoked glass, a method of his telling fortunes, he obtains fingerprints. These he scans at night in the hope of finding the replica of that on the bloody picture which he always carries. His wanderings lead him to a wayside inn. Here Lust and Loot, the soldiers who killed his family, and their companions, are making merry. Kindheart enters and Lust commands him to tell his fortune. As he looks at the sooty imprint on the paper before him Kindheart recognizes the impression and knows he has come upon his family's murderer. The soldiers fall asleep. Kindheart withdraws the bloody print and compares it with the sooty paper. The marks are the same. Lust awakens and sees Kindheart making the comparison. He is about to kill Kindheart when the shepherd springs upon him, and avenges the death of his loved ones. Kindheart dashes off on a horse belonging to one of the soldiers, and days later he comes upon a detachment of the enemy's troops. In his madness to kill Kindheart seizes the rifle of a fallen soldier. In fiendish glee his rifle sends missiles of death for his own brothers. The directing officer raising his sword to call a charge falls with a bullet in his brain. Kindheart assumes his place. The battle is a hand-to-hand conflict. In the foreground Kindheart meets Valor. Not recognizing each other the two engage in a furious fight. Valor falls wounded and as Kindheart bends over him, he recognizes Valor. Night finds him still beside Valor's body. A party of soldiers, gathering the dead, come and take the body away and Kindheart is left alone. At last he is in his native mountains again. An untended flock of sheep is scattered about. A lamb lies in the foreground with a broken leg. Kindheart looks about him. He tenderly picks up the lamb and soothes it like a child as the picture fades.
- A cowboy challenges a magician to catch a bullet in his teeth. Things go awry and the cowboy winds up in jail.
- Captain Morey and Major Carr, at the English post Simla, India, are rivals for the affection of Marjorie Lansdown. The Major discovers that she loves Captain Morey, and being the superior officer, he sends Morey to a desolate outpost in the jungle district. Morey accepts his fate, but knows the reason of his transfer. He and Marjorie part sadly. On his way to the jungle district he comes across a ceremony of human sacrifice. He saves the young victim, a young native girl, and has her brought to the outpost to protect her in the name of the British Government. The fanatic priest, thus interfered with, and hating the English, follows the girl to the outpost later with the idea of killing the captain and regaining his victim. The girl, at the risk of her own life, stabs the priest, as she is now the young English captain's abject slave. He does not notice her love, being engrossed in his love for Marjorie, but, of course, is drawn to her in gratitude for her brave deed. The major, through his spy, carries out his plans to defeat the young captain. The letters that they write to each other are destroyed and never reach their destination. As the months go by, disappointment enters the heart of each. The fever mists of the jungle claim the heartsick captain as a victim. The adoring native girl nurses him tenderly back to life. She knows the herbs to give him and this, with her nursing, restores him to health. The first news that he gets of Marjorie is a notice through the newspaper of her engagement to the major. Being tied to the native girl through gratitude and loneliness, he now turns to her and accepts her love. In the meantime the major had poisoned Marjorie's mind by telling her that Morey has taken a morganatic wife. Fate now steps in and Marjorie and her father accept the major's invitation to witness a leopard hunt in the jungles. Nadje, to wean the captain of his growing love for native wines and to strengthen him, persuades him to go on a hunt with her into the forest. In the jungle hunt, Marjorie becomes separated from her party and is thrown from her horse and about to be killed by a leopard when Nadje saves her life. Marjorie is hurt and Nadje gets her to the camp, where Morey is resting, the girl, Nadje, witnesses the meeting of the lovers, hears their explanations, witnesses their despair at the unkindness of fate. Death enters her own soul. That night the two hunting parties camp together. The natives keep close watch, as they know death stalks in the jungle as a result of the day's killing. Nadje, too, knows this, and as she realizes that she is not the love of Morey and sees the struggle that goes on in the hearts of the two, she commends her soul to her idols, goes into the lair of the leopards, binds herself to a tree and embraces death. The natives find her after she has been almost killed, and carry her to the camp. There Morey and Marjorie read her sacrifice in her dying eyes and grief and repentance enters their soul. She tells them that her fate was hung about her neck. The young officer returns to Simla after six months and again the harp of love is struck, but the minor of memories lends a sadness to its consummation.
- Clarence Smythe is married to a charming young woman, whose only fault is that she will sing and accompany herself on the mandolin. During one of these performances, after dinner, wifey catches Charlie asleep. She shows her displeasure at his lack of appreciation of her singing by breaking the mandolin over his head, and announcing to him that he is a horrid man, and that she is going right hack home to mother. Despite Clarence's appeals wife flounces out of the house. Clarence is heartbroken. He determines to commit suicide. Writes wifey note: "Life is not worth while without you, so I am going to commit suicide. Clarence." First he tries hanging himself with a curtain cord to the chandelier, but the cord breaks and Clarence lands on the floor with a dull, sickening thud. There are other ways. He looks about and finds a revolver. He points it at his head and pulls the trigger. But the revolver will not shoot. Then Clarence remembers that there is some rat poison in the kitchen. He is about to take a dose of it when he notices that the label guarantees a slow and painful death. "Not for me," says Clarence, "There are easier ways." He goes to the kitchen and gets a carving knife. Meanwhile Second Story Bill, an enterprising burglar, enters the house. As Clarence comes in with the carving knife uplifted the burglar seizes him, and then gets the surprise of his life. Clarence begs the burglar to kill him; and when the latter refuses to do so, Clarence gives him a large sum of money to plunge the knife into his vitals. Wifey, who has changed her mind about going home to mother, re-enters just as the burglar lifts the knife to kill her Clarence. With a shriek she grasps the burglar's arm and pleads with him not to kill her beloved Clarence. The burglar insists on finishing the job he has been paid for. Wifey gives him all her jewels, and the burglar, with a laugh takes his leave. Clarence and wifey embrace. Clarence reaches behind wifey, picks up the note that he had written telling her of his intention to kill himself, and tears it into bits.
- Frank Howard, a young mining engineer, is in love with Marion Stockbridge, a New York society girl, who is likewise a coquette. Frank comes accidentally upon a little scene in the garden of the Stockbridge mansion, in which he sees his sweetheart being embraced and kissed by one of his friends. Frank writes a note to Marion telling her that he is about to start for Mexico and that he leaves her to his successful rival. Our next scene shows the courtyard of the home of President Alvarez of the Conchita Silver Mining Company in northern Mexico. Frank has just begun his work as an engineer in the company's mine, and is making a report to the president when Anita, the daughter of Alvarez, enters, is introduced to Frank and proceeds promptly to fall in love with him. Her affection is requited; but Alvarez, the father of the girl, has planned to have her marry Valdez, a wealthy Mexican. A week or two later, Frank is seen enjoying the company of the beautiful Mexican girl, Anita, who is singing a love song, accompanying herself on the guitar. Valdez enters. He draws a knife and is about to stab Frank in the back, but the girl turning quickly causes Valdez to forego his plan of revenge until Anita has left the two men alone. Then Valdez denounces Frank and strikes him. A fight ensues. Valdez draws a knife, with which he attempts to kill Frank. Frank seizes the knife and contents himself by turning Valdez over his knee and spanking him. Alvarez and Anita have entered and seen this performance. Alvarez, furiously angry, orders Frank from the house, and informs him that he is dismissed from the service of the company. Later in the day, Frank, on horseback, is met by Anita, who has come to bid him goodbye. He tells her of his love and persuades her to elope with him. A wild gallop carries them on Frank's horse across the border, and the old Justice of the Peace at Rattlesnake Pass makes them man and wife. He also misdirects Valdez, who has ridden up in pursuit. We now see Frank and Anita happy in their little home. Frank finds a rich deposit of silver ore and makes preparations to go to Galveston to interest capitalists in his find. Meanwhile, he receives a photograph from Marion, his first sweetheart. On it she has written: "I was mistaken; I love only you. Come back to me. Marion." Frank puts this photograph into the pocket of his working jacket, and later, Anita, in hanging his coat upon a nail, drops the photograph and picks it up. She reads the message, and seeing Frank packing his valise is prompted by jealousy to believe that he is about to leave her for the other woman. In her frenzy she determines to kill her husband rather than permit him to leave her. She takes from Frank's cabinet of chemicals a bottle of poison and puts some of it into the coffee. Here follows a most dramatic scene: a devoted wife, crazed by jealousy, awaiting the death of the man she loves, and determined to kill herself after he has taken the poison. Luckily Frank notices Anita's peculiar movements; he questions her, and, unable to restrain herself, she shows the portrait and accuses him of infidelity. Frank makes fun of her jealousy and deliberately tears up the photograph. Convinced by this action that Frank does not love the other woman, Anita embraces and kisses Frank. He suggests they finish their supper, and is about to lift the fatal cup to his lips when Anita seizes it and dashes the contents on the floor, and Frank is left to wonder at the queer action of his Mexican bride.
- John Carlton is a writer and genius. After superhuman effort against the obstacles of poverty, he finishes his play. Being too poor to copyright it, he submits it to a producer, and in the stress of the moment, accepts as payment $100. The play is the talk of the hour and Carlton, knowing of its immense drawing powers, and being discouraged by the return of his book from the publisher with the usual note of no commercial value, he goes to the play's producer and demands a royalty. The producer taunts him with the lack of copyright and considers the episode closed. Carlton grasps a roll of bills from the table and attacks the manager. He is arrested and sentenced to six months in jail. When he emerges from his imprisonment his genius has died within him and in its place is a hatred of mankind. He makes his way to remote wilds. Here he comes upon a tragedy, the death of a woman, far from a doctor's service, and the death of her husband, who has been going for a doctor and has encountered wild animals. Carlton finds that he cannot desert a little seven-year-old girl that is left, and taking her and the squaw who is her only companion, ,he presses on to be farther away from the haunts of men, but not alone. Ten years later, the girl has grown to womanhood. Carlton has built a hut and has brought from civilization many evidences of his taste and culture. With a sort of insanity he guards his paradise from the invasion of men and breaks the law of man ruthlessly. While away on one of his mysterious journeys a young aristocrat, who has been hunting big game, is wounded by a stray shot and saved from death by the young princess of the mountains who comes upon him just as a puma is about to attack him. With the squaw she gets him to retreat. The friends of the hunter give him up for dead and leave the district. Carlton has now to return and find in the girl a love for the youth which he himself has begun to covet. With the added hatred of mankind to the jealousy of love, he determines to shoot the man but comes upon a tryst, and in the face of the girl he reads the story of her heart. He discloses his career to the young man, who, finding himself unable to overcome his love for her, exacts a promise that he, Carlton, will never see the girl again after he, the young hunter, makes the girl his wife. The girl, horrified to find the man she has idolized as her father, a bandit and a thief, turns with relief to her lover to be taken away from his neighborhood. And so after seeing them married he turns back to the retreat and the light goes out of his life. There seems nothing but death left but the hidden law is working even for him, as it has exacted toll from him. He reads in an old newspaper the story of an unwritten genius, whose book has set the world aflame and the royalties of which await the author, should he ever be found. This strange trick of fate is due to the fact that his old landlady, of former years, has picked up the book he supposed that he had left burning, and has herself submitted it, not claiming to be the author. Thus through the years he has been in his proper status in society without knowing it. Love conquers the heart of the girl and she insists upon returning to bid her foster father a more loving farewell. So in his darkest hour he learns the lesson of truth and allows himself to be persuaded to go back to the world he has deserted.
- Captain Roberts reports to Col. Sanders of the appearance of sudden threatening activities in the native secret society. Reaching home he discovers his daughter, Helen, has gone to a reception. He follows her, but en route receives a decoy note. While returning he is overpowered by natives and taken to their rendezvous. When Col. Sanders arrives at the place of reception he finds that Helen is not there. A disturbance outside attracts the attention of the party and when Col. Sanders returns to the reception room he finds a note informing him of the capture of Helen. The party immediately mount their horses and hasten to rescue her. Helen is obliged to assume native garb and mount an elephant. The natives see the approach of the rescue party and bind and gag their victim. The rescue party passes without discovering her identity. Helen is carried to far away Hindoo City and presented to the Rajah, who falls in love with her. He removes her from the power of the high priest and places her in the hands of his women. Having been educated in England, the Rajah has high respect for Christian women. The high priest insists on keeping her in his power. The Rajah objects and to secure Helen's freedom suggests that she go through the formality of marriage. The Rajah will then have the right to return her to her father. Helen consents and Captain Roberts is notified to come for her. The Rajah enters the room of a group of lions who attack and kill him. The high priest again makes Helen prisoner to be burned alive with the body of her husband, according to the custom of the country. Captain Roberts, upon receiving the Rajah's letter, becomes hysterical and takes a party of friends with him to free his daughter. Helen has been tied to a stake and the funeral pyre is fired. But the high priest, desiring Helen for himself, has constructed a trap door. While the fire burns she is lowered to a sacred chamber and is placed in charge of Jumba, keeper of the sacred animals, who is in love with the high priest. The high priest attempts liberties but is repulsed by Helen. Jumba endeavors to free Helen and passes her through the den of sacred animals and the secret chambers. Captain Roberts and the rescue party gain entrance to the chamber when the high priest enters the secret door with natives. They attack the rescuing party when suddenly Helen rises from the altar and the natives, thinking her a ghost, flee in terror. Helen recognizes and rushes to her father and the high priest, angered at Jumba, attacks her. In the fight Jumba kills the high priest in self-defense and then flees from the temple. Roberts, Helen and the rescue party make good their escape.