Advanced search
- TITLES
- NAMES
- COLLABORATIONS
Search filters
Enter full date
to
or just enter yyyy, or yyyy-mm below
to
to
to
Exclude
Only includes titles with the selected topics
to
In minutes
to
1-50 of 558
- Abandoned by her maidservant in an isolated country house, a mother must protect herself and her baby from an invading tramp while her husband races home in a stolen car to save them.
- The story is staged in an imaginary German principality. While working in the fields the wife is taken ill and her husband in leading her home passes the palace of the Duke of Safoulrug, on the grounds of which she sees the fleur de lis, and is so attracted by the flower that she can think of nothing but it for months after. When her baby girl is born there is a birthmark of the flower on her shoulder. The mother dies, and fifteen years later, Lisette, the baby girl, who has grown to be a charming young lady, is endowed by prenatal influence with a strong fascination for her mother's favorite flower. Passing the Duke's palace, she demands that her lover, Antoine, pluck one for her. As he is about to do so, the gardener, who ordered her mother away from the palace, demands that they move on, but Lisette manages to get a flower. This is witnessed by the young Duke, who says that she may possess it, notwithstanding the fact that it is a flower worn only by persons of royal blood. Lisette's father reprimands his daughter for taking the flower, and tells her the story of her mother. Lisette eventually marries the Duke, and although he is deeply in love with her she cares little for him save that by her marriage she is in possession of the fleur de lis. During a reception by the King, His Majesty becomes infatuated with Lisette and while dancing with her he takes her in his arms just as the Duke enters. The King extends his hand for the Duke to kiss. He obeys and subsequently goes into the garden where he commits suicide. The announcement does not affect the Duchess, and she is later installed in the King's palace as his mistress. His Majesty is taken ill and Antoine, who has become a famous surgeon, is to operate on him. Lisette is at the bedside of the King the next morning when the doctor arrives. Antoine does not recognize her, and she, puzzled, goes to her suite where she paces up and down for hours while the doctor is working on the King. The operation is a success, and Antoine carries the glad news to Lisette, who says she does not care, and puts her arms around the doctor. He throws her aside with the remark that the fleur de lis is between them. This enrages Lisette to such an extent that she burns her birthmark out with a hot iron. After a lapse of time Lisette is back with her father, and Antoine, feeling the power of love, also returns to the principality where, over the grave of Lisette's mother, a reconciliation is effected between Antoine and his sweetheart.
- A magic spell has turned a handsome prince into a hideous and repulsive beast, and only the love of a beautiful woman can change him back. ]
- Andrew Blair is discontented with his happy home. He and the other boys of the village look with envy upon the Bolton boys, whose parents live in a covered wagon and go about the country. Andrew finds it hardest to get along with his father, who insists he prepare his lessons instead of running about the streets, while he finds it hard to bear with his mother in the morning, as she always wants him to fill the wood-box before leaving for school. The boy broods over his imaginary hard life and finally decides to run away. He scribbles a note on a piece of wood, and slips away. Seeing the Bolton boys, he joins them and then learns that they do not fish for fun, but to supply the family with something to eat. He decides to return with the Bolton boys that evening, and on the way they stop at a farmer's to steal a chicken. They secure the chicken, but the farmer discovers them and takes a shot at the boys. Andrew receives most of the shot, and one of the Bolton boys, who is a cripple, loses his crutch. Andrew receives a rough welcome from the Bolton parents, and when they learn the circumstances of the lost crutch they turn the chicken loose for fear the farmer will discover who the boys were. Andrew sits down to a sloppy meal. The farmer arrives at the house, and Bolton makes the boys hide out in a shack. Andrew thinks of his mother's nice meals and how neat his father always appeared, and decides to go back home. Meanwhile, the Blairs have missed the boy and while his mother is inclined to worry, her husband tells her to pretend not to miss the boy and he will come back. Andrew sneaks away from the Boltons and enters the room. He tells his father he is sorry he ran away and his mother immediately sets before him an appetizing meal. As he sits before the warm fire, he decides that he has not appreciated his father and mother and that in the end, "there is no place like home."
- James Brandon owns the famous racing horse, Ladybird. He backs her heavily for the last race of the season. His son, Will, is in love with Peggy Baldwin, the daughter of his father's head groom. The Brandon family opposes the marriage on account of Peggy's low origin. One night, however, Will, finding his father in good spirits over the prospective winning of the race on the morrow, gives him a detailed account of Peggy's virtues. The story is interrupted by the entrance of a servant with a telegram for the father. "Ladybird in fine form. Looks sure winner." Brandon is so elated that he asks his son to make a wager staking his happiness on the outcome of the race. In the event of Ladybird's winning Will consents to give up the girl. Will finally consents to this believing his chances are as good as his father's. Later, however, he overhears Brandon tell his wife of the wager, and of the telegram, which makes his bet a sure one. Will becomes very angry at being tricked, and decides to turn the tables on the old folks. Will persuades Ted Baldwin, Ladybird's jockey to feign intoxication, knowing that with any other rider, Ladybird's chances are slim. He explains to Ted that his sister Peggy's happiness depends on Ladybird's losing, and as Ted idolizes his sister, he yields. It is within an hour of the race and Ladybird's owner is anxiously awaiting the coming of his jockey. Peggy has tried in vain to rouse Ted, and the situation is desperate. Peggy looks at Ted's new jockey suit, and decides to take his place. She has often ridden Ladybird and understands her. There is no time to lose, so Peggy hastily dresses, and gallops off to the racetrack. She arrives just in time to weigh in, mount Ladybird and ride up to the starting post. After an exciting race, Ladybird wins by a length and the crowd gathers around the winner and her jockey, but Peggy hastily dismounts and slips away. When out of sight, she sinks on a bench overcome by exhaustion. It is here that Brandon and his son, Will, find her. Brandon comes to congratulate the jockey and Will to demand an explanation of Ted's apparent betrayal. They are surprised to discover that Peggy was the rider. Explanations follow and the father is so tickled at his son's defeat in trying to foil him, and at Peggy's gameness in entering the race, that he consents to their marriage.
- Bhadon, an aged chemist, actuated by the decree of Buddha that in America the secret of making artificial diamonds would be discovered, gives his life to the cause and succeeds. Elated at his titanic success. Bhadon sends his trusted Hindoo servant to the high priest in India, pleading that Shedah might be spared to assist in disposing of the product. Shedah, the powerful emissary for the cause, is dispatched with her two bodyguards to American soil, where, through her wiles and marvelous beauty, she is enabled to effect sale after sale to the wealthy. This monstrous flooding of the American market with gems of astonishing brilliancy and value alarms, to a marked degree, the Kimberly interests, who controlled this outlet. Their own ceaseless efforts ineffective, they are prompted to retain the services of Felix Westerly, the famous American detective, to learn the source. Westerly, after carefully laid plans, runs upon a clue, and, with the help of his assistants, brings to earth the girl, Shedah. His hardest task follows, for she is eternally guarded by her two Hindoo "shadows," whose sagacity and stealth for a time far out-distance even his most subtle plans. It is only through his double, disguised to represent himself, that he is enabled to shadow Shedah to the secret laboratory where the alchemist manufactures the diamonds. The discovery of this secret rendezvous barely misses a fatality for Prof. Westerly. He is discovered as he views the laboratory with its profusion of chemical and electrical furnaces and paraphernalia. A gigantic Hindoo engages him in mortal conflict, the desperate battle carried to the roof, where Westerly, exhausted and bleeding, secures a hold which permits him to throw the persistent adversary from the roof, where he falls to high-voltage wires and meets a horrible death. Shedah, the alchemist, and the remaining Hindoo, warned by the sound of strife, totally destroy the laboratory, with all its secrets, and for the time being, elude the officers stationed by Westerly, and successfully escape. The determined Westerly, goaded by his temporary failure, traces the Hindoo party to another seaport town through the aid of his powerful system of inspectors, and again the quest for strategic supremacy reigns. The trio is at length rounded up at a great society ball, but repeat their reputation for daring and escape. They are traced to their own yacht and captured, having availed themselves of secret panels to confuse the detectives and officers who followed. Westerly reports to the Kimberly interests the ending of the quest, as the inventor, the aged Alchemist, commits suicide rather than reveal the secret prompted by his desire to aid in the revival of Buddhism.
- To test the character of his two nephews, an old man pretends that he is penniless.
- Pauline's uncle is the proprietor of the only hotel Maplehurst boasts of. The girl is an orphan and has been adopted by her relative. Dick, the young hotel clerk, is one of those "best hearted fellows in the world." His only fault, in the girl's eyes, is his rusticity. He is a country boy. Pauline is a country girl, but with a love of romance and pleasure implanted deep in her impressionable nature. A stylish young snob from the east arrives at Maplehurst. Pauline sets her cap for him, and it is one of the greatest moments of her life when she strolls down the village street with the dandy. The little hotel clerk is hurt to the quick when Pauline disregards his homely love. Woman-like, Pauline makes the most of the Snob's visit to the village. At the little town's social gatherings she appears in a beautiful pink gown, while The Snob scorns the village beaux when they show up at the country dance hall in their "store clothes." The Snob wears evening clothes, and while the girls of the village are impressed by his appearance in contrast with their brothers and sweethearts, the boys themselves despise him for his attempt to lord it over them. The Snob cares little for local opinion, however, nor makes any attempt to accommodate himself to village customs. The town boys are able only to hire a "rig" on Sundays to take their "girls" out for a ride in the country. The Snob, however, once he has won the heart of the prettiest girl in town, orders his high horsepower racing car and takes Pauline out for perilous drives for long distances. On one of these long tours The Snob, with cruel cunning, takes Pauline to a wayside inn. Outside the inn is a terraced garden with grape arbors hiding the diners from the view of passersby. Suspecting nothing, Pauline is induced to partake of a heavy dinner, and then, when The Snob sneers at her "countrified temperance," she sips slowly at a stinging drink he orders. Pauline takes the drink merely to please her companion and little suspects the sinister ulterior purpose he has in view. One drink follows another, and soon Pauline has passed beyond the point where good judgment rules her actions. Late that night they return to Pauline's home town. The chill air brushes away the fumes of the liquor from Pauline's brain and the deceived girl weeps bitterly in a rear seat of the big racing car. The Snob, at the steering wheel ahead, sneers to himself as he helps her alight at her humble home. The inevitable happens. The Snob goes east, leaving an invitation for Pauline to visit him at his home. The moth flies into the flame. She runs away from home. A year afterward Pauline is cast aside by The Snob. In a big city boarding house, where the good, the bad and the indifferent live, she gives birth to a child. She is penniless, and The Snob's people will not recognize her. The Snob himself is sent away west. Here he begins life anew. Pauline's predicament is seemingly hopeless. A procurer of women who lives in the house, is touched, and he advises her to make a living on the street. Another neighbor calls and advises her to commit suicide. Either of these things might have happened had not an elderly childless couple taken an interest in the case. They told her it was the greatest thing in the world to be a mother. Pauline writes her uncle for help. Dick, the hotel clerk, reads the letter and sends her money. About this time the uncle dies. When Dick becomes the proprietor of the hotel his first act is to go after Pauline. In the meantime life in the west has made a man of The Snob. He returns east to Pauline, but she scorns him and refuses to let him see his child. This time the man "paid."
- Agnes Duane, a young woman of the twentieth century, full of good red blood and with plenty of spirit, returns to her New England home and its prim atmosphere, after completing her course in college. Arriving there, she finds that her considerate parents have chosen for her a husband. The individual whom they have chosen for this honor happens to be an effeminate, insipid, very sanctimonious little minister. Upon meeting him Agnes laughs in his face, much to the humiliation of the minister and the consternation of her strait-laced parents. Thinking to cure her of some of her crudeness, her father sends her to his brother down in Kentucky, where she roams the mountain fastness in untrammeled freedom. One day while wandering about in the hills she becomes lost and is found and taken to her uncle's home by one of a queer duo of mountaineer brothers who harbor an inborn and intense hatred for each other. One of these men is a veritable giant in size and strength while the other, the one who rescued Agnes, is of small build and slight strength, but is possessed of a superior cunning. Soon she becomes acquainted with both these brothers and both fall deeply in love with her. Finally, one night the younger and smaller brother, tries to force himself upon her and he is confronted by the giant. In a dissolve the reason for this hate is revealed. As a result of this encounter the weaker man devises a diabolical scheme to put his brother out of the way. Fortunately for the giant, the scheme fails and he passes the trap unscathed. In the meantime, Agnes has felt herself drawn to the larger man by his sheer animal magnetism. She seems on the point of confessing her love for him when, through a cruel act, his true nature is revealed and she turns from him. Soon after she meets the Rev. Hugh Baxton, a real man at last, and to him she surrenders unconditionally.
- Tom Walsh, his daughter, Pauline, and his son, Pete, live in a tenement known to the police as a nest of crooks. Tom and Pete force Pauline to act as their "lookout" in various small robberies by means of which they make their living. Pauline, however, is good at heart and, although forced to meet crooks and ex-convicts in her father's squalid apartment, has little liking for the life. Tom and Pete plan a new "job" and appoint Pauline to keep watch for patrolmen and passersby. While acting as "lookout," Pauline becomes interested in a band of Salvation Army singers and enters into conversation with the captain of the band. The captain gives her a pamphlet to read, which greatly influences her life. Meanwhile Tom and Pete have been frightened away from the house they planned to rob. They find Pauline gone from the spot where they told her to stay. Angered by her desertion they go home to await her coming. When Pauline arrives she tells her father of her experience with the Salvation Army band and begs her father to lead an honest life. Enraged by her talk, Old Man Walsh starts after her with a large knife, intent on killing her. Pauline rushes from the room, pursued by her father. Walsh stumbles at the head of the stairs in his drunken anger, falls and is killed. Pete returns from the corner saloon and finds his father dead. In his intoxicated condition the sight interests him little. He inquires for Pauline and when he learns that she is gone he leaves the tenement intent upon bringing her back. Pauline obtains a cheap room in a better part of the city and in a few days secures a position as nurse in a wealthy family which is preparing to leave for the west. Her brother finds out where she is working, however, and when she leaves town follows on the brake beams of the same train. Pauline believes that she has left her old life behind, but one day while in the park with her little charge her brother confronts her. She refuses to go with him and asks him to leave her alone in peace. Pete is about to drag her away when Paul Reeves, a rich young mine owner, knocks Pete down. Reeves introduces himself to Pauline and sees her safely home. A strong friendship springs up between the young people. Peter, in an ugly mood after his beating, enters a cheap saloon, where he finds a crowd of loafers bullying an emaciated "dope" fiend. Pete knocks several of them down and thereby gains the deep devotion of the unfortunate. Meanwhile Paul Reeves and Pauline become increasingly fond of each other and after a short courtship are married. Reeves builds a beautiful home for his young wife and does his best to allay her fears of her brother's return. Pete, in the meantime, has become the leader of the gang which he soundly thrashed. After a successful raid he gets drunk. Shaking an unopened beer bottle the neck bursts from the gases within and blinds him for life. The dope fiend whom he has befriended nurses him back to health and waits upon his idol hand and foot. The "dope" reads for hours each day to Pete, who becomes the brains of the gang and engineers their operations. While the "dope" reads the papers for likely "prospects" Pete hears of his sister's wedding and orders the "dope fiend" to take down the address. That evening, led by his companion, Pete arrives at his sister's mansion. Pauline invites her brother in and commiserates with him on his misfortune. Pete, however, pays no attention to her sympathetic expressions, but bides his time to be revenged. Pauline leads him into a room and Pete, who has familiarized himself with the locations of the doors and windows in a hurried survey of the room during his sister's absence, locks the doors on her. He then demands a large amount of money. When Pauline refuses him he attempts to choke her. Pauline eludes him and fights desperately for her life. Finally she reaches the door and escapes down the stairs. Attempting to follow her, Pete falls down the steps and breaks his neck. He is still breathing when Pauline's husband enters. Pauline tells her husband of her narrow escape from death and the photoplay ends with husband and wife locked in each other's arms, the only bar to their happiness effectually removed.
- Betty and Molly, sisters, are employed at the railroad station as waitresses. Molly has been married by her step-father to a brutal drunkard, Steve Moran, while the mother of the two girls is married to Dan Morgan, who is also a slave to drink. A theatrical troupe visits the eating house and Betty meets Burton Howard, a theater magnate. He is taken with her appearance, and giving her his card, invites her to visit him should she ever find herself on Broadway, in New York. Martin Dane, who has just arrived in town to take a job as foreman at the Morrison Steel Works, admires Betty. He saves the girl's stepfather from a drunken brawl and is invited to call that evening. Betty, anticipating another marriage such as her sister's, does not encourage Dane. Molly's husband dies in a drunken stupor, and she, seeing that her sister is about to be forced into conditions like those under which she suffered, plans to use the money she had received from her husband's insurance policy to free her sister. Betty is thus enabled to run away just before she is to be married to Dane. She goes to New York, where she calls on Burton Howard, who finally recognizes her and gives her a minor position in one of his companies. He enables her to rise in her new profession, but Betty soon finds that his interest has strings to it. Meanwhile the brutal husband of Mrs. Morgan has also died, and Martin Dane has taken the poor woman to keep house for him in the cottage he had furnished in anticipation of his marriage to Betty. Molly shows him the letter she has received from Betty, realizing at last Martin's true worth and the mistake she and her sister have made in thinking otherwise. Dane visits the city and locates Hetty's boarding house. Betty has been endeavoring to stave off Howard's advances with the excuse of not having fitting gowns to accompany him to cafés. He has bought her a fine gown and now insists that she spend the evening with him. Dane gains admittance to Betty's room before she arrives home and conceals himself. When she arrives home she is surprised when confronted by the man she promised to marry and later deserted. She at first refuses to return with Dane as his wife, repelled by the sordidness she imagines will follow. Howard calls in his taxi to take her out. He is admitted to Betty's room and the two men come face to face.
- ShortThe story opens in the ante-room of the royal bed-chamber. The queen dies. She was the mother of Snow White. A year later the king brings home a wicked queen. Snow White is presented to her stepmother. The queen sees in her magic mirror a message that Snow White will be prettier than she. The king leaves the country for a short period. No sooner is the king gone, than the queen compels a hunter to carry Snow White to the woods and slay her. The hunter weakens and sets Snow White free. He kills a rabbit, and in the blood of the slaughtered animal dips his handkerchief, which he shows to the queen as proof that he has carried out his mission. Snow White sees a cottage in the distance, and goes to it. Finding it apparently vacant, she enters and searches through the rooms, in the fireplace a pot is boiling. The table is spread. The beds are made. She lies on one of the beds and falls asleep. Seven little men are at work in a mine. At the close of the day they stop their labor and march home in military fashion. The leader finds Snow White. He summons his mates and they awaken the sleeper. Snow White agrees to keep house for the little folks. The queen, through her mirror, has learned that the hunter has played her false. The next day she goes in disguise to the hut. She gives Snow White a poisoned comb. Snow White falls unconscious. When the dwarfs return they soon discover the trouble and remove the comb, restoring Snow White. The next day the queen returns. In spite of the warnings of the dwarfs the queen is admitted by Snow White. The queen induces her to eat of a poisoned apple. Snow White falls dead. The dwarfs bemoan the loss of their princess. The queen learns of the death of Snow White. The glass tells her, "Oh, queen, there is none in the land so beautiful as thou." A prince now comes upon the scene. From a hill he sees a strange sight. He dismounts and approaches a casket of glass, surrounded by seven mourning little men. He leans over the casket and kisses the face of the still figure within. Immediately Snow White comes to life. The king and queen are at the head of the court assembling to greet a new prince and his bride. It is the prince and Snow White. The queen is exposed and turned out. The king welcomes his restored daughter and her prince and gives the two his blessing.
- James Lee is an artist, light and selfish. His wife is that tragic type of woman who loves intensely and feels deeply. In a pretty milkmaid the artist finds a model to his liking. She is fresh, young end appeals to his imagination. In the petit liaison that springs up between them, James Lee forgets his wife, and the milkmaid turns with scorn on her fisherman lover. Hurt to the quick and happy light dies out in the wife's life when she observes James Lee caress the girl. When the artist takes the milkmaid in his arms and she feels the brutal warmth of his kiss, she shrinks away in fear and returns penitent to her fisherman. When James Lee returns to his wife she is gone. He tries to reason it out. He misses her and her thousand little wares. A deep love never felt before now awakens. She goes to a holy hermit who advises her to pray and fast. In a lonesome spot in the rocks where the waves break, James Lee finds his wife praying. In shame he kneels beside her. She looks and the fond light returns to her eyes and she knows that her prayer has been answered.
- To give her sister Alice an education and dress her properly, Annie labors in a local canning factory. Unknown to Annie, Alice has engaged herself to Seadey Swaine, the son of a well-to-do businessman. Time passes and Alice is about to graduate; Annie works nights to provide her with the proper graduation dress. At this time, Alice exhibits a diamond ring and informs Annie of her engagement. Later, against her sister's advice, Alice goes to work in the canning factory to provide herself with a suitable trousseau. In the factory Alice meets Duncan Bronson, manager of a department. Bronson, who bears an unsavory reputation, is attracted to Alice and succeeds in winning her approval. Annie looks on with troubled eyes. She gives Alice a bit of sisterly advice, but the younger girl refuses to listen. Annie seeks out the manager, but is only laughed at for her pains. She suddenly blooms forth prettily adorned with dresses purchased with money she had laboriously saved. The manager discovers that Annie has charms far superior to Alice's, and turns his attention to Annie. After Alice is married to young Swaine, the danger past, Annie returns to her plain dress and tightly-combed hair. She is suspected and gossiped about, and even her own sister refuses her the consolation of a good deed done. In the little village, Annie continues her work in the canning factory alone, heart-hungry, suspected. Annie was a martyr to Virtue. But was she justified?
- The story of a two jewel thieves whose lives intersect during the course of their crimes.
- Elspeth Marner is a seventeen-year-old premiere danseuse. Frank Masterson is the most hated as well as the most respected critic of dramatic art in New York. When the story opens, Elspeth, flushed with applause, enters her dressing room where her mother and the maid rush to do her bidding. The next morning, in bed, Elspeth reads Masterson's scathing criticism: that her real name is doubtless Lizzie Schmitt; that she is spoiled and petulant and not at all a lady, etc. Elspeth is furious, hysterical, angry and her mother, after telephoning Masterson to tell him her opinion of him, calls in the doctor. He sees that it is only a case of jaded nerves and in spite of the mother's protestations, orders the girl away, alone. Elspeth is sent to the seashore and placed in charge of some simple fisher folk. At first, Elspeth is inclined to be willful and very trying but gradually the kindliness of Mother Burnes wins her over. Meantime, to get away from the confusion of the city life, Masterson, incognito, takes a small fishing shack at the seashore. The two meet, and neither recognizes the other. His friendship ripens; each discovers himself becoming younger, happier, gayer until on a fishing trip one day, when Elspeth is almost drowned, they realize that they are madly in love with each other. But arriving at the Justice of the Peace office, they, for the first time, learn the other's true identity. There is defiance, hesitation, petulance for a time. Then all ends happily.
- Hazel and Jack are about to be married. At his death, Hazel's uncle, Howard Wild, has bequeathed to them as a wedding present a deed to the old Wild mansion. He leaves to each a key, believing in equal rights for man and woman. The gift recalls to Hazel and Jack the many happy hours they spent with the old man and how often he had acted as peacemaker in their childish quarrels. The wedding day approaches. A gossiping friend imparts to Hazel a bit of scandal, concerning Jack's name with that of another. They quarrel and Hazel, to avoid questions, decides to hide in the old Wild mansion till the scandal of the broken engagement at the eleventh hour blows over. Without Hazel's suspecting, Jack has followed her to Uncle Howard's country estate. Howard Wild, during his life, was not only famous as a collector of antiques, but also for his wine cellar. A couple of crooks seize their last chance to rob the place before the arrival of the bridal couple in a few days. Hazel arrives at the deserted house and makes herself comfortable, forlornly dwelling on her quarrel with Jack, when she is startled by the noise of the robbers. Overcome with fear, she watches them through the curtain helping themselves to her late uncle's treasures. They pause in their operations to see if any wine has been left in the cellar. Hazel takes this opportunity to escape, and as she runs out into the hall she encounters Jack, who has just entered with his latchkey. In the dark hall she mistakes him for another crook and, with a piercing scream, faints away. The burglars, hearing the scream, believe they are in a haunted house and beat a hasty retreat, leaving the booty behind. Jack revives Hazel, learns the reason of her fright and also that she does not intend to forgive him unless he humbles himself before her. Jack refuses to do this, knowing he is innocent. Uncle Howard's spirit comes to them and again acts as the peacemaker and the sweethearts start for home to be married on the morrow.
- Jean Chesney, from childhood, acted as a little mother to her sisters and brothers while their mother earned a scanty living at the wash-tubs. Death claimed all but Jean and two younger sisters. Rita secures a position as stenographer while Lilly, the youngest, clerks at the ribbon counter in a department store. Jean is an extra girl at one of theaters; her work leaves the two younger girls alone in the evenings, and it is during these hours that Rita confides to Lilly that her employer, Henry Leslie, has made advances to her. Both girls are thrilled at the romantic turn of affairs, never dreaming of serious consequences. Jean attracts the attention of Henry Leslie's son, Bob, on one of his visits behind the scenes of the theater. Under the influence of liquor he forces his attention upon Jean and she slaps his face. This does not daunt him, for he believes all girls can be won with a few flowers. Jean's perversity has only added fuel to the flame. Jean scorns his gifts and flowers. About this time the hardships of the department store grind tells on Lilly. One day she faints in the store, is taken home and does not return to work again. Rita continues her flirtation with her employer, Leslie, and finally an automobile trip to his country home is planned. Rita is innocently delighted over the trip, for Leslie, in a fatherly way, has made many promises of all he will do for the sisters, especially Lilly, whom Rita idolizes. Rita tells Lilly of the proposed trip, learning of Lilly s poor health and Jean's struggle to keep her sisters strong, both physically and morally, the kindly actors make up a purse and present it to Jean. At last the eventful day of Rita's trip to the country arrives. She goes to work as usual. Jean has a matinee, but makes Lilly comfortable tor the few hours she must be absent. Bob Leslie's usual gift of flowers awaits her. Angered by his persistence, she tosses the violets out of the box. The girls sharing her room decorate themselves with Bob's offering of love. Seeing them thus adorned, Bob realizes that at last he has met the exceptional girl. His admiration deepens into something better and stronger. He is hastily summoned home. His mother has had a serious heart attack. His father must be reached at once but various 'phone calls fail to locate him. Bob goes out to find him. Jean is surprised when she fails to find Rita at home. She questions Lilly, who at first evades her queries, but finally enlightens Jean as to Rita's plans for the afternoon. Jean realizing Leslie's true object, hastily dons hat and coat and determines to find Rita and save her if possible. Meanwhile, failing to find his father at his business or the clubs, Bob decides he must have gone down to the country. He starts tor their country home. Leslie's manner remained paternal until after supper was served and Rita began to ask if they had not better start homeward. Then Leslie's true motive becomes apparent, for, inflamed with wine, he does not mince matters. Poor Rita is disillusioned. She struggles pitifully to protect herself. Her strength at last fails her and as she shrinks from his approach, the door swings open and Jean comes down between them. He laughs at her tirade and declares she is even more charming than her sister Bob enters at this moment and is dumbfounded to find his father in the company of the two girls. He glances from Jean to the supper table with its overturned wine glasses and his ideal is suddenly smashed. Bob tells his father his serious news, which sobers Leslie, and they hurriedly leave. On their arrival at home they hear that Mr. Leslie has passed away. Rita finds it difficult to obtain another position, so now Jean's earnings supply their needs. Bob Leslie, heartbroken at his mother's sudden death, drinks heavily to drown his sorrow. One night when in a drunken stupor he hails a taxi. The chauffeur and his confederate, a crook, taking advantage of Bob's condition, beat and rob him. Driving down a narrow dark street, they drag him while he is in an unconscious condition to a doorway and then hurry away. Jean, returning from the theater, stumbles over the body on entering her home. With Rita's assistance they help him upstairs. "When the blood and dirt is washed from his face, Jean recognizes Bob. For a moment, recalling his father's conduct towards Rita, she decides to turn him out, but her better nature conquers and she lets him remain. The next day he is sufficiently recovered to return home but he lingers in hopes of seeing Jean who since his return to consciousness has remained aloof. He questions Rita and the girl, attracted to him, tells him bitterly of the hard struggle a girl has in a big city, her experience as an example. He is overjoyed on learning the part Jean played on that terrible night and that she is the good girl he at first thought her. He pours out his heart to Rita, telling her of his love for Jean. Jean's sudden entrance puts an end to their exchange of confidence. Rita beats a hasty retreat. Bob beseeches Jean to forgive his rudeness to her and to overlook his father's treatment of Rita. At last he gains a smile from her and her hand is held out in token of forgiveness.
- Ruth Braddon, the daughter of a wealthy factory owner, who is interested in improving social conditions, receives a letter, advising her to look at the state of affairs at her father's own factory. She visits her father and he refers her to his junior partner, Fred Howard, to whom Ruth is engaged. Accompanied by her fiancé, Ruth goes on a tour of inspection through the factory. In the hallway, she sees a crowd of workers gathered around a girl who has fainted in the poorly-ventilated workroom. As they approach the group, David Hale, a factory hand, asks Howard for better conditions. Howard orders David back. Ruth, admiring David's personality, interferes and tells him she will talk with her father. The next day David visits Bessie and tells her he is expecting a raise of wages soon and they will marry. Bessie's happiness over David's love is interrupted by a visit from Ruth. David takes her through the tenements, showing her poverty in its worst form. She asks him to assist her in lightening the burden of the poor. He consents. The close contact into which David and Ruth are thrown in their work, draws them together. Ruth awakens to the knowledge that she is in love with David. She breaks her engagement with Howard. He goes to her father. The father shows a letter he received from David in which he asked for an increase of wages so that he may marry Bessie Clay. Ruth comes to her father's office for money and her father places the check close to David's letter so Ruth will see it. She learns for the first time of David's engagement. She is overcome and on leaving her father's office meets David. She breaks down and weeps.
- A marital romance in which a married artist woos the wife of another man.
- Little Sherlock Holmes, Jr., reads the doughty doings of his hero-god, and at once determines to become a detective himself. Providence at once favors him by giving him a mystery to solve. His father has noticed that in some weird, unaccountable fashion the whiskey in the decanter is ever vanishing, and father swears he drink it as fast as all that. So Sherlock Holmes, Jr. assigns himself the task of discovering who tampers with his father's soothing beverage. Concealed behind a table, he sees Bridget, the cook, come in and at once proceed to get on the outside of a man's size pull on the flask. At once the embryo detective makes his report to his father, with the astounding solution of the mystery. The father decides to use Dr. Brown's Sure Cure for the Liquor Habit on the cook, and obtains a bottle of the fluid. This he puts in the room near the whiskey, intending to pour some in the bottle a little later. Sherlock Holmes, Jr., discovers the bottle and follows the 'Do it Now' maxim. There are friends visiting the house at the time, who are sitting on the lawn with his parents, awaiting tea, which the maid is going to bring them. Sherlock Holmes, Jr. pours a goodly amount of the fluid into the tea. One of the results of taking the liquid is falling into a deep slumber, and in a few moments the host, the hostess, and the guests are fast asleep. Then happen's along Bridget's beau, the policeman, for whose particular benefit Bridget essays to go inside and procure a glass of 'buttermilk.' After imbibing, the policeman forgets all about everything except that he is awful drowsy, and the next thing, he, too, is asleep. It must have been contagious - or could Bridget not have forgotten herself? - but at any rate, she, too, wanders off into the Land of Nod. Then Sherlock dons the policeman's clothes and club, and marches through the house, monarch of all he surveys. At this opportune moment, two burglars arrive at the scene, and seeking the sleepers, think they have been transferred to Burglar's Paradise. They sneak upstairs, fill their bags with silverware and then fall for the whiskey on the table, little Sherlock watching eagerly. At last they get themselves off, followed by the creator of all the mischief, but they have not gone far when they are overcome by the liquor cure and fall in their tracks to sleep. Little Sherlock now takes the manacles from the policeman's coat pocket, and ties both legs of the burglars together. In due time the household awakes, they seek the boy, and eventually find him covering the two burglars, prisoners of Sherlock Holmes, Jr.
- There is a fine opportunity for bravery during the height of battle. But there is probably a finer opportunity at the moment of defeat when the cry increases to a roar, "Every man for himself." The man worthwhile is the man who does not heed this cry of the panic-stricken. Such a man was George Tate, moonshiner by birth, but possessing the qualities of which heroes are made. His father was murdered by a half-breed. His sister, Amy, was assaulted and was in continual danger from the same source. Although he lived in the shadow of the law, an outcast with other moonshiners, he believed in a square deal. One day the revenue officers swept down upon the moonshiners' still. Tate and Neut Haigh, who loved Amy, led the forces of the moonshiners. At the deciding moment in the battle the half-breed exposed the secret defenses of the rugged country to the revenue men. Tate, Haigh and Amy were finally driven into the Tate college. They were surrounded and the battle was at that stage when the weaker ones cry, "Every man for himself." Tate looked into the faces of Amy and Haigh. They were lovers. They had something to live for. His thoughts ran in leaps and bounds. He lifted a trap door in the floor. He knew that he was looking upon his sister for the last time. He could say nothing, except, "go."
- A fishwife tells her young daughter a fairy story about a princess imprisoned by a hunchback in a seashell, a story that parallels her own life.
- Years before the story opens Ned had loved Dorothy, but a young artist had come to the village and took her away with him. Since that time her father, the Rev. Silas Winterburn, has been a broken-hearted man and has gone about his duties in a mechanical way. Once each year Ned has dinner with the old man, each hopeful that the other will have some word of their loved one. As they are enjoying their dinner on one of these occasions a ring at the doorbell is heard. The old servant opens the door and finds a small child crying in the falling snow. Upon investigating further he finds the mother. It is the long-lost Dorothy and the child, Dolly, her daughter. Silas calls for his servant, who has taken Dorothy and Dolly into the kitchen near the fire. Silas tells the servant to bring in the child, but the man dares not tell him that it is Dorothy. Dolly comes in and sees the food which she so greatly needs, but she refuses to eat until mother can share with her, Silas orders the mother brought in. The surprise of the two men may be imagined when they find it is Dorothy. But Silas becomes hard and cruel. He listens sneeringly to her story. In his heart he is glad to learn that the artist married the girl. Finally he declares that Dolly may remain, but that her mother will have to go. The child will not leave her mother, and both make preparations to go. Then the heart of the old man melts, and he welcomes them back to his home.
- Anna Little is a stenographer in the office of William Wharton, a broker, who also employs her old grandfather as a clerk. The grandfather has an addiction to drink. Anna is secretly engaged to Tom Mason, a young civil engineer, who is at present engaged in the building of a railroad out west. Wharton does not know of this engagement, and one day he finds the old grandfather stealing money from his desk. The grandfather, thinking Wharton will send him to prison, appeals to the granddaughter to save him, and Wharton in a moment of weakness, thinking that he could make the girl love him, lets the old man think that he will send him to jail unless Anna will marry him. A vision of the poor, wrinkled old face behind the bars is too much for Anna and she consents. Wharton, after they are married, notices that his wife is distant to him, but does not press his love, as he thinks to win her with kindness and consideration. He is unsuccessful, however, and Anna constantly thinks of Tom, to whom she has returned her tiny engagement ring with a brief note, saying that the engagement is off. She is seated in the garden of her home when Wharton slips up behind her and clasps a string of pearls around her neck. She pulls them from her violently and casts them on the ground, but after Wharton leaves she gathers them up. While seated in her sitting-room, gazing at the picture of Tom in his grading camp, Wharton suddenly enters and discovers that his wife loves another and he immediately decides to give her a chance to free herself. He makes a bargain with a notorious actress to play the part with him, and a scandal about the two is soon started. Tom, in the interim, has returned to the city, successful, and is an onlooker at the trials and tribulations that confront his former sweetheart. Wharton even pretends drunkenness to shock his wife, and when she objects, he asks her why she doesn't get a divorce if she doesn't like it. Wharton, in order to fully disgust his wife, takes the actress to his own home and announces to his horror-stricken wife that the girl has come to visit them. The shock of the visit is too much for Anna, and she succumbs to the nervous breakdown. The housekeeper calls at the club in order to find the husband, but no one is there except Tom, who, after searching for Wharton, goes to the Wharton home. He sits up all night with his former sweetheart and keeps her delirium down. Wharton returns the next day, but as soon as he enters his wife's presence she raves again. In a while her health improves and Wharton decides to go away forever, so he leaves a note telling her the truth about his actions and that she may be happy with the man she loves. She awakens and finds the note, but in the interim the old grandfather, who has drunk himself to semi-consciousness, sets fire to his room. Wharton, who has just left the house, returns, rescues the old man and also carries his wife into the garden. She tugs feebly at a string around her neck and suspended thereto, in a little bag. is a string of broken pearls. Wharton then realizes that his wife loves him and him alone, and he takes her to his arms, while Tom, renouncing his hope, steals away.
- Eve makes a poor living selling flowers. She pleads with her old nurse, Matilde, with whom she lives, to allow her to enter cafés saying she would have no trouble to dispose of her flowers there. Matilde realizes the time has come to tell Eve of her mother's fate. Her mother, a singer, had married the only son of a wealthy man. This son was disinherited for connecting the family with a stage performer. Time went by and the pair drifted from bad to worse; Bentley after using up all his wife's money and jewels, deserted her on the night Eve was born. Matilde was maid to the mother and when she died it fell to her lot to care for Eve. When the old nurse finishes the story she dozes off, still dreaming of the past. Eve, desperate by lack of food and her nurse's weak condition, decides to disobey. Taking her flowers, she steals out to seek the bright lights. A crowd of young revelers, among them Victor Austin, are attracted to the pretty flower girl as they enter the café. They buy all her stock. Austin leaves his friends and steals back to Eve as she stands dazed by her good luck He makes advances to her and she frees herself, running to shelter in the tenements. She finally steals back into her own lodging only to find the old nurse dead. Eve is grief-stricken, but soon recovers. In on old trunk she finds some letters which give her an inkling as to where her father's relations can be found. She starts out to locate them and to demand her rights. At a junction where she has stopped to change cars, she is robbed of her train ticket and what little money she has. A theatrical company offers her sympathy and protection until they reach Utica, the town for which she was bound. She is offered a small part to play and she makes good. The star of this company, James Gordon, although married, cannot resist the charm of Eve. On reaching Utica and learning that her father has inherited the Bentley fortune, but is away on a hunting trip, Eve pleads to remain with the company. Gordon gladly consents. Shortly after comes the news that Gordon has been offered a position in New York, the mecca of all his ambitions. The company must disband. Eve seeks her dressing room to hide her tears. There Gordon finds her and is unable to withhold expressions of love back. Eve is happy until she learns from another member of the company that Gordon is married. She remembers her nurse's warning about the perfidy of men; she determines to seek out her father and never see Gordon again. She departs. Meantime Gordon receives a telegram to the effect that his wife, who had left him, is dead. In vain he seeks Eve to tell her. Eve has found her father. His friend, Austin, falls in love with Eve. The father is in favor of the match in that he owes Austin big sums of money. James Gordon's New York debut is attended with great success. Yet he still longs for Eve. He reads of her approaching marriage with bitterness. Eve learns Gordon's wife had been dead for some time, through a newspaper article, and realizes at last his intentions were honorable. She goes to the theater to see him in the new play. The sight of the man she loves overpowers all social ambitions; she casts aside her jewels and her wealth and seeks him out as a woman who understands life's real meaning.
- William Ralston, a rich unscrupulous contractor, has in his employ a young foreman by the name of Watson, whose wife, Edith, is a beautiful woman. For years Ralston has been given to wrecking homes, but his advances to Watson's wife have all been repulsed. Fearing that her husband might lose his position, Edith has told him nothing about the advances made to her by Ralston. Reassured by her silence in this respect, Ralston takes advantage of her husband's absence on business and with the help of Ned Murray, a political boss, frames up a criminal charge of stealing the firm's money against the husband, so as to railroad him to prison. This would enable him to win over the wife at his leisure. Watson is arrested and Murray is told by Ralston to fix the jury, so as to make sure of a conviction. Owing to the watchfulness of the "Reformers," none of Murray's trusted "heelers" will take a chance of tampering with the jury. Murray, at his wit's end, picks up a derelict, Jim Hunter, who, in spite of his appearance, strikes him as the man to carry out the dastardly scheme. Hunter agrees to do the dirty work for a sum of money. The day of Watson's trial arrives. The derelict is drawn on the jury, thanks to the betrayal of public trust by the clerk of the court, who is Murray's henchman. Hunter is told to convict Watson. and to influence the jury. He is number "7" of the jury. The government's case against Watson is so strong as to leave no doubts in the minds of the spectators as to the final verdict. Juror number "7" is listless all through the trial until Ralston is called to the stand. In Ralston he recognizes the wrecker of his former home, the betrayer of his wife. His mind is made up. The excitement makes him tremble like a leaf. Murray, who is sitting among the spectators, attributes it all to lack of "dope" and manages by the aid of a court attendant, another henchman, to get a package to Juror No. 7, who recognizes it as "dope." The jury is charged by the court. When they enter the jury room, Hunter, unobserved, takes the "dope" from the package. The jurors' minds are made up to convict the prisoner. The dope brings temporary strength to the derelict. He rises from his seat and asks the jurors to listen to him before they vote. They consent and in a faltering voice he narrates to them his story. The narration of the story saps his strength. He falls exhausted in the chair. The derelict, for a final appeal, staggers to his feet and implores his fellow jurymen to remember his wrecked life and save this innocent man from prison. Each of the jurors votes "not guilty." The jurymen file back into the courtroom. The judge asks for their verdict. The foreman answers "not guilty." Watson and his faithful wife embrace. The foreman demands the court to arrest Balaton and Murray. Great excitement ensues. The derelict's head drops on his breast. The foreman, fearing the worst, lifts up his head and discovers that juror number "7" is dead.
- Fay Reynolds, a landscape artist, receives an order from Wadsworth for a picture, bordering on the primitive. She goes to the mountains to find a subject. There with Ranee, a lazy mountain fellow, as guide, she starts off in her search. Wadsworth, recuperating from a nervous collapse, visits his father's friend of pioneer days. While chopping down a tree, he becomes aware of Fay and Ranee. Fay, thinking him a mountaineer, offers him five dollars if he will pose. Ranee has wandered away and finds some whiskey. Fay suddenly looks up to confront a lion, crouched ready to spring upon her. Terrified, she rushes to the camp. Ranee attacks her. Wadsworth sees Fay and Ranee struggling on top of a cliff. Rushing to them, he fights with the drunken fellow. Ranee falls over the cliff. Fay discovers Wadsworth's identity and all ends happily.
- Two children are born into the world, a boy of wealth and luxury, a girl of poverty and simplicity. The man becomes a musician with the soul of a poet, keenly sensitive to the real beauty of life, despite his immense wealth. The woman bespeaks charming simplicity, underneath which is hidden a deep soul. Constantly dragged into the whirl of society, the man tires of the sham and pretense and finally breaks his social ties and assumes the disguise of a wandering street musician. He travels about from village to village and finds in the simplicity of the farmer folk that for which he has sought in vain on the higher planes of life. Meanwhile the woman begins to ascend the ladder. She goes to the city to become a protégée of a wealthy aunt and is introduced to the society from which the man has just escaped. Here she meets the Count, a profligate soldier of fortune, and is urged by her aunt to look with favor upon his suit. Soon after she attends a week-end party given at the country home of one of her aunt's friends. Here she is subjected to what appears to her mind an insult. She escapes from the house and sets out afoot for her aunt's summer residence, dressed in the simple garb of a country maid, a character she had been impersonating at the party. In going along the path through the woods, she is attracted by the melodious tones of a violin. Her curiosity is aroused and she follows the music to its source, discovering the man. He plays for her again and a warm friendship springs up between them. Each is afraid to disclose his true identity for fear of dispelling the illusion. Other visits follow, always in disguise, and finally the inevitable happens. They fall in love with each other. Meanwhile great pressure is brought to bear upon the woman in the interest of the Count. Finally the woman, realizing the hopelessness of her love, capitulates and marries the Count. When the little country girl comes to him no more, the man loses interest in the life he is leading and returns to the city, throws himself into the mad whirlpool of life in a vain endeavor to forget. He goes abroad, thinking to find solace. Meanwhile the woman has been reaping the bitter fruits of her marriage to the count. One night, when stopping at a famous watering place, she hears again the haunting strains of the violin. It draws her irresistibly and she comes into the presence of the man and his real identity is disclosed. Finally a point is reached at which flesh and blood can resist no longer, and the unhappy lovers determine to elope. The count discovers their plans and they rush away to their death. The threads of destiny lie severed. But unseen hands pick up the threads and weave them together in the life after death.
- Sitting by the hearth, the old sweethearts see in the flames the happy record of their youth. How he met and loved her; how his father refused to consent to their marriage, and her plan to win his reluctant approval. She remembers how she went to the farm, with the bogus plea of being ill and needing country air. She recalls all the wiles and guiles she exerted in her effort to win his good graces. And now they laugh, she remembers, it is amusing now that they have children of their own, though it was a mighty serious thing then, how his father fell in love with her himself, and proposed! She asked him to give her a little time, and she came to the city and told her sweetheart all about it. They visited a minister, and the son no longer feared his father's rivalry. Then they boldly returned to the farm, and told her other lover all about it. It was a serious surprise to the father, but it was even more humorous, so he took his sweetheart daughter-in-law to his heart. They remember it all, and their minds are busy with the happy recollections when their children rush in upon them. There is a bashful boy with their daughter, and the story that started fifty years ago is continued in the romance of the newer lovers.
- Giovanni Bartholdi ( Lon Chaney ), in desperate need of money, arranges to sell Carlotta ( Pauline Bush ), to supposed white slavers. Tony ( William C. Dowlan ), a friend, and her father come to her rescue and Carlotta is happily reunited with her family.
- Stephen's wife fails to inspire him in his painting. While seated before his hearth stone the young artist dreams of a beautiful pastoral love scene between a faun and a wood-nymph that is interrupted by the daughter of Pan. She lures the faun from his own true love with the weird music of her father's flute. The artist awakens from his dream with the picture of the daughter of Pan lingering in his mind. It is the picture he would like to transfer to canvas. In searching for an ideal model, Stephen meets Caprice, a dancer who exemplifies the spirit of Pan's daughter. She is induced to pose for the coming masterpiece. Stephen becomes enamored of his model and sadly neglects his wife. When the wife is refused admittance to her husband's studio, she naturally becomes jealous and angry. As the days pass the wife becomes friendly with her husband's friend, Arthur Darrell. Darrell is in love with the wife and makes advances, but for the time these are spurned. The sinister influence of Caprice upon the artist is apparent, and even after the painting is finished he is too fascinated with her to let her go. In a passionate love scene he wins her. His wife, in the meantime, has come to an understanding with the friend, Darrell. However, she decides, in fairness to her husband, to inform him prior to her departure, of her intentions. She finds the studio empty; the fatal picture is there finished to mock her. In a rage she slashes it to ribbons and with the act of destruction, the influence under which Stephen has worked is broken. Deserting his sweetheart, he hurries home to find love and forgiveness in the hands of his repentant wife.
- Jack and Dolly, his sister, live together in the west. On Jack's birthday, Dolly presents him with a peculiar ring. The brother and sister attend a masquerade ball that evening, each dressed in the other's clothes. Dolly, being taken for a man, meets Big Bill, a new ranchman, and he offers her a cigar, which she tries to smoke. Jack sees her in distress, and coming to her rescue, is introduced as the sister. The next morning Jack leaves to look over his stock. While riding through the sage brush, he takes a shot at a rabbit and the bullet lands near the spot where a cattle rustler is plying his unlawful trade. The cattle rustler and Jack meet. The former believes that Jack tried to kill him and a fight follows. Jack is killed. The murderer takes all Jack's money, including the ring. After two weeks of search the sheriff and his posse return without having seen the murderer and so report to Dolly. She determines to run the man down herself and sets out disguised as a cowboy. Her funds soon run low, however, and she is forced to seek work to carry on her search. Dolly approaches a ranch house and meets the owner, who is Big Bill, and as he has taken a liking to what he thinks is a young fellow, he gladly gives her a job. In the days that pass, Big Bill begins to doubt the sex of his new employee, but keeps his suspicions to himself. One day he asks the cowboy to accompany him to town, and while there, Dolly wanders into a saloon to watch the games in progress. Bill follows, keeping a close watch. Suddenly one of the players who is heavily losing, pulls out a sack and empties its contents on the table. Dolly receives a shock when she sees the ring she had given Jack, and at once guesses his identity. Dolly denounces him and they have a terrific fight. Bill tries to interfere, but the boys, thinking she is a man, hold him off. In the melee, Dolly's hair comes down and her sex is revealed. The fight is quickly stopped and Dolly tells of the murder. The rustler is delivered to the sheriff, and Big Bill takes Dolly home, where he offers her a new job as boss of his ranch.
- Mario Busoni, a young sculptor, is the ward of his uncle, Father Busoni, pastor of the Church of the Holy Name at Fiesole. The boy has shown wonderful skill in his chosen profession, so much so that he is selected to execute a life-sized statue of the Madonna for his uncle's church. This commission fills both uncle and nephew with great joy, and the lad's departure from the studio at Naples to fulfill his commission is made the occasion of much rejoicing among his fellow-workers. A discordant note is struck by Janice, a model. This girl passionately loves the young sculptor. She begs and entreats him to remain with her, and he is on the point of yielding to her blandishments when the timely arrival of his uncle puts Janice to flight. Uncle and nephew arrive at the scene of the boy's future labors and the work is commenced. A month later an important letter arrives at the studio for Mario, and Janice undertakes to deliver it to him. She arrives at the church, delivers the letter and attempts to ingratiate herself with Mario. She is again defeated by the watchful uncle, but determines to bide her time. Meanwhile Mario becomes dissatisfied with the conditions under which he is working, and finally induces his uncle to permit him to have a living model. It is found in the person of a beautiful young fisher girl, the widowed daughter of Pietro Ferrari, a fisherman. Later Mario heroically rescues the girl's father from the sea. Soon after the girl and her baby boy pose for the young artist. Tomasco, a hulking fisher lout, is in love with Mario's model. He offers marriage, and being refused, suspects Mario of being his rival. Meeting with Janice, her heart like his, aflame with jealous rage, the two plot the destruction of Mario's masterpiece, the almost completed statue of the Virgin and Child. Mario has proposed and been accepted by the fisher girl and the news of his betrothal determines Janice and her accomplice to put their plot into effect at once. Arriving at the church, the man carrying a heavy sledge, they are confronted by the finished work, a marvel of beauty of the statue. He throws down the hammer and refuses to perform the bidding of the jealous woman. She laughs at him for his sentiment and, seizing the hammer, swings it aloft. The destruction of the statue is imminent, but Divine intervention is at hand, and the eyes of the beautiful Madonna open. The poised hammer is dropped and both man and woman fall to their knees at the base of the statue, where they sob out their penitence in contrite prayers. The curtains hiding the statue are pulled aside and the bishop and his followers view the marvelous work of the young artist. Enthralled with admiration, the bishop extends his hand in blessing. The scene changes to a quiet nook near the seashore home of the fisher girl, where we find her and Mario in loving embrace, the patriarchal father holding aloft the baby boy, who is clapping his hands at the incoming rollers of the mighty sea.
- Nan Brenner is a toiler in one of the large department stores. Her mother, built on a large scale physically, virtually overawes the household. Her husband, failing to make a living in the past, she has taken in washing and forces him to do the labor. As a compensation for his work she gives him ten cents on every dollar that she makes. This sum immediately goes to swell the funds of the liquor trust. Jimmy Ford is a shipping clerk in a large wholesale house. Every evening he catches the car as it comes through the wholesale district and as the crowds usually get on downtown he always has a seat. He has noticed Nan many times and has offered his seat many times. She refuses each time. One rainy day he goes through the same routine and while waiting for Nan to take the seat, a laborer slips into it. Jimmy expostulates and a fight ensues, in which Jimmy throws the laborer out. Nan is weary and thankfully sinks into the disputed seat. When Nan goes to get off, she notices Jimmy has left his umbrella in the seat and takes it to him. He gets off with her and offers to share the umbrella with her. She at first refuses, and then reluctantly agrees. Jimmy gets a promise from Nan that she will go with him for a walk through the park the coming Sunday. At last the long awaited day arrives and the two lighthearted young folks set out. Passing several of her acquaintances. Nan hears them remark that she has a "steady." Near the zoo they see a poor drunken sot who is being baited by a crowd of boys. Nan, with horror, realizes it is her father. Jimmy, not knowing him, takes pity on him and runs the boys off and offers to take him home. Nan tells him it is her father and he tells to go on ahead that he will bring him home. Nan thinks her newly-found romance is over, for when they arrive home, Jimmy will see her home life as it really is. When Jimmy arrives home with the old man, his wife abruptly jerks him out of Jim's hands without even a word of thanks for his kindness. Nan has gone to her room and thrown herself sobbing upon the bed. As Jimmy starts to leave, he hears her and timidly knocks on her door. She bids him enter and he bashfully tells her that they had better go back and finish the rest of the peanuts he purchased. Out in the park later is found a young couple. The girl is shaking with sobs, while her protector has his arms around her vainly trying to soothe her. At last she raises her head and looks searchingly at him. Satisfied with her scrutiny, she surrenders into his eager embarrassed arms and as the story ends Jimmy takes his toll of kisses.
- The Boob's country sweetheart goes to the city for employment and finds it as scullery maid in the house of a family of "would-be" society people. The Boob, in the meantime, has been left a large sum of money by a distant relative. He writes of his good fortune. The letter falls into the hands of the scheming mistress of the house, who is looking for a wealthy husband for her daughter. She decides to capture him if possible. The Boob arrives in the middle of an afternoon reception, causing considerable mirth. The mistress cleverly keeps him from seeing the scullery maid by entertaining him. The Boob appreciates the entertainment so much that he finally goes to sleep. A quarrel is started in the kitchen between the scullery maid and the house maid, which results in the scullery maid chasing the house maid up and down the stairs. The scullery maid finally trips and falls down stairs, landing in the Boob's arms with the result of a happy reunion.
- A trapper, falsely accused of murder, is saved by an Indian whom he had once rescued from death.
- Olga Brandt, a stenographer in the office of Stephen Leslie, an attorney, receives a pitifully small salary. In addition she is handicapped by having the sole care of an invalid sister. A capital operation is necessary to save the girl's life. Olga, being entirely without money, appeals to her employer. He offers to furnish the money on terms that the girl, through the urgency of her sister's case, is finally forced to accept. The operation is performed and the girl is removed to the seaside. Three months later Olga learns that her sister is dead. The futility of her sacrifice and her natural antipathy to the life she is forced to lead, lead her to flee from the home of her betrayer. One of the truly good men of this world, the Reverend John Armstrong, finds her wandering disconsolately through the streets, and he, claiming a former acquaintance with her, takes her to the home of his mother. As time goes on, the young people, mutually attracted long ago, become engaged. John receives a call to a country village, and on the eve of his departure for the scene of his future labors, he and Olga are married. A year later the little village is stirred by the exhibition of a moving picture entitled, "Shall We Forgive Her?" Mr. Jellice, one of the deacons of John's church, attempts to prevent the exhibition, and by doing so becomes embroiled in a law suit with the manager of the theater. John sends for legal assistance, the attorney selected being Stephen Leslie. Leslie arrives and in his visit to the parsonage meets the woman he betrayed. He upbraids her for leaving him and proposes that they resume their former relations. When Olga refuses he threatens to expose her. The timely arrival of John and the committee on their way to the theater saves Olga for the time being. The party enter the theater, the committee agreeing to abide by John's verdict on the picture. At the parsonage, Olga determines to give up her fight. She sees no escape for Leslie but in flight. She writes a hurried letter to John and bids good-bye to the home in which she had found true happiness and contentment. On her way to the depot she is attracted to the theater and finally makes up her mind to enter. The picture tells the story of a sacrifice such as her own. The despairing girl watches it with breathless interest. At the culmination of a tense, dramatic scene John, rising in his seat, praises the picture and upholds the moral which it teaches. A vision of the Saviour is shown and the sublime words, "Judge Not Lest You Be Judged," are flashed before the tear-dimmed eyes of the audience. Subsequently Olga and Leslie meet. His entire attitude is changed and the pictured story has worked his reformation. He implores Olga's forgiveness and begs her to return to her husband. John, arriving home, finds the letter of confession. He is stunned for the moment, but seeing his sorrowing wife on her knees, he remembers the sublime words of his Divine Master, "Judge Not Lest You Too Be Judged," and takes the erring but repentant woman to his arms.
- By the light of the old, old moon, they are spooning, when their blissful occupation is interrupted by an eavesdropping tramp who sees possibilities of blackmail. A tribute is demanded, and awarded, and the lovers resume the sentimental session. In the way of lovers, the talk turns to marriage. They discuss her father's stubborn opposition, the chance of making him consent to their marriage. They determine to foil the old gentleman and marry in spite of him. The lovers decide to elope, in no less startling a manner than by an aeroplane, which they do, only to be seen by the irate parent, who pursues the car of the air in his automobile. Straight, fast, steadily, the aeroplane proceeds on its way to a minister and gets there long enough before the arrival of the father to receive the marital blessing, and afford the old gent a healthy excuse for his wrath. A year or so goes by and we see the young husband phoning the doctor that, well, we know what it is about when we glimpse at the medico's face. The doctor at once gets into his car and is off. We see his car racing along and over him a stork flying in the same direction. Then we see the baby, a bouncing baby it is, and just as the father is portraying his happiness with another. There is consternation on the face of the father, but genuine amusement on the faces of all who witness it.
- Helen MacDermott, daughter of the Factor at Bear Lake, has been carefully and religiously brought up by her widowed father. Bob Brandt, a dashing young gambler and adventurer, stops at Bear Lake in his wanderings, and having occasion to visit the post to buy supplies, he becomes acquainted with Helen. She quickly surrenders to his charms and he, taking advantage of her innocence, persuades her to elope with him in the face of her father's opposition. Six months later, happily married to her, (as she thinks) good and honest young husband, Helen is rudely awakened by a delegation of the Vigilant Committee, who roughly give her husband orders to move his operations to some other locality. Helen then learns that her hero is nothing more nor less than a gambler and swindler. Having a deep loathing for divorce, and too proud to return to her father, Helen continues as Bob's wife. A month later after the Vigilante episode, while wandering about the country, Bob accidentally shoots himself in the shoulder. Jim Stuart, a lieutenant in the Northwest Mounted Police, finds Bob and Helen and takes them to his quarters, where he cares for the injured man until he is well again. A warm friendship develops among the three and Jim secures a place on the force for Bob. Soon Jim discovers he is slowly falling in love with his friend's wife, and, try as he will, he cannot still the cravings of his heart. Seeing the disgrace he is sure to bring upon himself by some day losing his self-control and declaring his love, he resigns from the service and goes away without saying good-bye to Helen. A few days later, Helen, who has been keeping a diary which Bob has never seen, is suddenly called from the house, and leaves the diary lying open on the table. Entering a few minutes later, Bob sees the diary and reads in it a confession of Helen's love for Jim. Bob realizes that his wife's love is lost to him, and he determines to bring Jim hack so that she may gather a few scattered fragments of happiness. Acting upon his resolution, Bob tracks Jim down and forces him to return to the post with him. There he explains the situation and wishing them all happiness, rushes down to the river. Brought face to face with the cold proposition and realizing the great sacrifice Bob has made for her, Helen is swept from her feet by the return of her old love, and the decision that he is after all, the better man. She rushes from the house, just in time to save Bob's life from a would-be Indian murderer and throwing herself into his arms, asks and receives forgiveness.
- As a child, Nance is rescued from drunken, abusive parents by Jerry, a kind-hearted thief. Although she grows to womanhood in the company of crooks, she remains virtuous. Famous attorney Arthur Langham has obtained enough evidence against the Riley Gang,, of which Jerry is a member, to send them all to the penitentiary. Langham's close attention to his profession causes him to neglect his wife Enid, who drifts into a flirtation with his best friend, Clyde Herndon. About this time, Jerry is arrested on a burglary charge and the gang fear that at Jerry's trial, Langham will produce the evidence he has accumulated. Nance visits Jerry in jail and he induces her to go to Langham's house to steal the evidence. Nance watches outside the Langham home and, seeing the Langhams depart in their limousine for the opera, believes the time has come to secure the papers. She manages to steal them and is about to depart as she came, through the library window, when the lights are suddenly turned on and she is confronted by Langham. He compels her to return the documents and then, becoming interested in her, asks for her history. She tells him her sad story, which arouses his sympathy. He makes a compact with her, agreeing to use his influence in Jerry's behalf if she and Jerry will lead better lives. The day of the trial approaches and the gang, becoming more fearful, plot to put Langham out of the way. Nance overhears their plans to wait for him on a lonely road during a contemplated auto trip. His wife and friend also decide to take advantage of this trip and arrange an elopement. Nance determines to warn Langham by placing a note on his desk, and she steals into his house. Hearing a noise, she hides, and is surprised to see Langham's wife about to depart with another man. Herndon sends the wife back for her jewels. As Mrs. Langham leaves the room, Nance confronts Herndon and accuses him of his perfidy in betraying his friend. Langham reads of Jerry's escape from jail and hastily changes his plans and returns home unexpectedly. Mrs. Langham on re-entering the library, questions Nance as to how she came there; she hears her husband's voice giving orders to a servant. She and Herndon are dumbfounded. Nance grasps the situation and takes the jewels from the wife's hands. She motions them to silence as Langham enters the room. He is surprised to see Nance and Herndon there so late at night, but before he can question his wife, Nance steps forward and tells him a plausible story which brands her as a thief, but clears Enid and Herndon. Langham is about to give Nance up to justice when his wife intercedes for her. He yields to her entreaties and leaves her alone with Nance. The wife begs Nance to accept recompense for her great service, but Nance at first refuses. When the wife urges her to take the money to start a new life, she consents, and upon her return home, she learns of Jerry's escape and that he is in waiting to see her. She goes to his hiding place, shows him the money, and tells him she earned it honestly and that they will use it for a new start on the straight road. Jerry acquiesces, and for the first time tells Nance of his love for her.
- Jack Norton had traveled the downgrade, had transgressed the laws of man, had trespassed the forbidden, and paid the penalty. But he escaped from prison, and in some way, mapped out perhaps by Fate ages ago, met sweet little Flora Harding. Jack looked into her eyes and the storm in his soul subsided, the rancor of his wounded heart was soothed. Those eyes of Flora were the gospel, a psalm and a sermon by themselves. Jack determined to leave his evil companions and the viciousness of his former life, and make of himself a man worthy of the name and the girl. She says yes, when he asks her the old question, and for the first time in his tempestuous career, Jack faces a life of peace and love. In time a little stranger comes to bless the union, a baby girl, with the wistful, wondering charm of the girl wife and mother. Jack's cup of happiness is filled to the brim, and the path of life looms up rosy and bright and buoyant. Enter Fate, with her mystic web, which forthwith she begins spinning. A fellow prisoner of the old days, meets Jack and recognizes him as the escaped convict. He demands blackmail to keep the secret. Jack gives him money, more and more, until at last there is no more to give. But the other demands, and Jack, to save the innocent names of the two he loves, steals. He is detected. Society must be protected, so Jack returns to prison. The long years speed by, freedom is once more his. Yet, not freedom. He cannot return to his wife and child, he cannot look men in the eye. There is but one thing for him to do, to go on in the old way, the evil way, go on until death releases the fetters. He enters a house to steal, and sees a little girl. She speaks to him, tells him that her papa has gone away, that her mother has brought her a new papa, and that she does not like him. And he looks at her and knows, and, well, Fate is a little pitying, too, for she summons her Silent Messenger and the anguish of a human heart at last finds peace in the Valley of Beyond.
- Elsie and Rupert people of independence, live next door to each other on either side of a garden wall. Rupert and Joe are suitors for Elsie's hand. Rupert writes Elsie a letter, asking her to wear a white rose if her answer is Yes and a red rose if it's No. Joe reads the letter before it is sealed and substitutes the word white for red. Elsie, who really loves Rupert and thinks that the red rose means happiness to him, pins the white rose in Joe's coat and wears the red herself. Brokenhearted, Rupert disappears without waiting for an explanation. Ten years later he is in a rough mining room volunteering to adopt a baby boy who has been left fatherless and motherless. Four years later he returns to his home. Elsie has not married, living true to her love for Rupert. The four-year-old boy finds a hole in the garden wall and crawls through it. He finds Elsie grown older and sad, sitting in the garden. They become great friends. The child finds a photo of Elsie on her bedside table, takes it, and crawls through the hole in the wall and gives it to Rupert, saying that the lady next door sent it to him. The child then takes Rupert's photo from his room and carries it to Elsie with the same message. Rupert is delighted to get Elsie's picture and sends a note by the child, expressing his gratitude to her for her thoughtfulness after all these years. As the child enters to deliver Rupert's note Elsie gives the child one for Rupert, the child takes her note first, then hands Rupert's and runs away. The child gives Rupert the note which reads almost identical with his own, to Elsie. Both Rupert and Elsie run to the garden wall to explain, and there the happy reunion takes place.
- The Gertz family lives in a tenement room; below them live the Coulahans, a crude family. Tom Coulahan loves Cora Gertz, but she doesn't like his family. She finally agrees to marry him and moves in with his whole family. When Tom's father dies, Tom becomes a drunkard, and when his mother dies, all the household duties fall upon Cora. Hans, a friend from Germany, comes to look after Cora. Tom tries to rob him. Cora takes medicine to commit suicide. Tom bullies her to help him rob Hans, but Tom fills the glass with Cora's suicide potion and drinks it down. Cora and Hans are happily reunited.
- At one time, Jack Armstrong was wealthy, but riotous living had left him almost penniless. He is in love with Daphne, a frivolous woman who appreciates a man for what he can give her, but to him she does not appear in this role. With his fortune gone, Jack writes her a note telling of his loss and also of his love, asking if her love for him is great and big enough to help him start over again. True to her nature when Daphne discovers his change in fortune, she transfers her affections to Burton Musgrove, who has made quite a lot of money on the stock market. Daphne and Burton come to the party which Jack is giving and arrive just in time to see Jack talking to Violet, "the mouse," an orphan girl whom he is educating. When later he attempts to explain about her, his friends only scoff at his story. Daphne gives Jack her answer, she is to marry Burton Musgrove. Jack now feels that life is no longer worth living. Violet, whom he regards as a child, is in reality a woman and loves Jack. She divines that something is wrong and does not allow herself to be far away from him. Jack arranges all his plans, and just as he is ready to drain a glass of poison, Violet dashes it from his hand and so saves his life. For the first time, he sees her as she is, a grown woman and realizes the love for him that she has in her heart.
- John Potter is the son of one of the most distinguished and courageous families in old Virginia. The stirring news that Sumter had been fired upon volleys its pregnant purport into the homes of the South. John volunteers to serve. In the red rays of the setting sun, disguised as a Union soldier, John starts on his mission of securing the Union forces' plans. As he steals through the Union lines he comes upon a squad of Union soldiers, and in their midst a Confederate spy. A sharp order and from the barrels of twelve guns the prisoner's punishment is meted out to him. Like a blow it dawns upon John that, if detected, that would be his fate. His courage fails him and he turns toward the Confederate lines. He runs to his home, and bursts in upon his sister, who alone is awake. A few brief words and she knows all. The boy, desperate in his shame, runs into another room; there is a muffled shot, a thin wreath of smoke tells its grim tale. She determines to accomplish her brother's mission, and flies out into the night. She manages to get into the Union lines, secures the plans and when she reaches her home, where her dead brother lies, she places the plans in his pocket. The Confederates find him and he is buried with military honors.
- Adeline falls in love with Frank, but her brother Theron wants her to marry rich Old Scapin, though she is carrying Frank's baby.
- A soldier finds strength after being given a rosary at the hospital where he was treated.
- The story opens when a party of Indian trappers bring the news to the fur trader that a stranger, a white man, is hunting in their territory. Soon afterward the stranger, unaware that he is transgressing the traditional rights of the trader, is captured and brought to the post. Aurora, the trader's motherless daughter, has been raised to womanhood at the post and has associated with few people other than redskins. At her first meeting with the stranger she is deeply impressed. Their acquaintance soon ripens into love. The trader does not know exactly what to do with the poacher, and so holds him at the post. The stranger attempts to obtain a gun, some matches and a knife, that he may leave. His attempts are unsuccessful. The trader finally decides that the stranger's punishment shall consist of being turned out in the trackless forest without food or weapons. Aurora learns of her father's designs. To save the stranger she spirits a gun, knife and matches and gives them to the stranger. He escapes into the forest. He sprains ins ankle, however, and is taken prisoner by the trader's Indians. "Tell me who gave you the rifle and I'll send you safe on your journey," offers the trader. But the stranger declares that he will submit to death before divulging the secret. To save his mistress, Saskatche, a young Indian, declares that he gave the stranger the rifle. When the trader flies at him in an angry rage, Aurora confesses and that her action was prompted by love for the young trapper. The anger of the old trader is mellowed by his love for his daughter. His mind reverts to the romantic days of his own youth and he ceases to be the despot. He becomes a father. He forgives the stranger and his daughter and consents to their marriage.
- Frank Marston is known to the world as a successful man. His daughter Helen is engaged to Tom Farrell, a young business man. One night the young couple go to a gay party at the studio of a famous artist. Helen and her father started a game of chess while waiting for Tom and the old man goes back to the library after seeing the young folks leave. As he sits in the flickering firelight toying absently with the chess pieces in front of him, memory takes a hand and moves the pieces into strange relationship. The white queen and her knight face the black knight. As he watches the three pieces slowly change into the figures of himself, as a young man. Standing in place of the black knight and in place of the white pieces, come the forms of his old pal, Marc Bailey, and the latter's pretty Mexican sweetheart, Anita, of the years of long ago. Slowly the chessboard fades away and the scenes from the past come up before him. Marc Bailey, living in the little Mexican town of Cocholento, located a good prospect the same day that he received a telegram from his old pal, Frank Marston, that the latter had been granted a zone by the Mexican government. (A zone is a sixty-day mining option on any large tract of land, giving the holder the sole right to file on any portion of that land during that period, even when other parties have located prospects in the district.) Anita forgets Bailey's faithful love for the handsome Marston and he pretends to care for her. They dally in the southern moonlight, unsuspected by Bailey. Trusting his friend as himself, Marc shows Marston the prospect. But the streak of greed in Marston overcomes his scruples and all the friendship of years. He alone has the right to file on the land, and unknown to Bailey, he does so. But Bailey discovers the fact and accuses Marston. The latter offers to pay him for the prospect but outraged friendship rebels at this insult, and Bailey pulls his gun to shoot Marston. Anita watched the scene afraid. Thinking to stop Bailey, she throws herself in front of Marston. Too late. The bullet drives its way into her fickle heart. Bailey is overcome, for his love for the girl is greater than his hatred of Marston. He rushes to her side, throwing his gun away as he goes. She turns away from him and calls for Marston, but the latter, afraid of Bailey's vengeance, has fled. The scene fades back to the library again. On the chessboard the black knight has disappeared and the white queen is prostrate. Marston agitated by memories, pours himself a drink. He is taking it when a face appears at the window, a face distorted with hate. The face is that of Bailey. Bailey, the failure, who has drifted lower and lower, until at last he has joined a band of crooks for the robbery of Marston's house. When Bailey recognizes Marston all the old enmity is aroused. He enters the library, gun in hand. Marston, the animal hate overcoming him, throws away his gun. He must kill this man with his bare hands. Grimly and silently the two gray-haired men struggle, Bailey's hands at Marston's throat. Meanwhile in the gay studio the grim messenger of death has been a guest. Pretty Helen, reveling with the others, goes up the stairs with her fiancé to the long gallery for refreshments. Drinking to her host, she stumbles back against the weakened balustrade. It gives way and the girl is hurled to the floor below. The guests and her horrified fiancé hurry down to her, but the little life is broken. Heartbroken, they take her body back to Marston's house. As they carry her into the library, Hailey is tightening his grip on Marston's throat. The men stagger apart. With a wild shriek Marston stumbles to the girl's side. Bailey stands for a moment watching the scene. He sees that the girl is dead. His vengeance is complete, for life will be worse than death now to the man who so wronged him in that long ago past. Bailey goes out again into the snow, a failure, leaving Marston, the success, sobbing his heart away in the beautiful library.