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Learn more- The story deals with the adventures of James Hart and his young wife in their search for gold. Sitting out from the trading post one bright morning, these two intrepid seekers of fortune, in company with a trusted friend and prospector, wend their way up the mountain side, their pack mules loaded with provisions and mining tools, their faces set toward the West, toward the land of promise of golden treasure. For several days their progress is rapid and uneventful, but misfortune for a time seems to have overtaken them. Ethel, our heros pretty wife, unused to the hardships of such rough travel, falls ill and her condition threatens to seriously impede the progress of the little band. Every effort is made to reach some habitation or miners cabin, so that shelter and rest may be secured for the sick wife. At last they stumble onto a little log hut nestled in a clump of pines and sheltered from the winds and storms by the lofty rugged sides of a mountain peak. Hastily dismounting from his mule, James knocks on the cabin door for admittance: a savage growl, half human, half animal, greets his ear, followed by the appearance of a strange, wild-looking old man, rifle in hand, who, incited to uncontrollable anger at their presence, screams out his rage in savage yells and demands to know why such meddling fools had dared to intrude on his domains. It is old Hager, the Mad Miner of Arrow Gulch. Recognizing the madness in his eyes, James, knowing the uselessness of further parley with the befuddled old hermit, gives orders to proceed on their way. Before they have journeyed very far Ethels strength leaves her entirely and she collapses. Camp for the rest of the day is made and James sets about to minister to his wifes needs. While the two men are busy with their preparations for making the camp as comfortable as possible, three renegades from one of the distant mining settlements, hearing of the reputed wealth of the Mad Miner, have planned to shadow the old man and follow him to his rich diggings, said to be located in some unknown gorge. A shot, followed by a scream, as from some wounded beast, falls upon the ears of the two prospectors. Seizing their rifles, they hasten away in the direction from whence the sound came. The three renegades, after following the old miner to his secret claim, pounce upon him and attempt to carry away his precious gold. Fighting desperately, he is seriously wounded, but clings to his sack of dust with a death-like grip. The ruffians are just about to succeed in their plans, when James and his companion appear upon the scene, and wounding one of the robbers, draw a bead on the other two and disarm them. Driving the three away, the two prospectors carry the now helpless old madman back to camp and there minister to his wants. But his hurt has proven fatal, and with approaching death, reason partly returns to his fevered brain and he begs his benefactors to carry him to his little cabin, where he might breathe his last in the home he had built with his own lands. His request is obeyed, and there in the rude hut under the crest of the mountain the mad miner passes away, after dictating a rough will in which he leaves all he possesses, including his rich claim, to James Hart, his benefactor. Burning with rage at their defeat, the three renegades determine to revenge themselves upon the two prospectors for interfering with their plans. So learning of the death of the old miner, they go before the sheriff of Arrow Gulch and swear out a warrant charging James Hart with the murder of the hermit. The sheriff mounts his horse, and accompanied by a deputy, proceeds to the little cabin to arrest the murderer. But the tables are soon turned on the renegades when James produces the miners will and explains who the guilty ones really are. Taking the three scoundrels in charge, the sheriff marches them off to town, while the prospectors prepare to give a decent burial to the remains of the mad miner. - The Moving Picture World, March 6, 1909
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