- Harold Burton, a trusted employee of the Los Vegas Mining Company, Mexico, is in a quandary and sorely perplexed, owing to a letter from his wife, who in sympathizing with him in his struggle for fortune. The Superintendent is dangerously sick and is lying on a cot in the office. Burton believes him dead, is tempted to steal the contents of the safe, the payroll, and go back to civilization, but the ever-watchful eye of conscience awakes in him. In his ambitions for a purer and nobler manhood restoration is made, and Harold Burton is happy in the thought of conquered temptations.—Moving Picture World synopsis
- Harold Burton, an Englishman, is a trusted employee of the Los Vegas Mining Co., Mexico. He is in a quandary and sorely perplexed, owing to a letter from his wife, who is sympathizing with him in his struggle for fortune. The superintendent is dangerously sick and lying on a cot in the office. Burton believes him dead, is tempted to steal the contents of the safe, the payroll, and go back to civilization. On his way he stops and shaves off his mustache. Nearing San Diego he stops at a Mexican ranch and leaves his horse, promising to return in a day or two. Reaching San Diego, he visits a steamship office and learns there is no boat leaving until the following day. Going to the poorer part of the town he secures a room for the night. His nerves are gradually getting the best of him. Upon the landlady leaving the room he immediately covers the window with a blanket and hides the stolen money in the bed. He leaves the room to get something to eat. After eating he steals into the small park and begins to study the timetable. But the fatigue he has undergone causes him to fall asleep, only to be awakened by a policeman. Burton's nerves are in a terrible shape and he slinks away, going to his room. Carefully locking the door he lights the lamp, gets the stolen money and is gloating over his ill-gotten gain, when a noise in an adjoining room scares him into a perfect frenzy. Upon looking around he perceives an eye looking at him through a knothole in the boarded-up transom. Covering the money he makes slowly to the bed and returns it to its hiding. He pulls his gun and is about to shoot, when he realizes that the noise would betray him. He leaves his room and reaches the one corresponding to his, forces the door and finds himself in the room of an old German mask maker, who has just finished a mask. Wishing it to dry quickly he has placed it upon a shelf so that the eye happens to be opposite the knothole. Burton rushes to the old German, seizes him by the throat and accuses him of spying on him. The German points to the mask. Burton realizes the mistake. He abjectly apologizes and returns to his room. He is now a nervous wreck and sinks into a chair. His conscience is driving him mad. Taking his wife's letter and picture from his pocket he begins to realize the enormity of his crime and the consequence of it. He determined to take back the money. He quickly rolls it up in the blanket and leaves at once. He goes to the Mexican rancho, gets his horse and rides away. Upon his arrival at the mine he finds the superintendent getting well and is attended by a Mexican woman who motions to him that the sick man is asleep. Burton sends the woman out, quickly unrolls the blanket, gets the money and places it back in the safe without anyone being the wiser as to its absence. The superintendent awakening, sees what at first appears to him to be a stranger. Burton speaking to him causes him to realize who it is. He points to his altered appearance. Burton explains that he has burned his mustache in lighting a cigarette and consequently has had to shave. This satisfies the convalescing superintendent. Burton thanking God for his lucky escape by the Eye of Conscience so ingeniously made by the old German mask maker.—The Film Index synopsis
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