- Johann Sonnenthal, composer, meets Elsa Linden. She is engaged at the time to Robert von Erlen, but Sonnenthal attracts her. She, however, has neither depth of character to fathom his great love, nor to appreciate his divine gift of music. Her frivolous nature after marriage clamors for the gaiety and adulation of the butterfly life that she had led before meeting him. One day she happens to encounter Robert von Erlen and incidentally draws comparisons that are unfavorable to her dignified and preoccupied husband. Her hatred of his music breaks out so violently that she tears up his most valued composition. Sonnenthal is dazed at her daring and impertinence and staggers out into the open. At this stage, Von Erlen happens to meet him, appears to divine the break and determines to again see his old sweetheart. After hours of aimless wandering in the seclusion of the forest, Sonnenthal returns to his home at nightfall, to find it dark and empty. The truth dawns upon him; his wife has gone and left him. He places a candle in the window, with a prayer, indicating that she is forgiven and may return. Then he watches through the livelong night, and when morning dawns the candle flickers out and his hope withers. The last dissolve of this reel shows the musician snatching up his hated music in fury, tearing it in bits, and as it flutters like snow upon the floor, he falls upon it, cold and unconscious. The following morning the composer comes to himself and attempts to bring order out of chaos. He picks up his disarranged music and rearranges it. He begins to play. Mendelssohn-Bartholdy passing that way instantly recognizes a masterpiece. He quietly enters the room and touches Sonnenthal upon the shoulder. Mendelssohn indicates that the music he has heard is masterful. Then Sonnenthal snatches the patched manuscript from the music-desk and pushes it into Mendelssohn's hands, beseeching him to have it recognized. The succeeding scene is remarkable and interesting in personalities presenting: Schumann, Chopin, and other figures of music of the day, gathered at Mendelssohn's house. Among the guests is Elsa, now the wife of Von Erlen. The host takes advantage of the opportunity to introduce the music he received from Sonnenthal, playing it himself. All are deeply moved by its pathetic phrases: but none more than Elsa, who reads its message of her ruined life, of his suffering. Sonnenthal is shown alone in his home, tossing on his bed in fever. The last candle he will ever light to guide Elsa back is already half burned away. He watches it slowly, but helplessly, as it burns away. Elsa hurries away from the reception and, arriving at her house, is goaded beyond endurance by Von Erlen 's caustic remarks. She resolves to make whatever amends she now can to Sonnenthal, and slipping into a cloak, silently glides out into the night. In the dawn of the morning she comes, just as the candle is sputtering in its socket. Sonnenthal has regained consciousness, looks out toward the window when Elsa appears in the doorway. Overcoming his great weakness, he stretches out his arras to her, but the effort is too great. He falls back dead, the candle flickers out. Elsa stands a moment transfixed with horror, then kneels by his side and clasps the dead hands. Suddenly she comes to a realizing sense of her unworthiness, shrinks back and stumbles, sobbing, from the room. The rays of the rising sun seem to halo Sonnenthal's form, as through the open door pass the allegorical figures representing Fame, Riches, Peace and Plenty. They slowly file into the room, to find that they have all come too late.—Moving Picture World synopsis
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