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Learn more- Scene I. Treachery and Oath of Vengeance: The initial scene pictures the French General DeMerci with his wife and two children, a grown daughter and little boy, in a handsomely set drawing room of their home in Turkey. The General is very impatient. Presently he receives a package of documents delivered by a private (who one year later is Colonel Bernelle and at all times the sweetheart of Mathilde, the Generals daughter). The General turns to his wife and reads the papers just received. At this point Mohammed, a ferocious Turk, stealthily appears at door accompanied by four Moors armed with scimitars. They enter and Mohammed demands the documents. The General resents. Mohammed makes a movement to seize them. The General grapples with him in a fierce struggle, terminating in his death. Wife and child attempt to escape, but are seized by Moors and choked to death. Mohammed secures the papers, orders the Moors to leave him, and with malignant triumph lingers to gloat over his despicable deeds with brandish of his dagger and the documents. He soon departs and Mathilde, the General's daughter, unsuspectingly returns. When she discovers the horrible tragedy, so abruptly committed, the shock is almost insufferable, and she is stricken dumb, but kneels and vows to Heaven to avenge the murder of her family. Scene 2. Capture and Escape of Mobammed. Mathilde Plays the Spy: French army camp; pickets on duty, relief guard going on, etc. Colonel Bernelle sends for Sergeant Dubourg and questions him. He points to the Cross of the Legion of Honor which Dubourg wears; given him by the Emperor Napoleon. Sergeant kneels and kisses the cross of honor and soldiers doff their hats in respect. Sentry halts a stranger who, when allowed to enter camp, proves to be Mathilde, the murdered General's daughter, dressed as a French lancer. She recognizes Bernelle and starts with surprise but recovers and salutes. When questioned, she indicates that she is dumb, but writes a note saying she would give her life for France. She impersonates a man in this undertaking. Secretly Dubourg lets her know he recognizes her. Private enters with exciting news. Bernelle gives orders and soldiers bring Mohammed, a captive. Mohammed struggles free and confronts his captors defiantly. When queried scorns the officers contemptuously and turns his back on them. When bodily forced to face his foemen he spits in Dubourg's face. Dubourg would slay him, but Bernelle restrains with a word of command. Bernelle turns to consult Dubourg. Mohammed slyly draws a pistol from the folds of his tunic and quickly aims it at Bernelle, but Mathilde has watched every move this scoundrel made and as the pistol explodes knocks the weapon from his hand with her sword and the bullet goes high. Soldiers seize Mohammed and drag him off. Bernelle thanks the girl for saying his life and her loyalty is thus established. The officers converse and the result is they send Mathilde as a Spy to the Palace of Achmet Bey, the enemy's ruler. She leaves on horseback as wild Arab boy. Mohammed runs through camp. He has escaped. Dubourg shoots and wounds him, soldiers pursue him firing, but he gets away after another exultant demonstration of his contempt for them. Scene 3. Oriental Palace of Achmet Bey: Identifying A. B. seated on ottoman smoking hookah, Turkish soldiers, sword fighters, musicians, dancers, servants, etc.. Mathilde arrives and causes much excitement, dances wild sort of Arabian dance, entreats A. B.'s protection and conveys she is dumb, insane and sees visions and gifted with prophecy; all of which pleases A. B. This picture shows how Mathilde obtains a valuable order written by A. B. and given to a soldier. He drops it from his sash. Mathilde hurriedly picks it up and quickly substitutes same with another paper before the soldier could turn around; also the capture of Bernelle, whose life is again saved by the forethought of his unrecognized sweetheart. Scene 4. The Spy Captured. her Sex discovered: Dubourg is captured and imprisoned with Bernelle. Mathilde steals over the prison walls to see them and later sends alarm to the French camp by saturating a cloth with brandy, lighting same, tying it with a message to an arrow and firing it over the walls. Mohammed enters and attempts to shoot Bernelle through the prison bars. Mathilde, who has been in hiding, draws a sword and desperately attacks him. He defends likewise and both engage in the most realistic sword combat ever exhibited with a woman participant. She wounds the gigantic Mohammed, he is unable to attack and can barely defend, but just as she has his guard beaten down sufficiently to run him through, the Moors come to his rescue. Mathilde is made captive, and in the scuffle her blouse is torn and reveals her sex. Bernelle and Dubourg have helplessly watched the brave girl through the prison bars and at this point Dubourg confirms Bernelle's suspicion that the supposed Arab boy is Mathilde, his sweetheart. Scene 5 and 6. Snatched from the Jaws of Death: Includes prison walls, beheading block, etc. Enter procession headed by Mohammed with soldiers guarding Col. Bernelle and Sergeant Dubourg, who are sentenced to death. Mathilde is forced to be a witness. She steals Mohammed's pistol and secretly gives it to Dubourg. Bernelle is forced on the block and the executioner stands with uplifted sword waiting for the final words of the death warrant. The order is given, but a shot is fired with it and the giant executioner falls. Mohammed draws sword and rushes at Dubourg who fired the shot, and who fires again, killing this most death deserving villain. Turks are in consternation, and at this instant French soldiers arrive from the camp, scale the wall and fire on their enemy. Dubourg grabs the executioner's sword and severs the bonds of Bernelle. A true battle ensues, and, with the dispersion of the Turks, many being killed and wounded. Bernelle, who now knows Mathilde, goes toward her. She rushes into his arms and there is great cheering of victory and restoration beneath the French flag. -- The Moving Picture World, March 14, 1908
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