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- No one seems to understand or love Fay, the little spoiled granddaughter of William Van Loan, a hard-hearted capitalist, but the old family butler, who tells her fairy stories. In Powhatan, a mining town controlled by Van Loan, Bessie, a sweet motherless child of Jasper Hunt, a mine foreman, lives with their housekeeper, Mrs. Flannigan. The mining company raises the price of food stuffs at the only store; the men resent this, and failing to get increased pay, strike. Van Loan refuses to yield and decides to use scab labor. Scenes of violence follow and, compelled to go to Powhatan, Van Loan takes Fay with him. Fay meets and plays with Bessie and for fun they change dresses. Separated, the unusual likeness deceives the Van Loan governess, who supposes Bessie to be Fay and whisks her away. Mrs. Flannigan finds and takes Fay, sick from exposure, to the Hunt home. Business hurriedly recalls Van Loan and mistaken for a changed Fay, Bessie revolutionizes the Van Loan household by her sweetness. Hunt, the real leader of the striking men, is summoned to meet Van Loan. During the unsuccessful arbitration meeting, Bessie comes in to bid her "grandfather" good night and, seeing her father, rushes to his arms. Hunt, busy with the strike, supposes her to be ill at home. They are all dumbfounded. Bessie tells them how she and Fay changed clothes. Looking up the family trees, the likeness of the "twin" kiddies is explained, and, completely won over, Van Loan yields to the men and Hunt is made mine superintendent. Years of dread follow, and just as a report of the other's death reaches him, his foe appears, immensely wealthy and wreaks the vengeance in a spectacular manner.
- Just after Bob's fiancée breaks off their engagement, he meets young Mary, whose mother has just died, and the two of them comfort each other.
- Brandsby Mordant, a Scotland Yard detective with a brilliant future, in trying to extricate his nephew, Charles Eaton, from a band of crooks, of which he is a member, is caught in a net of circumstantial evidence during a robbery, and with other members of "The Four" is sent to Dartmoor prison. The nephew escapes. "The Four" are double-crossed by Phiney Glenn, Jeff Armstrong and Adolph Gassner, who have acted as a "fence" and now desire respectability. "The Four," in prison, never once forget their desire for revenge, and when opportunity for escape comes Mordant goes to America and begins his campaign of revenge, which includes mental tortures for Glenn, now Glenister, and Armstrong, now Strong, and death for Gassner. His crowning stroke comes when he steals Dorothy, Glenister's daughter, and tells her of her father's feet of clay, laying bare the crime and treachery on which his respectability is founded. It is Mordant's supreme moment, but he experiences the futility of revenge when he learns that Dorothy is not Glenister's own daughter, but is the daughter of Charles Eaton, whom Glenister has adopted "to make things right." In the meantime detectives are closing in on Mordant and it is only through the quick wit of Marie Marat, who has accompanied him from Europe, that he finds safety and an opportunity for a better life.
- Shouts of joy and the clapping of many tiny hands welcomed the arrival of the big birthday cake. For this was Little Mary's birthday. To celebrate all Mary's little friends had been invited and the big event which preceded the supper and the cutting of the cake was a performance of Cinderella and the affair of the glass slipper. Little Mary forgot to leave at the hour of 12, and when she was called away by the fairy she dropped her glass slipper on the stair. Of course, to every one's amazement, when the Prince went looking for the owner of the slipper, the only one whom it fitted was Little Mary. The party and the excitement was all over, and, as an added help to recuperate from the strain of starring. Little Mary the next day went auto riding with the chauffeur. But fate then took a hand in the story of Mary's life. Captured by Gypsies and later escaping in the midst of a battle royal amongst the tribe she finally made her way to the hut of a crabbed old man, but she finally overcame his crabbedness by her cute and winning smile. Unknown to Little Mary, her benefactor was in reality her grandfather, James Andrews, who had taken his money to this backwoods place because of his son, Dr. Andrews, who had married against his wishes. The chauffeur, wild with anxiety, finally located Little Mary in the cellar, where she had gone to help the old man, who had fallen while miserly counting his money. Would they be able to reach the city in time? They faced a hard task, but Little Mary had known harder work when she had starred in Cinderella.
- Seductive vamp La Belle ( Lillian Lorraine ) sets out to steal Jack Holmes ( Henry King )away from his loving wife Mary ( Mabel Van Buren ). He foolishly spends every penny on the vamp , leaving his wife almost destitute. La Belle is killed by a jealous suitor and the evidence points to Jack. However, he is given an reprieve by the way of a letter written by La Belle claiming she had intended to commit suicide. Should his wife now forgive him ?.
- The story tells of the hardships of a factory girl whose father, a man of despicable character, uses the girl's small earnings to purchase liquor, thus depriving her of many of the necessities of life. Comes a time when his drunkenness is the cause of his death. The girl's chum, at one time employed in the same factory with her, but now a cabaret entertainer, obtains for the girl a position in the same place. The young doctor who attended her father at the time of his death, loves the girl, and learning of her whereabouts from Spike, one of the girl's admirers, a tough but good-hearted character, he becomes a nightly visitor at the café. Later, he asks her to become his wife, but she refuses, pleading illiteracy. A vicious millionaire bachelor who frequents the café notices the girl, and learning that she is unsophisticated, asks her to come to his home, where he promises that his wife shall look after her future. She is saved from the fate which many girls had met at the hands of the millionaire, by the ever-vigilant Spike, who had been on the alert to guard her against such men as this. The picture ends charmingly with the girl wistfully accepting the second time what she refused, and so wanted, the first.
- Ned Gillett's father, head of a big trust company, kills himself when it is discovered that be has embezzled, and Ned, convinced that Francis Hardor, his sweetheart, would not marry the son of an embezzler, goes West without telling her. In the mountains he rescues, Larence, an old miner, from Billows Jones, a desperado. In revenge, Jones dislodges the old man's shack from its perch on the hillside. Ned escapes, but the miner is fatally Injured. He tells Ned of the Mainspring, a mine in Calvert City which he had abandoned, intending to return when he could work It. On Ned's arrival in Calvert City he finds Jones selling abandoned mines to Easterners. Jones has a sucker in tow who proves to be the brother of his old sweetheart, Frances, who is with him. She meets Ned but ignores him, and embarrassed at his presence, returns home. Ned files his claim, and saves young Hardor from being swindled by Jones. They then become partners in the "Mainspring," which turns out well, but they have trouble with the miners, instigated by Jones. Frances and Peggy, Hardor's sweetheart, visit the mine and are caught in a fire started by tools of Jones. They are all rescued by Ned. The miners attack the office building. Ned is wounded during the fight, but Jones is killed. After his recovery Ned awakens to find Frances at his side. Mutual explanations heal the old estrangement, and both are happy.
- Country girl Claire Marley goes to the city to pursue a life of excitement, while her twin sister Ida remains home to care for their aging parents. Immersing herself in life with the fast set, Claire becomes the mistress of wealthy bachelor Roy Vangrift who promises to marry her. After Roy tires of Claire and casts her off, she leaves him to earn a respectable living, but failing at this, returns home. Shortly afterward, Roy goes fishing and makes his camp near the Marley home where he meets Claire's sister Ida with whom he falls in love. Discovering that Roy plans to elope with her sister, Claire - with the aid of the minister - takes Ida's place and the two are married. She then reveals her true identity and Roy, realizing that he really loves his bride, forgives Claire.
- Two brothers, Robert and John, are after the same girl, who eventually picks Robert. Robert, however, soon goes blind, and she turns to brother John for help. He is willing to help her, if she is willing to "help" him, and she refuses. Enraged, he attacks her. She is saved by the intervention of his clerk, Harry, but in the struggle between the two men, she takes money off of John's desk. Arrested for the theft, Harry is convicted and sent to prison; although John soon finds out it was Agnes who actually took the money, he says nothing and allows Harry to stay imprisoned for a crime he now knows the man didn't commit. Complications ensue.
- In Paris, wealthy young American Horace Martinache takes a young flower girl to a hospital after knocking her down in his auto, and leaves money with friends to pay for her education. Years later, when Horace's nephew Eric plans to bring home a young actress whom he met in Europe and wants to marry, Horace's mother and sister ask for his help in breaking up the romance. Horace, an unmarried colonel, indulges them and agrees to court her to make her lose interest in Eric. The actress, Sara St. Ypriex, recognizes Horace as her benefactor and encourages him. Horace, unaware that Sara was the flower girl, falls in love with her. After Eric fails to respond to Sara's cries of alarm when one of her other suitors, Roscoe Vandercourt, tries to attack her, Horace protects her, but Vandercourt escapes. Sara accepts Horace's marriage proposal and Vandercourt, really an international crook, is trounced by Sara's father, who earlier served a prison term because of Vandercourt's treachery.
- Young Joy ( Baby Marie Osborne ), the sole survivor of a shipwreck that killed her parents, is rescued by fishermen and then placed in an orphanage. Although reputable on the surface, the home really functions as a front for some crooks who want to keep Joy there because she carries with her all of her mother's jewelry. Joy manages to escape, but without the jewels, and then stows away on a train heading out West. After arriving, she meets Hal Lewis ( Henry King ), who has been made an outcast by his upper crust Eastern family. Hal soon adopts the little girl and, becoming stronger and more serious through the responsibilities of parenthood, he returns home with Joy. Then, after receiving his father's forgiveness, Hal breaks up the orphanage gang and retrieves Joy's jewels.
- Melody Jane, a waif, adopted by David, the blind hermit, goes to sell his baskets to the occupants of John Warham's shooting lodge. The Maestro, who, with his wife, is a guest, hears her sing, and says her voice is like that of the famous prima donna, Jane Hope. He meets David, hears Janes history, and finds she is Jane's child. He takes her to his home (although David is heartbroken) and he, himself, trains her voice. Warham falls in love with her, they become engaged and his mother insists upon setting up her apartment. A year and a half later she makes her debut in "Madam Butterfly" and scores a triumph. She receives a letter from David wishing her every success. It sets Jane thinking. She resolves to go to David, catches the midnight train and arrives at David's home at dawn. They meet, each confess love and when David, hesitating, asks what the world will do without her glorious voice, she naively suggests using it for singing lullabies.
- The Red Circle is a birthmark, on the hand of the heroine, noticeable only in times of stress and excitement, which forces her to steal, leading to no end of complications and intrigue.
- Who Pays? (1915) was a series of twelve three-reel dramas, released between March and July 1915. Henry King and Ruth Roland starred in each episode, playing different roles each time, with a variety of supporting players who varied from one episode to another. Each episode told a complete and individual story, but they were all inter-related by a uniform theme. Although there were no cliff-hanger endings, each episode did, in fact, end with a challenge to the audience: Who was responsible for the misfortune of the principal characters? The titles of the twelve episodes were: #1: The Price of Fame; #2: The Pursuit of Pleasure; #3: When Justice Sleeps; #4: The Love Liar; #5: Unto Herself Alone; #6: Houses of Glass; #7: Blue Blood and Yellow; #8: Today and Tomorrow; #9: For the Commonwealth; #10: Pomp of Earth; #11: The Fruit of Folly; #12: Toil and Tyranny.
- Captain Mark Stone of the freighter, Annabel, gets word from his fiancée that she has decided to marry another man. He puts back to port and arrives just after the wedding ceremony. Forcing his way into the house, he faces the girl and swears vengeance, vowing that he will marry and rear children to hate her children as he hates her. Next day her father uses his influence to have Stone discharged. Stone lies in wait for him on the wharf, and through an accident he is injured in the head. A specialist is doubtful whether he will recover his sight. Mindful of his oath, Stone proposes marriage to May Manning, the slavey at his boarding house, and she accepts. Later, their child is born, a girl. At the news, the blind man stumbles from the house in a rage of disappointment, and, meeting with an old shipmate, goes on a voyage with him. One of the crew bears a grudge against Stone, and seeing him helpless, drops him overboard on a dark night. The shock restores his sight. Reaching the shore, he makes his way to a fisherman's cabin, where a doctor, in attendance upon the fisherman's wife, declares that Stone's normal mind, deranged by a former blow on the head, has also been restored. His one idea now is to get back to his wife and child. But they have disappeared from the old home. May, his wife, seeks work to support her child and becomes a dishwasher in a cheap waterfront restaurant. Stone, seeking her, is recognized on the street by his former sweetheart, who, having left her husband for another man, is now an outcast. To avoid her he enters the restaurant and there comes face to face with May. Explanations ensue, and he discovers that the weapon he chose to work evil against the woman he once hated has turned to love in his hands.
- After a love triangle results death, St. Elmo falls from grace and is eventually redeemed in this now lost silent film based on the best selling novel by Augusta Jane Wilson.
- Jean Kelly, a reporter, is outside the seashore home of Lynn Morril when a burglar enters. Scenting a story, she waits. Morril surprises the burglar, notes that the man resembles him, and changes places with him, for his aunt and cousin, Lillian, whom he dislikes, are coming on a visit. The new watchman fires a shot at Morril and he flees, dragging Jean with him. Hard pressed, he boards his motorboat. The girl jumps overboard and he tries to rescue her. They are cast upon a small island, from which they later escape on a raft. Reaching home, they find the masquerading burglar in disgrace. He makes a quick exit, and Lynn introduces his fiancée to the guests.
- Judge Livingston, a wealthy jurist, lives happily in a mansion with his young wife, Josephine, and his daughter, Eleanor, child of the judge's first wife. Dick Winthrop, the judge's private secretary, is in love with Eleanor, and she returns his affection. They become betrothed, and the judge approves their engagement. Mrs. Livingston, Eleanor's step-mother, buys goods extravagantly at fashionable shopping places, and has the goods charged to her account. Dick receives a letter from a bank, saying that Mrs. Livingston has overdrawn her account $1,100, and requesting settlement without disturbing Judge Livingston. Dick tries to persuade Mrs. Livingston to attend to the overdrawn account, but she becomes angry and resolves to break Dick's engagement to Eleanor. Mrs. Livingston then tells the judge that Dick is not a proper fiancé for Eleanor. Eleanor finds recreation in doing settlement work, attracting the attention of several men engaged in white slavery acts. These evildoers forge a note purporting to be from a poor woman, asking Eleanor to come to her aid in the tenements. Leaving the note on a desk in her home, Eleanor goes to render the aid asked, and when she arrives at the address given, the white slavers seize her and make her a prisoner. Dick accidentally finds the note and rushes to rescue Eleanor, as he feels that the note was forged. Dick arrives at the house where Eleanor is held captive, and, after a desperate fight with the plotters, the men are taken prisoners. Eleanor and Dick manage to return home. The debts Mrs. Livingston owes become pressing; she tries at night to steal funds from her husband's safe, and Dick finds her near the safe. To escape accusation, Mrs. Livingston charges Dick with the theft, and he, to shield her, shoulders the blame in the presence of the judge and Eleanor. The judge believes his wife, and tells Dick he must leave the house forever. Mrs. Livingston then repents, tells her husband she alone is to blame, begs his forgiveness.
- A child, Mary Sunshine, filled with a desire to play with other youngsters, was forbidden to do so by her mother. But one day Piggy, a young negro child, appeared over the top of the fence and the temptation was too great. From that day on, Mary was given to running off with Piggy. As punishment for her first offense, she was sent to bed without supper, but neither her father nor mother could sleep when they realized that Mary was hungry, so they caught each other bringing food to the youngster. On a nearby estate lived Daniel Graham, rich, alone and grouchy. To him came the awakening when he heard the laugh of a child. Looking over the fence to locate the laugh, he found Mary and Piggy encouraging a chicken fight. From then on, day after day, the child visited him and brought cheer to the big mansion, which had never known the sound of childish laughter. On the off days, when not at the big house, Mary and Piggy ran wild for ways in which to make passersby lose their seriousness and smile. Not aware of the friendship of the child for the rich man, Mary's father, in order to make up for foolish ventures on the stock market, attempted to rob the big house. This same evening, Mary remained at the house after her birthday party given her by Daniel Graham. Being restless in her sleep from so many good things to eat, Mary started downstairs to frighten her friend, but instead she walked in the big room just as her father was in the midst of his attempted wrongdoing.
- Mildred Vandeburg, an heiress who devotes her time to a hospital that she has built in the slums, breaks her engagement to her fiancé, T. Huntington Forbes, because Forbes is only interested in horses and sports. Meeda Jones, a nurse employed in Mildred's hospital, is married to a criminal named Spike, who steals some jewels and convinces his brother Dan to fence them for him. When Dan is killed as the police try to arrest him, his wife dies of shock, leaving their baby girl homeless. To help the baby, Mildred decides to take her to Forbes's home, where she informs her former fiancé that there is a "lady in the library" waiting for him. When Forbes sees the child, he decides to adopt her and devote his time to her, thus curbing his interest in horses. Spike Jones learns about the baby and decides to kidnap her and hold her for ransom, but he is outwitted by Mildred and Forbes. Finally, the happily reunited couple decides to marry and raise the child as their own.
- Architect John Chance, before building a "Dream City" for a religious cult leader, Prophet Stein, visits Paris and rescues an American girl, Cynthia Grey, from riotous masqueraders at a carnival. After they part, Cynthia returns home. Meeting Stein aboard a ship, and having an idealistic nature, she becomes a follower of Stein, who thinks her beauty will attract others. Chance builds the city, agreeing to say it was made by the "comrades" so that Stein's motto, "Beauty Through Toil," will seem to be true. Cynthia and Chance fall in love and when Stein, a married man, attempts to seduce Cynthia, Chance tells the newspapers, which expose Stein and his financially fraudulent practices. The "comrades" burn the "Dream City" and Chance saves Cynthia, while Stein, attempting to leave with his ill-gotten money, dies when a burning beam falls on his head.
- While he digs for gold day by day, "The Easterner," a young miner, gambles by night. A woman of the camps, named Moll, takes an interest in him and tries to break him of the habit that is his ruin. He laughs at her, but after she saves his life he promises to quit playing. Kate Gardner, a girl of the west loves him, and she is turn is loved by Bill Turner, a miner. Turner proves to her that the Easterner loves Doris Wendell, daughter of a wealthy land owner. She, with Moll, is instrumental in saving the Easterner's life when he is about to be lynched by a mob at the command of the jealous Turner. Peter Gardner, her father, covets the Easterner's claim and bribes Dick Weed, the gambling house proprietor, to help him get the claim. They attempt to make him gamble, but he is true to his promise. Later he discovers that Moll is his mother, whose passion for gambling he has inherited. Oby, a half-wit. Haunts the camp. Moll and her son try to live respectably after Doris has broken the engagement because the Easterner refuses to disown his mother. But the passion for gambling proves too strong. Moll rushes out of the house to the Hall of Chance. Her son is inveigled by Weed and Gardner into betting his claim. As he loses, Oby snatches away the tablecloth, jumbling the cards. Gardner, in a rage, strikes him down. His memory returns and he recognizes Gardner as the man who robbed him many years before, and shoots him. Dying, Gardner admits that Kate is Oby's daughter. Reunited with her father, she marries the Easterner.
- Jane Dwight possesses an overactive imagination and spins romantic tales in which she is the heroine. When oil is discovered on her father's farm, young millionaire James Thornton comes to purchase the land, is attracted to the tomboyish Jane, and offers to send the girl to boarding school. A year later, Jane returns home from school posing as a grand dame, hoping to please Thornton. But Jane's airs have the reverse effect because Thornton is disappointed in the change that has come over the tomboy he once knew. Consequently, Jane dons her calico dress and hides in Thornton's car. Upon discovering his tomboy once again, Thornton orders his chauffeur to drive to the nearest justice of the peace.
- Episode 1: "The Woman Alone" Horace Kennedy, a successful lawyer, is drifting from his attentive and loyal wife, Mary, for no apparent reason, save that she is fading and he is losing interest in her. On the charge made by Margaret Warner, a struggling magazine writer, Kennedy disbars Attorney Doyle, contending that as a man must protect the honor of his wife and home, so must we guard our courts from prowling jackals. Because of his masterly handling of the disbarment case, a magazine requests Kennedy to write twelve articles dealing with the subject. Mary, his wife, persuades him against his wishes, to write these articles, suggesting that she will take his dictation on the typewriter. She proves an inefficient helper and the first night on which they work she falls and sprains her wrist, making it necessary for Kennedy to look elsewhere for assistance. Margaret, living in a cheap boarding-house is poor, as her short story manuscripts are returned day after day by the magazines. Desiring to help her Kennedy engages her for the work. Doyle, forced out of his profession, continues his work in the field of crooked-stock jobbing, taking the hard-earned savings of the poor for bogus mining stock. The last night of their joint work, Kennedy accompanies Margaret home, but on their way they are caught in an accident. Kennedy escapes injury, but Margaret faints. Calling to her to speak to him, Kennedy, with Margaret in his arms, rushes to a physician. Is the girl he is beginning to love to be thus taken from him?
- Harry Wentworth, who is foreman of his father's ranch, is addicted to gambling and drinking. Harry, upon selling several head of cattle, uses the money for liquor. Upon returning to the ranch intoxicated, his father tells him that his services are no longer required, and that he shall leave his home and go out into the world and make a better man of himself. Harry's father establishes a Mexican as foreman of the ranch, who is "in clique" with Jim Martin, a lawyer and loan shark in town. Together they plan to rob the old man of his ranch, namely, in selling all of his cattle and advising him that they have been lost in a stampede. Ralph Crandall, a gambler about town, decides to send for his sister in the east. Before she arrives he tells the boys to keep his gambling life a secret from her. She arrives, and Jim Martin, infatuated with her, decides to expose Ralph to his sister unless he approves of his attentions to her. Harry Wentworth decides to ship on a coastwise vessel. On the first voyage out he incurs the wrath of the captain by interfering with him during a fight on board. Wentworth and his two pals, Beannie and Mac, have a fight with the crew, and after a hard tussle, escape by diving overboard. When the three swim safely to shore, Wentworth decides that he has had enough of sea life, and returns home, taking his two pals along with him to work on the ranch. He arrives home, learns of his father's business troubles and that the lawyer is about to foreclose the mortgage on the ranch. He meets Ethel Crandall and learns that she is the gambler's sister. He falls in love with her, and persuades Ralph Crandall to quit gambling. Jim Martin, infuriated over the love affair between Harry and Ethel, decides to have the girl abducted. Harry and Ralph conspire to get the mortgage back. In a game of cards Ralph plays the lawyer's hand and lets Harry take the winnings. The lawyer, angry at this, decides to take the girl away. His plot is overheard by Harry's pals, who notify him and her brother Ralph, who immediately start in pursuit. The end is a sensation.
- New York businessman Arnold Hammond, who suffers from the ravages of alcoholism, places himself under the care of a skilled physician in a Nova Scotia fishing village. There he falls in love with the doctor's daughter, Ruth Storm, and conquers his alcoholism. However, Ruth is fascinated by a handsome but reckless fisherman, Pierre Lemoyne, and is unsure which man to choose. One day, Arnold invites Ruth to go sailing and hires Lemoyne to navigate the boat. The hard-drinking Lemoyne assaults Arnold and capsizes the boat. The three are eventually saved by a passing tugboat, and once safely on board, Ruth realizes that Arnold is the better man.
- Harry Larrabee, a young playwright, lives in the same studio apartment house with Carolyn Vaughn, a painter of miniatures, with whom he falls in love. "The Wolf," a famous criminal, supposed to be dead, returns and communicates with his wife, a friend of Carolyn's. He forces his wife and her brother to aid him in a plot to rob Carolyn of her valuable jewels. Harry, by one of his famous "inspirations," discovers that a crime is being committed, rescues Carolyn and bears her away in a taxicab. He is himself suspected of the crime, but, undisturbed by the web of circumstance by which he is entangled, his wonderful inspirations give him the key to the conspiracy which led up to the crime. In an unusual and powerful finale the guilty parties fight among themselves and justice triumphs in an exciting climax.
- Stephen Crawfield, an old friend of Senator Norton, needs a large sum of money immediately, so he proposes to the Senator's daughter Matie. She refuses him, and later Crawfield overhears Matie accept the proposal of Jack Algers, a young society man. Jack's millionaire uncle, Dean Grayson, who refuses to give Jack money to marry, is shot and killed at Senator Norton's hunting party, during which a mysterious stranger lurks behind trees. When a gun which looks like Jack's is found in a tree stump, Jack entrusts both guns to Crawfield, who switches Jack's clean gun with the used one. Jack is arrested and Crawfield courts Matie again, but Della Markham, who loves Crawfield, warns him to stop his suit and says that she saw him shoot Grayson. Their conversation, which is overheard by Senator Norton and Matie, leads to Crawfield's arrest and Jack's release. The mysterious stranger, who has continued his lurking, buys a ticket for a journey and, grinning at the spectators, says that he has merely butted into the story.
- Dr. Guy Hartwell, a young and wealthy Louisiana physician, was a man of strange personality. Five years previous to the opening of the story he married and bestowed sincere love upon his wife. In return she basely played him false and shortly afterward died. From that moment he was a changed man. Embittered against the world, mankind and even distrusting God, the silent and melancholy man lived on. With the doctor lived his widowed sister and her daughter, whom everyone considered as the heir of the physician's wealth. In the same city lived Beulah Benton, who was sent from the orphan asylum out into the world to earn her living as a servant girl, while her little sister Lillian found a home as the foster daughter of a rich lady. At the orphanage Beulah learned to love Eugene, another inmate, but he, too, was adopted by a wealthy family and sent abroad to be educated. He promised upon his return to make Beulah his wife. Beulah yearned to see her sister, but Lillian's foster parents forbade the two to meet. This affected Beulah deeply, but the crushing blow was about to descend. Lillian fell ill, and in spite of every effort of Dr. Hartwell the younger sister died. Beulah, seeing the crepe on the door, forced herself in and for the first time met the doctor. The kindness of his nature was reawakened by the grief-stricken girl, and he took her to his home, attended her through a serious illness, then placed her in school. But Beulah found her new surroundings far from pleasant. While the doctor as yet refused to trust any woman, he treated her with marked respect and consideration, but his sister fearing that the adopted girl would become the heir instead of her own daughter, lost no opportunity to humiliate Beulah. It was more than she could bear, and at last the girl sadly left the doctor's house and returned to the orphanage, but the doctor, however, brought her home again and provided other quarters for his sister and her daughter, both of whom were wholly dependent upon him for support. The years passed and Beulah's lover, Eugene, returned from Europe, a dissipated wretch, his love for the orphan girl forgotten and his hand pledged to the frivolous niece of Dr. Hartwell's false wife. The physician warned the foolish youth to give her up, pleading with him to remain true to his promise to Beulah, but without avail. It was now that Hartwell realized that he himself loved her and declared his affection. Beulah expressed her great gratitude, but still grieving over her false lover told him that she could not return his affections. Hartwell went North and Beulah became a school teacher. An epidemic broke out and people were perishing by the score. Doctor Hartwell returned to the stricken city. The doctor and Beulah met and side by side they fought the ravages of the disease. Clara Saunders a friend of Beulah's fell in love with Hartwell but becomes a victim of the plague, and with her departing breath joined the hands of the two, and bade them be happy. Through comradeship with Beulah, the doctor's faith in God and Man was restored, and his life made still brighter by her voluntary confession of her love for him. Their marriage followed, and Beulah and her husband fearlessly faced the future.
- Alice, a little newsgirl known as "Sticks", spends her time fighting for her territory against a lot of tough kids. When Sticks witnesses an attack upon her favorite customer, the wealthy young James Morgan, she tries to defend him and, as a result, they are both knocked unconscious by the thugs and thrown on a baggage car. Awakening in a small town, they decide to stay. Morgan finds a job with the railroad and they take up house in a small cottage until Morgan's father and his sweetheart Ruth Borden discover his hiding place. Overhearing their conversation, Sticks thinks that Morgan is staying just for her and so she leaves him and later is adopted by a wealthy man. Morgan loses all sight of his little pal until years later when he chances to visit her adoptive father's house on business and finds her. Discovering that their strong attachment has endured through the years, the two decide to marry.
- Myra Traverse, wife of Warren Traverse, the prosecuting attorney, departs for a ball with her husband's brother, John, a dissipated youth. Old Tom Mason, much the worse for drink, accosts Tom Peters as Myra and John enter the ball. Tony, infuriated, throws him aside. Mason shambles off and is later seen at the Clifton Roadhouse. After the dance Tony, John, and Myra drive away, and on their way home stop for refreshments at the Clifton Roadhouse. Tony procures a private room and leaves them a moment to telephone. Tom, half drunk, sees and curses him, but Tony passes upstairs. When he opens the door he finds Myra in John's arms. A fight ensues. Tony drops, hits his head on the table and is killed. Myra and John escape through a side window and rush away in the dark. Tom, meanwhile, goes upstairs, pushes open the door and sees the dead man on the floor. With a cry of horror he staggers. The bartenders and others rush upstairs and see the dead man and Tom. Despite Tom's protestations of innocence, he is led away. Meanwhile, Myra and John enter the library as the telephone rings. Traverse answers the call and tells them of the murder at the roadhouse. He says they have the murderer. Startled, Myra asks who it is. Traverse says it is an old drunken man known as "Old" Tom Mason. Later the trial is shown. Traverse, the prosecuting attorney, confuses the old white-faced man. The witnesses are called. Myra, in agony, unable to stay home, goes to the trial and, not knowing it, sits beside John. The verdict is guilty. Two months elapse. The day of Tom's death is at hand. Tom bids farewell to his wife, and is led, still maintaining his innocence, to the death chamber. Meanwhile, Tom's wife is destitute and when one child dies from lack of nourishment the woman determines to kill Traverse. She goes to his home and forces her way in. John is also present, talking with Traverse. She fires at Traverse but John jumps in and receives the shot. Myra rushes in. John confesses all. As he finishes he dies. Traverse takes his wife in his arms. He says they must tell all to exonerate Tom and then they will try to devote their lives to rectify their wrong. Fade out of Moses pointing to the Sixth Commandment.
- The death of their only child completely stuns the Prestons. The grief-stricken couple, hearing a slight sound at the outer door, investigate and find a deserted infant which they decide to adopt. Jim Blake, a vagrant, has seen the child left there by a mulatto woman who he thinks must be the mother. Blake decides to keep his secret. The only clue to the identity of the baby is a locket engraved with the name Naida. Years pass and Naida, who shows no trace of negro blood, grows to girlhood ignorant of her real parentage. One day Blake calls at the Preston home and tells Naida's foster-father that he can prove that her mother is a mulatto woman and will remain silent only it paid to do so. Preston satisfies the blackmailer, but Naida overhears the terrible disclosure. That night, overcome by the dreadful knowledge of her parentage, she silently leaves her home and goes to the city. Her foster-parents and her fiancé are plunged in despair by her disappearance. Naida, who supports herself through her musical ability, engages a mulatto maid. She later meets Blake, who tells her how he saw her deserted years before by this same woman. Through a musical professor, who befriended her, Naida's fiancé learns of her whereabouts and calls on her. She confesses her dreadful secret to him, but is overheard by the colored maid, who then discloses the fact that Naida's real mother was a white woman. She died soon after her child was born, owing to the shock occasioned by her husband's tragic death. Being too poor to support the child herself, the maid, in whose care the child was left, hearing of the Preston's loss, left Naida to be found by them. The maid's story dispels the clouds which enveloped Naida's life and once more the happy family is brought together.
- The Sunset Mining Company is in sore straits, when Porter and Morton, the heads of the concern, receive a letter written by "M.B. Parker," of Hynes' Station, offering them an option on a promising borax mine. Baxter, a real estate sharp, enters the office while the partners are in the next room. The man learns of the Parker offer and resolves to take it up himself. He dashes for the railroad station. The stenographer, however, has seen Baxter read the letter. She imparts her discovery to her employers. Fearing lest Baxter will snap up the option. Morton hastens to the station. He arrives a minute too late. Undaunted, he hires a racing automobile and races away for Hynes' Station. The real estate sharp arrives at Hynes' Station ahead of Morton. Hiring a rig, the man drives toward the Parker home. Morton is compelled to stop for gasoline, and is held up for ten minutes. A Mexican holds up Margaret. After felling the girl, he robs her. Margaret recovers consciousness just as Baxter approaches. Fearing lest his rival catch up with him, the scoundrel leaves the girl lying in the road. Morton drives up a few minutes later and learns of the robbery. He goes in pursuit of the thief and surprises him in the act of examining the proceeds of the holdup. A desperate battle ensues. Morton throws the bandit from a cliff, injuring him mortally. Returning to Margaret the boy restores the valuables the Mexican had stolen. Margaret then learns that the delay has probably cost Morton a chance for a fortune. Morton tells her of Baxter's villainy. With a mysterious smile, Margaret requests him to drive her to the Parker home. The two find Baxter trying to enter the house. Margaret leaps from the machine. Taking a key from her pocket, she opens the door of the house, after which she announces that she is "M.B. Parker." Baffled, Baxter slinks away. A few minutes later Morton has the coveted option in his possession.
- Nancy, a street gamin, is the daughter of a noted woman pickpocket, and is allowed to run practically wild. One day she finds a dog whose foot is badly cut, and brings the poor animal to the office of Dr. Warden, a big surgical specialist. The doctor is so taken up by the innocent effrontery of the girl that he fixes up the sufferer. The wife of Dr. Warden has an affair with Dinistesky, a foreigner, and in attempting to get rid of him is killed. Poor Nancy sees the crime, and since she was on the doctor's grounds at the time, is suspected. In court, however, she proves her innocence, and Dr. Warden adopts her, sending her to school. Two years elapse and vacation time comes. Nancy is to come to her new home and be chaperoned by Mary Caldwell, fiancée of the doctor. Teddy Wilmont, a local bachelor, falls in love with the girl, but Mary tells him of her origin, and he ceases his attentions. Heartbroken, she prepares to go back to school, and one day sees Mary drive up to the house in a carriage. The horse bolts and runs away, but Nancy succeeds in catching him, saving Mary's life. The poor girl is injured in so doing, but is more than repaid when the doctor, disgusted at Mary for her disclosure, confesses his love for Nancy.
- William Beerdheim Van Broon, the descendant of an old, respected family, works in Tom Tarney's bowling alley in the slums. When William knocks someone out, Tarney foresees William's pugilistic possibilities and starts him in training to fight Buck Stringer, the local champion. Buck's sister Madelyn and his brother Grafton work for Bruce Crosby, whom they plan to blackmail. When Crosby and his sister Eva get a flat tire in the slum district, Buck and his gang insult them until William fights them off. Eva invites William to their home, and they soon grow fond of each other, but after William - fighting under the name of "Brown" - beats Buck in the first round, Crosby learns that William is a boxer and is outraged. Although Eva is also displeased, she stands by William when, after saving Crosby from Madelyn's and Grafton's plot, he is accused by Crosby of complicity in it. After Eva goes to William's home, his family's attorney sees his picture in the news and notifies him of his inheritance of several million dollars.
- Hamlet suspects his uncle has murdered his father to claim the throne of Denmark and the hand of Hamlet's mother, but the prince cannot decide whether or not he should take vengeance.
- Dave Scott, a wealthy mine owner, is killed. His daughter, Marie, goes to her father's old friend Richard Clark, knowing that he will take care of her interests. Clark and his grown son, Ted, become attached to Marie. Innocent in manner, she sees no necessity for concealing her preference for the elder Clark. In time, Ted's attachment culminates in a proposal, which is rejected. Ted accuses his father of standing in his way and the father makes Marie promise that she will accept Ted. A few minutes before the time set for the ceremony, a note from Ted explains that he realizes the love that exists between Marie and his father, and rather than exact the sacrifice, he has left his father's home, leaving them free to marry.
- A little girl and her father are among the settlers in a small western town. The father is very friendly with the neighboring Indian tribe and is presented with a quaint piece of metal representing a dragon's claw, the tribe's good luck omen. Some time later, while traveling with his daughter, he is held up by a band of bandits and is shot by a man of their number who takes from him this dragon's claw. The man is left to die on the desert. Years pass. The little girl has grown into a beautiful young lady. She lives in a large eastern city and is prominent in the best society. She still remembers the days in the west, the episode of the dragon's claw and the killing of her father. She marries. Her husband is a prominent figure in the business world. Their love is very real and their life most happy. He becomes interested in a mine in the west which is found to yield the richest gold. He decides to go out west to see this mine and his wife expresses a desire to go along with him. The mine is christened "The Dragon's Claw," because of an Indian charm the man owns. His wife does not connect the name with the killing of her father. While out on a western desert, he shows the dragon's claw to his wife. She then recognizes it as the kind her father possessed when he was killed. She has understood it to be the only one of its kind. So it is her husband who killed her father. What shall she do? She is undecided. She cannot bring herself to kill him in cold blood. Still, she must avenge her father's death. So, taking all with her, she leaves him alone on the desert to die. Some bandits have been prowling in the neighborhood. They see the woman and decide to make away with her. They start to carry out their plans. The husband sees them, realizes their purpose and hurries after his wife. He arrives while she is holding the bandits at bay, and while saving her, he is himself killed. Help has arrived and to them the woman leaves the dead body, continuing on her way alone. She will have nothing to do with the man who killed her father. About an hour later she meets an Indian trader. In his hand he has a dragon's claw which he wants to sell to her, like the one her husband and father had. Can it be that there are two such curios in existence, she asks? The Indian draws out a handful. They are common as dirt in that section of the country. The woman realizes her tragic mistake, rushes back to the dead body of her husband and falls lifeless over it.
- Marylee Depue's father, John Cromwell Depue, refuses to improve the unsanitary living conditions in his tenements, although many of the tenants have become ill. John's wife Emily, who is involved in charity work only because it is fashionable among her friends, takes Marylee on an excursion through the tenements, where the child sees genuine suffering for the first time in her life. At a ball given by her mother, Marylee dresses as a slum child and collects money for the poor, and later that night she steals away to the tenement to visit Jones, whose wife has contracted typhoid. Determined to help the sick woman, Marylee steals a large basket of food from her own house and gives it to Jones, but he takes her back home when she becomes ill. Overjoyed to learn that Marylee's sickness was brought on by eating too many cakes with jam, John and Emily vow to lower the rents and clean up the tenements.
- Leneau and his wife, who live in a cabin, lose their own baby early in the story. Red Adair and his partner have kidnapped Little Roughneck, who starts out alone while they are in a drunken orgy. The child wanders over to Leneau's place and falls into a bear trap, where he is found next morning. Leneau and his wife, still mourning for their own child, at first refuse to give him up or look for his family. Later, after Leneau has had mortal combat with the kidnappers, he learns that the Little Roughneck belongs to a judge living at Vancouver. He leaves his despondent wife to take the child back to the city. Then comes a surprise finish, which is too good to spoil by simply relating it.
- Will Harvey and Jack Fielding are roommates at college and in love with the same girl, Katherine. She is in doubt as to which one she prefers. Spending a day at the beach Jack refuses to go in bathing with the others, as he was nearly drowned when a boy and has dreaded the ocean ever since. Katherine while rowing in a boat alone is upset and nearly drowned. Harvey is the man who rushes to her assistance and because he came to the front when Jack held back. Katherine gives her love to him. Jack is considered a coward not only by his roommate and Katherine, but by the college boys as well. Ten years later Katherine and Harvey are married and have a little daughter. One night when the parents are spending the evening at the theater the little girl, who is not feeling well, is left in charge of the maid. The maid deserts the child in order to flirt with a policeman. Later in the night Fielding, who has become a physician and a specialist of note while going by the house hears the wailing of a child in apparent agony. He enters the house, finds no one at home, and tracing the source of the cries sees that the child is sick with smallpox. The health officers are telephoned for and the house put under quarantine. Only the frantic mother is permitted to enter the house. Dr. Fielding has had a struggle with himself when he has learned whose child it is, but he buries his personal feelings under the influence of duty. He brings the little girl through her illness, but falls a victim to the disease himself, and pays for his self-sacrifice with his life.
- Huntley Adams, chief of police, has every confidence in his secretary, Arthur Clarke, and Charles Donnelly, detective chief. The two young men are both in love with Blanche, the chief's daughter. Donnelly is ordered by Adams to round up "Spike" Murray's gang, a notorious band. Clarke is secretly in league with the gangsters and communicates with Fanny, their spy. "Spike," hearing that the Mayor is to give a ball, manages to work his way into the festivities, for the purpose of robbing the guests. He pulls off one robbery but is compelled to kill a man in so doing. He makes his escape with the collusion of Clarke. This crime arouses feverish activity at police headquarters and Donnelly is given orders to raid "Spike's" hang-out. Headed by the detective, the police swoop down on the gangsters' lair but the gang have decamped. Donnelly reports his failure and says that he believes "Spike" was tipped off. Meantime Clarke's hatred is aroused for Donnelly because the latter succeeded in winning Blanche's consent to an engagement. With Fanny's assistance, Clarke succeeds in breaking the engagement by weakening Blanche's faith in Donnelly. Donnelly tries to puzzle out the peculiar circumstances but fails to find the cause. He writes to Blanche trying to explain his innocence but his letter is returned unopened. Clarke, taking advantage of Blanche's indifference to Donnelly, tries to insinuate himself into her good graces, and receives some encouragement. Donnelly is greatly depressed. The continued gang depredations spur the police to renewed activity. Another raid is planned. Clarke saunters to a window and signals the warning to Fanny who is stationed in a nearby apartment. A painter notices the exchange of signals and notifies the chief of police and Donnelly, who succeeds in handcuffing Clarke after a furious struggle. He is thrust into a cell and Fanny, his accomplice, soon occupies an adjacent one. Meanwhile, Donnelly leads a raid on the gangsters and rounds them up completely. He hastens back to headquarters to report to the chief of police and meets Blanche, who has just left her father. She snubs Donnelly, but he prevails on her to listen to his pleas for a hearing. Leading her to the cells below, he shows her the two conspirators. Realizing the great injustice which she has done Donnelly, Blanche, repentant and contrite, begs his forgiveness which is eagerly given.
- A series of eight two-reel episodes, each complete in itself, which leave the audience to judge for itself the wisdom of the course of action taken in the story; episode titles: 1) Phantom Fame (1918); 2) Counterfeit Clues (1918); 3) The Cat's Paw (1918); 4) The Sin of Innocence (1918); 5) Sold for Gold (1918); 6) In Poverty's Power (1918); 7) The Rebound (1918); 8) Shifting Sands (1918).
- Arnold Truesdell, a rich invalid, requests his secretary, Robert Sheridan, to summon his lawyer. Truesdell is the foster father of Marion Robertson, the child of his bosom friend who died some time ago. His happiness with the little girl was soon dissipated, for she was kidnapped by a gypsy whose enmity he had aroused. Truesdell dictates his will, leaving the estate to the missing child, and in the event of her not being found within a year the property would revert to the secretary and Margaret Frazer, the housekeeper. After making the will Truesdell passes away. Through the years following her kidnapping Marion continues to live with the gypsies. Tiring of their tyranny she runs away. Hearing the sound of a church organ she timidly enters the sacred edifice. She is accorded a cordial welcome, and is adopted by one of the women of the congregation. Meantime, the required year having nearly elapsed, the secretary and housekeeper are confident that they will inherit the estate. The minister of the little church has in the meantime fallen a prey to Marlon's charms. Hoe, one of the gypsies, who is also in love with Marion, searches for her. Noticing in a newspaper that Marion has been discovered by the attorney of the estate, the secretary determines to have her put out of the way and hires two gangsters to kidnap her. They accomplish the deed. Bound and placed in a trunk she is thrown overboard. Her continued absence causes great alarm and the minister seeks her. His search leads him to the waterfront. He overhears the kidnapper and the secretary discussing her disposal and 'phones for the police, who soon get on the secretary's trail. The trunk is found by Gypsy Joe, who is horrified to discover its contents. Gypsy Joe takes Marion back to her home, where she arrives in time to see the arch-conspirators being led away by officers of the law. Realizing then the great love which has been awakened in the minister's heart, her happiness seems complete, the only shadow being the fact that she must discourage the love of the gypsy boy.
- Finding signs of life in the body of the woman cast up by the sea. Sir Arthur carries her into his home. Although she recovers, the girl, Sonia, cannot remember the circumstances which almost caused her death. With the passing weeks, Sir Arthur falls deeply in love with Sonia and the two are wed. Sir Arthur's cousin Harry, deeply in debt to Ivan, and unable to obtain money from his father, borrows money from Sonia. Knowing of the relationship between Harry and Sir Arthur, Ivan offers him a thousand pounds for the plans of the fortifications in the nobleman's possession. Although he at first spurns this offer, Harry, hard pressed for money, later accepts it. At an Embassy ball, Sonia and Ivan come face to face. The meeting brings back to the girl's mind all knowledge of the past. Upon being informed that Sonia is Sir Arthur's wife, Ivan compels her to promise to leave Sir Arthur's precious fortification plans where Harry can obtain them that night. Ivan and Nickolas, an accomplice, lurk in the vicinity while this is being done later. Barely has Harry obtained the plans when Sonia breaks down. Her cries bring Sir Arthur to the scene. Confessing her part in the theft, Sonia informs him that she had been forced into marriage with Ivan and that his brutal treatment compelled her to leave him. The vessel upon which she made her escape went down, however, none but she escaping. In the meantime, Harry, overcome with remorse, refuses to betray Sir Arthur. Nickolas attempts to shoot the boy but kills Ivan instead. The shot brings Sir Arthur to the scene. Discovering the dead man's identity, he turns to impart it to Sonia.