Advanced search
- TITLES
- NAMES
- COLLABORATIONS
Search filters
Enter full date
to
or just enter yyyy, or yyyy-mm below
to
to
to
Exclude
Only includes titles with the selected topics
to
In minutes
to
1-50 of 1,065
- Thornton Darcy, an idealistic poet, is at work upon an allegorical poem which he calls "Virtue." He devotes the first part of it to picturing the idyllic state of the earth prior to the advent of evil in which Virtue is the world's guiding spirit. Virtue is represented by a nude female figure, artlessly adorned with filmy drapery. In the second part he introduces the Greek myth of Pandora, who releases Evil on the world. Finishing his work for the day, Darcy falls into a light doze and upon awakening discovers that his dream girl, Virtue, has come to life in the person of a young woman clad in a simple homemade dress kneeling on the bank of the stream gathering flowers. They become acquainted and he learns that her name is Purity Worth, and that she lives near the woods in a humble secluded home. She makes an instant appeal to Darcy as he does to her and they repeat the meeting in the woods, with the result that they fall in love and are engaged, in spite of the fact that there is no immediate prospect of marriage, owing to Darcy'e reduced circumstances. Darcy is unable to sell his poems, and the publisher will not print them for less than five hundred dollars. Claude Lamarque, a painter, strolling in the woods, sees Purity bathing in a stream. He later succeeds in meeting Purity and makes her an offer to pose for him. She refuses, but accepts his card. Purity receives word from Darcy that he is ill in bed and begging her to come with him. His final effort to publish his book of poems has met with refusal. Unselfishly seeking t aid him, she goes to Lamarque, secures five hundred dollars in advance with a promise to repay him by posing for him, and earning money from other artists, and at once turns the money over to the publisher to bring out Darcy's book. She binds the publisher to secrecy. Darcy is confined to his bed with a siege of illness, and is only saved from death by the happy turn. Purity guards from him the secret of her share in it. In the meantime, she poses regularly for Lamarque. Through his interest in her he secures an engagement for her to pose in imitation of marble statuary at a fete given by a fashionable young widow, Judith Lure. No sooner is Darcy's book published than it excites instant attention and praise, and he becomes the lion of the hour. In the meantime, Luston Black, an acquaintance of Lamarque, having caught a glimpse of Purity posing for the artist, has become infatuated with her. He assumes that because of her position as a model he will have an easy conquest. But Purity, despite her innocence, sense his base motives and spurns him. Darcy, accepting an invitation to visit Lamarque, comes into the studio while Black is pressing his attentions upon Purity. He thrashes Black, who taunts the poet with the fact that his fiancée is posing in the nude. Darcy will not believe it. Purity acknowledges the truth. Darcy will not listen to Purity's explanations and casts her off. A short time later the poet sees Lamarque's finished picture of "Virtue." Darcy is quick to read the great truth that the picture is intended to convey and upon learning that Purity was the instrument through which his poems were published, hastens to her. They are happily reunited.
- This serial told the story of the diamond heir loom of the Stanley family.
- Episode 1: Dr. Ralph Burke, a scientist and inventor, perfects an apparatus enabling submarine craft to remain underwater indefinitely without relying wholly upon compressed air stored in the boat. The discovery is perfected at the opening of the story and has been offered to the United States government. Lieut. Jarvis Hope. U.S.N., is dispatched to witness a practical demonstration of the invention. Arriving in the city where Dr. Burke lives, Lieut. Hope meets an old acquaintance. Hook Barnacle, whose life he once saved. Hook had his right hand bitten off by a shark, and an iron hook being substituted gained for him the odd sobriquet. Hook escorts the lieutenant to the Burke home and relates to Cleo, the doctor's "daughter," how his life had been saved by the young naval officer. Cleo and Hope become mutually interested. Hook is much given to talking and it is not long before the entire village knows the reason for Lieut. Hope's visit. Among those who learn the news are Sextus, a Russian, and Satsuma, a Jap, working under the orders of one Mahlin. The following day is set for the demonstration. Satsuma watching his chance has secreted himself aboard the submarine. Olga Ivanoff, head of the Russian bureau in this country, receives a visit from Sextus, who is commanded by her to obtain the secret of the submarine. Meantime Calvin Montgomery, a wealthy lobbyist, upon advices from influential friends at Washington, sends his nephew, Gerald Morton, an unprincipled rounder, to obtain the secret. Gerald is suspicious of his uncle's interest in Cleo Burke, but fails to learn anything definite before he leaves to see the inventor. On board the submarine the apparatus is being manipulated satisfactorily and Lieut. Hope is much impressed. The party repairs to the salon for lunch, affording opportunity for Satsuma to crawl stealthily from his hiding place. The Jap is examining the mechanism of the invention when he is surprised by Dr. Burke, who gives the alarm. Sailors rush in to overpower the Jap but he is desperate. Shots are fired, one of which disables the Burke apparatus. Satsuma throws over the lever opening the conning tower trap, leaps up the ladder, gains the top and dives off into the sea as the boat quickly sinking is almost lost to view. The water pours down through the open trap. The air machine is broken and with the boat uncontrollable, the inventor and his party battle for life in the watery darkness.
- Living alone in the hills with her cripple brother, Harry, Jane Edwards finds life pretty hard. An unkempt stranger showing marks of a hard life, receiving food at their door is not satisfied, but attempts to insult the girl. Her brother, trying to drive him off, is knocked down and abused, when the timely arrival of a young prospector, who is driving in the hills, drives off the renegade. On the hillside the prospector is attacked from behind and thrown over a cliff. The prospector, stunned and landing on a projection not far from the top, is seen by the girl, who goes to his rescue. He starts to climb up; in his ascent he discovers traces of gold. To get his claim in working shape he must suspend himself with a rope fastened at the top of the cliff. Looking over he sees the prospector at work. Harry, the cripple, sees the renegade stoop to cut the rope and shoots, while the prospector is surprised to head the shot and on ascending finds the dead man. A sheriff with a few deputies is scouring the hills for the renegade for whom a large reward has been offered. Harry is thanked by the prospector as the sheriff arrives, who hands the prospector a notice offering a reward for an escape outlaw, dead or alive. With a smile on his face the prospector hands it to Harry, who, recognizing the picture, leads the sheriff away to the body while the prospector and Jane decide to join hands as life partners.
- Dora is to visit her uncle in the West; she is informed that the boys at the ranch are all anxiety over her coming. In the spirit of fun, Dora determines to masquerade as a spinster. Uncle is in on the joke and shares Dora's amusement in seeing the shock of disappointment which the boys receive as Dora steps from the stage coach. Jim, the foreman of the ranch, is too good-natured ti show his disappointment and offers to carry the spinster's grip into the house. By doing so he excites the laughter and ridicule of the boys. Later Jim goes further and teaches the spinster how to ride a horse. Cupid gets busy under the make-up and Dora's girlish heart begins to beat warmly for the handsome cowpuncher. In spite of the laughter and the ridicule of the boys, Jim is head over heels in love with the supposed spinster. He asks her to be his wife - she removes the disguise and reveals herself to Jim in all her youth and beauty. Jim is at first astonished and then delighted. He takes the lovely Dora in his arms as his promised wife.
- Lady Mayne, her daughter, and her orphan niece wired Lady Berryman that they would be glad to entertain her almost-blind son in the quiet and seclusion of their hills. Jack Berryman came and Lady Mayne tried at once to arrange a love match between the wealthy Jack and her daughter. Her plans bade fair to mature, for Jack was much in the company of the pretty daughter, much to the daughter's dismay, for be it known the daughter was much in love with Jimmy Harrison. Then suddenly Jack Berryman went stone blind and Lady Mayne's daughter eloped with Jimmy Harrison, exacting a promise from the niece that she (the niece), would impersonate her. This was done with such excellent effect that the niece found herself deeply in love with Jack and Jack continued to love the gentle presence near him more fervently. The day came when Jack's sight was restored, and he saw the pretty impostor whom he had learned to love, so he went to the shrewd mother and surprised her.
- Lord Loveland in England is besieged by his creditors and consults his mother as to what he should do. He is advised to go to America and marry an heiress. He plans to sail on a certain ship, but at the eleventh hour changes his plans and departs on another vessel without informing his relatives of the change. Meanwhile, In England, his valet, annoyed at not having been paid a year's wages, impersonates Lord Loveland. At New York's most expensive hotel Lord Loveland discovers he has but forty cents in his pocket. He goes to bank and presents his letter of credit, but the bank determines that he is a bogus Lord and will not honor the draft. Disgusted, Lord Loveland returns to his hotel, where he finds he has no credit. He is ejected and his baggage is held in lieu of the bills he has already accumulated at the hostelry. Lord Loveland is alone in a strange world and with forty cents in his pocket. He applies to a friend for aid, but the friend, thinking the card presented is that of the bogus Lord Loveland. refuses to even see the visitor. Disheartened and disgusted, the nobleman betakes himself to Central Park, where through the thrilling rescue by Lord Loveland of a mongrel puppy, he forms a fast friendship with one Bill Willing, a likable old man out of work. Willing takes Lord Loveland to a cheap hotel where his forty cents is more than sufficient to procure two beds. In the morning he takes the English peer to a restaurant where in payment for meals, Willing draws artistic signs which advertise the day's tempting viands at Alex's restaurant. Lord Loveland, attired in evening clothes and monocle, has no trouble in getting employment as a waiter. He hopes thus to earn sufficient funds to pay his passage back to the dear old British Isles, but Tony Kidd, an enterprising New York reporter, learns of the monocled waiter and writes a story for his paper. Crowds come daily to Alex's restaurant to be waited on by this unique garcon. Among them is Leslie Dearmer, a woman playwright with whom Lord Loveland had become acquainted on shipboard. There is an explosion in the kitchen and the guests flee panic-stricken from Alex's restaurant. Lord Loveland becomes a hero when he extinguishes the blaze and causes the guests to return to their tables. Later, he loses his job through the apparent affection he has for Izzy, who is Alex's daughter. He takes up with a 10-20-30-cent troupe of theatrical players with whom he plays minor parts. Miss Dearmer seeks out the manager of Lord Loveland's troupe, intending to sue that individual for the use of one of her copyrighted plays. She calls and is surprised when her gaze meets that of the British nobleman. To her, the Lord relates his plight and she engages him as her chauffeur. The nobleman falls head over heels in love with his fair employer. The two are out for a spin when the Englishman summons up courage and declares his love. So ardent does he become in his proposal that he fails to heed the path his automobile is taking. The machine leaves the road, crashes into a tree and both occupants are thrown violently from their seats. When consciousness returns, Miss Dearmer is in Lord Loveland's arms, and the two plight their troth. The tide of Lord Loveland's fortunes have turned, By a combination of circumstances, he becomes recognized as the real Lord Loveland and he is restored to the position which is rightfully his. Henceforth, all is love and happiness and the nobleman has no desire again to see dear old Britain's shores.
- PART ONE: Old Miner Benton called upon his widowed sister and her charming daughter Bernice. When he saw the daughter in the arms of geologist Ralph Conway, he ordered him from the place and severely lectured his aged sister. A lawyer called and made over to him a legacy to be equally divided between him and his poor sister, but the miner carefully hid the true value of the property. Bernice's mother finally died and on the day of her death Bernice became Ralph's bride. Together they started off to the land given them by the penurious uncle, who chuckled as he thought of the barren patch of beach he had given her. Imagine their disgust and despair when a slovenly hotel-keeper pointed out the barren tract. Bernice fled, crying, while Ralph sunk to the ground thoroughly discouraged. After a time he noticed the smell of oil, took a sip of water at his feet, straightened up with a new look in his face--for the scraggly, rocky coast had oil. PART TWO: Several months passed--Summerland became a boom town, and Ralph and Bernice were the richest of the rich. Meanwhile old Benton had trouble with the railroad. To fight them he mortgaged every piece of property he had and soon the news came that he was bankrupt. Aged, disheartened, without a friend in the world, Benton started on foot for Summerland. In the interim, Ralph had worked industriously and one day, with Bernice, walked over his oil field. He pointed out to her that this was the only region in the world where oil was mined from the ocean's bed; he showed her the long string of oil wells, in the water, their frames rising ghost-like in the sinking sun; how a 25 horsepower engine operated the forest of wells by means of an eccentric cam; how each barrel of oil contained 40% asphalt; how the railroad charged exorbitant rates for shipment, and how the oil well owners built a long pier into the ocean to transport the crude oil by boat. When a child came their happiness was complete. Then one day an aged, care-worn figure slid, face forward into the grass of his property. He and Bernice ran to the prostrate figure and turned up the face of Benton. Good was returned for evil and Benton found a home with the couple he had tried to wrong.
- Henry and Sam are rivals for the hand of Bessie. The former invites her to go with him to a dance only to find that already she has promised to accompany Sam to the party. On the evening of the affair, Henry borrows some dancing shoes. They turn out to be too small, but as the stores are closed, he must either wear them or relinquish Bessie entirely to his rival. At the party he conceals his discomfort, and plucks up courage to ask Bessie to dance. But his shoes cause him such unspeakable agony that he is forced to retire. He takes himself out in the back yard to nurse his feet, and his troubles. Meanwhile, Sam steps on his partners' foot. She escapes, indignant and tearful, to the back yard, where she finds Henry, similarly afflicted. They console one another, and Henry pops the question. When Sam appears upon the scene, he finds he has lost out with Bessie forever.
- When a young bride, newly entered into society, discovers she is pregnant, she consults an old friend on the most effective means of abortion. The friend gives her a potent drug, and that night the woman locks herself in her room, presses the potion bottle to her lips, falls across her bed and begins to dream. In her dream, her husband finds out about her abortion and demands a divorce. Years pass and the woman, now decrepit and alone, is visited by the ghost of her "Child-That-Might-Have-Been." The ghost takes her on a spiritual journey where she sees her husband, who is remarried and happy with his own family, hundreds of smiling babies wrapped in flowers in Babyland, and finally her own death and damnation. At her demise, she wakes from her nightmare, joyful to find the drug untouched, and rushes to tell her husband about her impending motherhood.
- Asa loves Senneth, but he loves Essene, another girl. Asa, scorned, appeals to her father, Kam, a sorcerer, to use his magic arts to prosper "A Love that Seeks For Self" and he refuses her request. When she tries to poison Senneth, Ram puts her under a spell, "For three thousand years shall thy soul sleep and then reborn without love. In love may it find redemption." The cycle of years has run its course, and to Mr. and Mrs. Grant is horn a baby daughter, Zaida. She grows up to womanhood and is known as the Modern Sphinx, or "The Woman Without a Heart." She has many lovers, but lacking the power to love, she cannot understand their proposals. At a fete given in her honor she meets the famous soothsayer and oculist, Aster. He foretells her future in these mystic words: "The cycle of the stars is completed; you will learn love's secret, sacrifice." Again Zaida is mystified by love. "What is love?" Francis Passmore, artist and musician, joins the house party. There he sees Zaida and is struck by her cold, lifeless beauty. He hears that she is the Modern Sphinx, but cannot believe that a woman of such beauty can know nothing of love. He falls in love with her. He tries to explain to her the meaning of "love"' and plays a lyric on his violin and relates the story, but the music fails to awaken her soul. He tells her of love in allegory. One night he finds her sitting by a stone pillar gazing at the heavens in her passionless manner. As he watches her, she seems to turn into a sphinx. Then he has an inspiration and teaches her love, then passion. She escapes from Lim, mystified and frightened. Can this be love? He follows her and as he gathers her into his arms again love awakens. She returns to the house and there meets a new arrival, Passmore's wife. Then she realizes that though she has found love she has stolen it from another. In her misery she remembers Aster and gets a small vial of poison. There on the cold balcony, with the stars as her companions, she puts a few drops of the poison on her lips. She disappears. The scene shifts back to 3,000 years before and Ram is seen reading the stars as if it had all happened just in a moment. He returns to the chamber and there finds Asa as she awakens. The soul of Asa has learned the secret of Love, Sacrifice.
- Robert and John Gregory were left orphans. Robert, a wealthy soul, found his health failing and the doctor advised him to seek the lower levels. John, drunk most of the time, agreed to accompany him. The senor, Estabon, lived with his pretty wife and sister in the little cabin in the valley. Alone in the woods he found Robert and John, Robert prone upon the ground from exhaustion and John, quite drunk, beside him. The Spaniard took them home and in the days that followed Robert's health returned, and he grew to love the Spanish girl. John, on the other hand, made violent love to the wife of the senor and when she repulsed him, threatened to kill her. Behind the barn Robert came upon them, she struggling to free herself from John's embrace. All ties of blood were swept away in Robert's fury and he struck his brother to the ground. Slinking away, John discovered an aged mendicant who agreed to kill his brother and the senor in consideration of certain money. They went toward the little cabin home and the beggar demanded his money. This John refused, promising pay when the job was done. An argument arose between them. John, in drunken fury, struck the thug, who fell. Turning over on his side, the mendicant fired and John dropped dead. A little later the occupants of the little cabin gathered solemnly around his body.
- Big Ben from the Bar N Ranch called often on Margaret. As the two were inseparable, it soon became known that they would soon marry. This news greatly displeased Bill Higgins, who promptly set about to make trouble. He wrote an anonymous note and attached it to Ben's saddle, saying " She don't love you. She was with Bill Higgins all day yesterday. A Friend." When Ben found it he frowned and tucked it idly into his pocket. This happened regularly thereafter. If Ben had been a trifle older he might have smiled derisively, but he didn't. Youth and jealousy are old acquaintances and so Ben made his visits shorter and shorter. One day, lonesomeness overcame him and he sent the notes in a bundle to Margy. She read them and promptly burst into tears. Then, with true Western suddenness, she hurried into the house, where she told her brother all her trouble. The later only smiled, but looked more serious when he caught Margy loading a big six-shooter. He told Bill to watch out for himself and ceased further to trouble himself. But Bill was more wise. Carefully unloading the bullets, he substituted blanks and when Margy later threatened him he only smiled. And then Ben rode up, utterly miserable and determined upon an understanding with Margy. This was easily obtained to the vast satisfaction of everyone concerned, but Bill Higgins.
- Rocky bets on "everything, anything and nothing at all". On one occasion he wins a high bet including the saloon bully's gal, thanks to a cheat played by a girl competitor who wants the man for herself. When the bully finds out he believes Rocky has fooled him and goes furiously after him.
- Jim Richeson was a haunted man, but he smiled carelessly as he handled the sign offering a reward for his capture, dead or alive. He smiled again as he wheeled his horse and galloped off down the road, waving a satirical adieu to the posse. A pretty mountain girl with pail in hand, stood at the pump when Jim rode up. He took the pail from her, drank deeply, and then, as an afterthought, seized her and kissed her heartily. Then he leisurely mounted his horse and galloped off. Furious at the insult, the girl rushed for a gun, only to meet her lover, just as he rounded the bunkhouse. That person at once flew into a passion and gave hot chase to the vanishing bandit, vowing to have his life. Meanwhile, the girl, at the head of a posse, followed less swiftly. A royal battle took place in the mountains. Dick and Jim, sheltered behind the great rocks, tried every expedient known to the West in an effort to kill each other. Finally both exhausted their ammunition and crept forward to test their strength. A desperate hand-to-hand encounter took place, Jim with the advantage of a long knife, Dick with only his bare hands. Suddenly Dick found the sharp blade enter his arm. For an instant he hesitated, then a shot rang out, and Jim plunged headforemost over the rock. Dick fainted then and there and recovered later to see the mountain girl leaning over him.
- Bertie is an embryonic botanist. He is pottering with some flowers in the garden, when Nell, the idol of his dreams, passes. He runs out and escorts her home, pleading soulfully with her to marry him. Nell is a full-blooded western girl, and while she admires Bertie for many things, she prefers a real man for a husband. News comes from Nell's uncle, in Red Cloud, that he is going to sell out his store, and go back to Vermont. Nell and her mother set out for Red Cloud, and Bertie, determined to prove himself a man, accompanies them. At Tucson the stage is late, and growing impatient, Nell and Bertie start out for Red Cloud on foot. Bertie purchases a burro to pack their baggage, and it happens to be a burro formerly in the employ of "Tiger Jack," the lone bandit, who has caused the community to quake with fear. The Tucson, Red Cloud stage is held up by "Tiger Jack," and with the property of the passengers, he makes off into the hills. Bertie and Nell and the burro are plodding along toward Red Cloud. Bertie's time is divided between making love to Nell and rhapsodizing over the botanical specimens along the way. He does not observe the disappearance of the burro, and eventually is forced to desert Nell while he goes in pursuit of the wayward animal. Instinctively, the burro wanders into the hiding place of "Tiger Jack," and, a moment later, Bertie encounters the bad man. Bertie is timid until "Tiger Jack" contemptuously destroys Nell's hat, which is on the burro's pack-saddle. Then, the botanist loses his temper and wallops the bandit. He is putting the finishing touches upon the bandit, when Nell comes up. She is amazed at the powers of her lover, and lavishes congratulations upon him. He takes it in a matter-of-fact sort of way, and calls for a rope. When the sheriff's posse rides up, a few moments later, "Tiger Jack" is helplessly bound. The sheriff informs Bertie that he is entitled to the $5,000 reward offered for the capture of the outlaw, and the story closes with the botanist enriched by a bank roll and a bride.
- In the year 100 A.D., Trajanus was emperor of Rome. He was one of the great emperors of that period, and one of the great works by which he beautified Rome is known as the Column of Trajan. The emperor had prepared a "Triumph," as the ceremony was known in those days and the victims of his conquest were marched in Rome to the throne. Among them is seen Decebalus, Prince of Dacia, and his mother, Queen of Dacia. The Emperor promises the Prince his freedom if he will swear allegiance to Rome. He hesitates, but the Queen says: "In Dacia we are royal and shall not be vassals to Rome." The Emperor is angered and sends them to the dungeons of the Circus Maxims to await their fate in the arena. The arena is prepared, the Emperor is in the imperial box and all is ready for the conflict of the gladiators. At last Decebalus is told he must go in the arena and fight. He asks: "With whom?" A Dacian is pointed out to him. He says: "Why, he is of Dacia, and therefore my brother." Notwithstanding, he is forced out and we see them in the arena before the imperial box saluting the Emperor. They fight and the Dacian is thrown to the ground in battle. Decebalus does not wound him, and when he appeals to the Emperor and the court for their decision, the Emperor show by the word "Habet" and the downward turning of the thumb that death is his portion. Decebalus raises his sword as if to kill, but with the other hand extended to the Dacian, they leap from the arena into the imperial box and are about to kill Trajan, but Decebalus is made prisoner by the centurions in attendance on the Emperor. He again escapes and is brought before the Emperor just as the word is brought that the Huns have invaded Rome. Decebalus volunteers to fight the invaders and is victorious. When offered a reward he demands his mother's freedom, which is granted. Trajan also gives him Octavia to wed and restores him to his own country.
- Bessie married Bob Evans with her eyes shut. That is to say Bessie loved an idol, a very perishable clay idol much addicted to the use of liquor. Shortly after their marriage, Bob came home reeling drunk. Bessie tried in vain to break him but, with the further use of the poison, Bob fell into evil ways, returned home but seldom and then only to maltreat and abuse her. A day came when Bessie could no longer stand the strain; so she packed her small belongings and dolefully went forth to seek new joys in new fields. Bob, coming home quite drunk, found the house locked and drifted away with the oddities of Fate. Tired, Bessie sat down upon a rock. Will Wayne, riding slowly down the road saw her, stopped and hearing her story took her home. Old man Wayne and Will's mother kept her for several weeks and Will grew to love her dearly. But independent Bessie though the time had come to leave and was only dissuaded by the urgent request of the whole family. Two years later, Bessie found the morning paper on the stoop. Its first page contained a story of a railroad wreck and among the slain was Bob. A year later Bessie married Will and the young couple moved to Will's new home and were happy. Riding through the mountains one day, Will came upon Bob Evans, very much alive, quite sick and quite dirty. Not knowing him he took him home. Between Bob and Bessie there was instant trouble. Will started to interfere and a scuffle followed. Will dropped dead with a bullet through him. The cowboys then found the slayer creeping through hills and ended a career that had wrecked the life and happiness of Bessie.
- A tenderfoot is sent west by his father to be the boss of a friend's ranch. After foiling the plans of a gang of cattle rustlers, he wins the heart of the rancher's daughter.
- The army engineer and his daughter are deeply interested in each other, but, of course, the will of the father predominates. As a result the girl experiences many heart aches, because it does seem as though she is about to lose her sweetheart because he is not an army man. The issue is brought to a climax by the presence of a spy in the father's home. Plans for the border fortifications are stolen and the impending disgrace and ruin drive the officer to the verge of despair, from which he is rescued by the daughter and her sweetheart, who rescue the plans, and apprehend the spy.
- Rudolph Schlitz, a cobbler, finds a lottery ticket in a shoe he is repairing and, determined to make some money from it, he sells an interest in the ticket to his friend, Adolph Busch. Then, fed up with the way temperance leader Caroline Pickett rails against the evils of alcohol, Bobbie Bennett spikes the cider at Caroline's picnic. All of the villagers in attendance get drunk, including Rudolph and Adolph, who then dream that they have arrived in Washington to claim their lottery winnings. Besides being transported to the nation's capital, however, they also have been transported through time back to the Civil War and barely escape from the fighting alive. Rudolph and Adolph then wake up from their shared nightmare, and remembering the link between gambling and Gettysburg, they swear off lotteries and other games of chance forever.
- Old Ben Hoover, with his wife and two pretty daughter, managed to eke out a precarious livelihood, raking alfalfa and helping generally on the big ranch. John Rich, foreman, had long made love to Mabel, but she did not return his affection. A day came when Rich went to her parents. They readily gave consent. Out of the prairie rode a handsome young man, dressed in fashionable riding garments and mounted on an expensive, sleek-looking mare. He dismounted in the bushes and hastily changed his clothes, appearing before the foreman as a day worker in quest of labor. Rich eyed him carefully and finally handed him a rake. The young man proved a poor workman, however, for he soon found Mabel's company much too enticing for heavy work. On the way home that night he made love to her and found a not unwilling listener. Rich, also called, and finding but little comfort in Mabel's unresponsive mood, attempted to kiss her by force. Just then the newcomer stepped in and an inspiring fight followed. The following morning Rich peremptorily discharged father, mother and the two daughters, while the newcomer leaned on his rake and blandly smiled. Then Rich turned to him. The newcomer, with a well-aimed blow, laid Rich on his back in the alfalfa, and turning to the other workers, quietly drew a card from his pocket. Rich arose from the grass in time to hear the name of the ranch owner and to discover that he had been kicked about by that very person. Later the newcomer called on the old folks and formerly asked the hand of their daughter. The old man refused to hear him at first, believing him to cause of their trouble, but when his magic name was whispered in the old fellow's ear, a transformation tool place, and, you can easily imagine, there was but little trouble in convincing the girl that the time to marry had come.
- Bessie received a note from Uncle Dan along with a pony and was more than delighted with the handsome gift. Her sweetheart, Bill Walters, grew quite peeved at the way in which Bessie forgot him for her horse. Some days later Bessie's father, the sheriff, received a note that horse thieves were operating in his vicinity. He notified Bessie to watch carefully over her new pony and Bessie alert to the possibility, promptly rode to town to obtain a strong lock for the barn. She returned and banded it to Bill, asking him to attach it. But Bessie had been overseen by the horse thieves, who promptly laid plans to capture the horse. Bill, receiving the lock from Bessie, tucked it in his pocket and went into the corral to brood over her lack of interest in him. That night Bessie's horse was stolen. Bill, conscience-stricken, went to her father the sheriff and at his request was made a deputy. Then Bill started for the border. The following day he crossed into Mexico and was present at a horse sale. He recognized Bessie's horse and bought it, tendering a check in payment. This the bandit refused to cash. Then Bill, having arranged with the local sheriff to have a strong posse on the American side of the border, asked him (the bandit) to come across to the American bank where he would cash the check. This the bandit agreed to do. On the American side, Bill pulled his gun and a bandit was caught, but only for just one moment. The secret band of thieves, lying close by, rushed upon the American. A fast fight and a long chase followed before the thieves were finally rounded up.
- Ole Johnson decides that he ought to marry. Decides to insert an ad. in the paper. He receives an answer from a Swedish girl in a town not far from his home. Ole answers the maiden's letter sending her a photograph of himself and requesting one of her's in return. Steena Iverson, the lady fair, is not the most beautiful lady in existence, and fearing to spoil her chances of marriage, decides not to send one of her photos but one of her mistress instead. Ole receives the photo and decides to pay a visit to Steena. Meanwhile the lady of the house, Mrs. Gaylife has been informed by her husband that he has been called away. Mrs. Gaylife intends not to be lonely during her husband's absence, so sends for another companion. They leave to spend a pleasant evening together. Ole has arrived to pay the promised visit to his unknown lady love. Steena allows him to enter, but Ole cannot see her face, which is covered by a veil. He begs and pleads with her to remove it, but she refuses. Confusion is heard outside announcing the return of Mrs. Gaylife and her vis-a-vis. Steena hides Ole in the closet as Mrs. Gaylife and gentleman enter. They are enjoying a quite tete-a-tete, when the bell rings outside announcing the return of Mr. Gaylife. Mrs. Gaylife tells the gentleman to go into the closet, but instead he hides behind the screen. Mr. Gaylife enters and embraces his wife and turns to place his grip and coat in the closet when she stops him, takes them from him and leaves the room with them. Husband becomes suspicious, turns and sees Ole's hat and cane, thanks he is wise, starts for closet when Mrs.Gaylife stops him. He accuses her and she having seen the friend behind the screen, goes to the door to prove him wrong. She opens the doors and Ole comes out. Husband demands an explanation. Ole tells him he came to marry Mrs. Gaylife, showing the photograph. Mrs. Gaylife tells him she has never seen him before. Steena has overheard the whole transaction and tells them he came to marry her. Ole gets one glance at Steena's face and makes a getaway. Mr. and Mrs. Gaylife embrace most lovingly and while they are paying no attention to him, Mr. Friend makes a getaway unseen by anyone.
- Nell, the Mexican girl, trusted Ned, the young prospector. She trusted him with her honor and all that a woman holds sacred. She loved him. He was young and rash, but not bad at heart and he did not weigh sufficiently the seriousness of his relationship with Nell. Joe, Ned's partner, loved Nell too. He was an older, saner man than Ned, and in a spirit of noble-sacrifice, held back and encouraged the young folks in their love. But youthful love is sometimes impatient and that impatience conquered the discretion of Nell and Ned, and when the girl realized what she had done, she pleaded with Ned to marry her and save her honor. He bade her wait until he could take her back to his people in the East. Jose, Nell's brother, overheard the girl's plea and challenged Ned for an explanation. They were about to clash in combat when Joe interposed and learned the strained condition of affairs. He sent the Mexican on his way and broken-hearted, told his young comrade that they must part. This blow was terrible to Ned, for he loved Joe better than a brother, but his plea was in vain. Joe left all the gold to Ned, save one nugget and went away. No sooner had Joe gone than Jose stole in upon Ned and killed him. When Nell learned of her lover's death, she ran distractedly to his side and hysterically pleaded with him to come back to life and save her honor. A ranger found her beside the body and took her to her home. Jose confessed his crime and was arrested. Poor Nell was turned away from her home disgraced. A kindly neighbor took her in and reduced to an outcast, as subject of pity and charity, she began to pine her young life away. After a week of terrible suffering, she could stand it no longer and going to the grave of Ned, she bade him good-by and seeking a secluded spot, was about to plunge a knife into her heart, when she discovered before her the " Shrine of Lourdes." A new spirit entered her heart, and looking out across the desert, she saw the Mission blazing white in the sun, beckoning her to come, where rest was waiting. The Mother Superior took her in and the doors of the Mission closed on the suffering of the world. Then is was that Joe returned, and learning of the tragedy of his young companion, he sought the grave. Nell was there in the garb of a man strewing the grave with flowers. The Mother Superior was with her. Joe pleaded with her to give up her seclusion and come with him, but the Mother turned her away and led her back to the Mission. Joe followed, pleading for his love, but the church had taken the girl to the solacing comfort of its bosom. The big oaken doors closed up on Nell, and brokenhearted, Joe turned back to struggle on alone in the world.