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- In furtherance of the will of her father, Irene Bromley is allowed so much annually by the trustee, Sidney Villon, a lawyer of loose morals, but who enjoys a place well up in the list in society. Arthur Colby, a wholesome, straightforward young man, is in love with her, but she treats him indifferently at times. She goes to Villon's office for $10,000. He gives her a check, despite the fact that Holden, his secretary, tells him on the side that she has already overdrawn her allowance, and she goes out reminding him of the dance to be given at the Edgerton home. Rupert Hazard, a struggling inventor, who has been excluded from Villon's office shortly previous, pushes his way into the inner office and scathingly denounces Villon, whom, he claims, stole his invention worth a fortune. At the dance the following evening. Irene, flushed with dancing and in all her resplendent glory and beauty, is seated with Arthur. He proposes, but her chill manner, cleverly affected, freezes the blood in his veins. Later in the evening she gives Villon the same negative answer. Villon, determined to win her, tells her that one word from him and she will he plunged into poverty. His words are heard by Arthur, who happens in conveniently. When Villon leaves, Arthur tells Irene that he heard all, and she gives way to weeping. Arthur leaves, the old clock in the hallway showing the hour to be 12:05. Irene is startled the next morning to read an account of the murder of Villon in his apartment. Colby is arrested for the crime, having been found with a revolver near the prostrate form of Villon. When the jury seems satisfied conclusively that Arthur murdered Villon, Irene is called to the stand. It has been learned from Villon's valet that the watch in the latter's pocket, shattered by a bullet and stopped at exactly midnight, had been in good running order. Very dramatically, Irene tells of her visit to Villon's office the day after the murder, where she learns that Villon has an enemy, Hazard, the inventor. Irene and her lawyer go to Hazard's place at 12 o'clock midnight a day later at Hazard's request. The discouraged inventor tells them how he broke into Villon's apartment and shot the lawyer, later engaging in a scuffle with Colby, who entered a few minutes later. When he completes his story, Hazard is blown to death by a device he had set to go off at midnight. Irene then tells the jury that Colby was with her in her home at the time the watch was shattered in Villon's pocket. Colby is acquitted, after which Irene takes a different perspective of things and Colby's anxiety is brought to an end.
- Charlotte Marlin was raised on a Connecticut farm in the shadow of Micah's apple tree, whose fruit, according to legend, changed from pale green to spotted red after a peddler was killed and buried at its base. Orphaned, Charlotte goes to live with her aunt and pretty cousin Margaret. She meets Neil Kennedy, a poor boy who is working his way through college, and they become friends. Margaret, who is engaged to wealthy Willis Hayland, teases Charlotte, who considers herself to be plain-looking. At high school graduation Charlotte's academic achievements are obscured by Margaret's leading role in the school play. Jealous of Margaret, Charlotte resolves to make everybody like her, to be famous, and to marry a millionaire. She learns that to make everybody like her, she must be friendly to everyone. To become famous, she becomes a golfer and wins the world's championship tournament. She nurses millionaire Perry Graham after hitting him in the head with a golf ball, supposedly an accident, but when Perry falls in love with her, Charlotte realizes that she loves Neil, who has become a promising physician.
- Workers in a pottery factory labor in unhealthy, unventilated and dangerous conditions, but the plant's wealthy owner doesn't see any need to change things. It's not long before one of his workers falls ill to tuberculosis, and soon the owner learns the meaning of the old adage, "What goes around comes around".
- Captain David Dodd, of the good ship "Agra," set sail for home, carrying with him fourteen thousand pounds in hard cash. After nearly losing the money in a fierce battle with pirates and again during a violent storm, the captain gave a sigh of relief when he at length reached home and deposited his fortune in Hardie's Bank, a conservative institution with an iron-clad reputation. Unhappily the captain's sense of security did not last long. Richard Hardie, the president of the bank, had been caught in the maelstrom of speculation. When Dodd deposited the fourteen thousand pounds, the bank was on the verge of bankruptcy. Learning of the danger to his hard-earned money, Dodd returned to the bank on the same afternoon and demanded its return. Hardie refused on the ground that it was after business hours, and Dodd fell to the ground in a fit of apoplexy. His mind was unhinged by the blow and he was removed to an insane asylum. Alfred Hardie, Richard's son, was deeply in love with Captain Dodd's daughter, Julia, entirely against the wishes of Richard, who wished him to many an heiress. Alfred overheard the scene between Dodd and Hardie and, outraged at his father's duplicity, demanded that the money should be returned. With the money safely in his hands, and Dodd a maniac, Hardie was too hard pressed to let anything stand in the way of his argent needs. Spurred on by an unconquerable ambition he entered into an agreement with a dishonest doctor, and had Alfred inveigled from home and incarcerated in the flame asylum with old Captain Dodd. But there was another source of danger with which Hardie had not reckoned. Skinner, the old confidential clerk in his office, had slyly taken the receipt from Dodd's hand as he lay in his apoplectic fit. Hardie, who had confidently believed the receipt was lost, was stunned when Skinner suavely informed him that it was in his possession, and coolly demanded blackmail. Meanwhile Alfred Hardie and Captain Dodd bad been suffering all the torments of the outrageous insane asylum system of the day. At last, they managed to escape together during a fire, and fled to the seacoast. The sight of salt water restored the sailor's memory and he thought of his fourteen thousand pounds. Skinner's opportune death and repentance put the receipt for the money in Alfred's hands. Together he and Dodd went to Hardie's office, where they found a man overcome with remorse and shame who was only too willing to make every restitution in his power.
- His niece had quarreled with him, his private secretary was by no means free from suspicion, his own brother was the sole heir if the will--now lost--was not found. Evidence was strongest against the girl, who was guilty.
- The eighteenth day of April, 1775, still lives in the hearts of all loyal Americans, as the birthday of our country. It was the day the first shots were fired against the British at Lexington. Throughout the years of privation and suffering which followed, that same spirit of the "minute men" endured up to the very last, when Lord Cornwallis surrendered his army on the nineteenth day of October, 1781, American independence was assured. Of all the characters of our Revolutionary period, none is more endeared to all than that of Paul Revere, whose exploit has been immortalized by Longfellow so effectively that the lines of the poem and the incidents portrayed are graven more deeply, perhaps, upon the average American mind than any other character or exploit of our American history. When Revere learned of the British commander's intention of attacking the patriot's base of supplies in Concord, and told his friend to, "Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry arch of the North Church tower as a signal light." He little realized that the tiny light would serve as a beacon of liberty for future generations but so it has proven and we follow him today as he clattered along the country-side rousing the men to fight for their life and our liberty and our pulses beat with each stride of the mount.
- Jack tells two people, privately, on a blind date that each of them is hard of hearing and wacky hijinks ensue.
- Feodor Turov, chief of the Russian Czar's secret police, orders his Cossacks to attack a village he believes to be infested with rebels. The Cossacks attack the village and massacre almost everyone, and the young Katerina is whipped to death. Before escaping to England, her sister Darya swears to avenge her sister's death. Years later--now one of the world's most famous prima ballerinas--she returns to Russia. Turov falls in love with her and manages to secure a meeting. She coyly asks him to take her to see a prison first. As it turns out, what he has planned for her is nothing compared to what she has planned for him.
- Prince Arthur is in love with the fair princess Lena. He asks for her hand, and is accepted. Zamaliel, supreme monarch of all that is evil, decides to come upon earth from the lower regions to prey upon mankind, in his peregrinations, his first victims are the joyous Prince Arthur and the Princess Lena. His evil eye covets the beauteous damsel, and he begins his cruel machinations to accomplish his selfish purpose. Fantasma, the fairy queen, Queen of Good and Light, whose realm is not far distant, has her subjects safeguard the lives of young lovers. They observe Zamaliel's coming upon earth with two of his infernal sprites, quickly the news is sped to Fantasma. All Fairyland is in a turmoil, and the Queen, with her retinue, goes forth to protect the Prince and princess and pay Zamaliel his deserts. We follow Arthur through his wanderings over hill and dale, and finally to his descent beneath the sea, before he rescues his betrothed. Fantasma has created Pico as Arthur's companion in the rescue, and with their faithful goat, they pass through many and varied experiences. Good finally triumphs over evil, and we see the two lovers sailing away on the Sea of Happiness.
- Some very greedy and selfish relatives are all after the failing old Martin Chuzzlewit's money. He is surrounded by all these sycophantic relatives that he truly despises whilst ill, each one only interested in getting their hands on his estate.
- The forerunner of all serials, "What Happened to Mary" was a series of 12 monthly one-reel episodes, each a complete entity in itself, revolving its immediate dramatic and melodramatic problems within the framework of a single episode and designed more for story and suspense situations than action. Episode Titles (q.v.): #1: "The Escape from Bondage"; #2: "Alone in New York"; #3: "Mary in Stage Land"; #4: "The Affair at Raynor's"; #5: "A Letter to the Princess"; #6: "A Clue to Her Parentage"; #7: "False to Their Trust"; #8: "A Will and a Way"; #9: "A Way to the Underworld"; #10: "The High Tide of Misfortune"; #11: "A Race to New York"; #12: "Fortune Smiles."
- D'Artagan leaves home to seek his fortune. Armed with his father's sword and a letter to the Captain of the King's Musketeers, he rides forth boldly to face the world. At a wayside inn he arrives just in time to rescue a young woman from the clutches of several of the Cardinal's spies. He arrives in Paris shortly after and presents his letter to Captain de Treville of the Musketeers. Here he catches his first glimpse of the famous Three Musketeers, Athos, Porthos and Aramis, and decides to fight his way into the Musketeers. In leaving, he runs into Athos, who berates him for his stupidity. This is more than he can bear, even from a Musketeer, and a duel is arranged for one o'clock at the rear of the convent. Hastily turning from Athos he comes into violent contact with Porthos, tearing his cloak from his shoulder and disclosing his ragged jerkin beneath. D'Artagnan bursts into violent laughter at this unexpected disclosure and is challenged to a duel at two o'clock at the convent grounds. Upon reaching the street he spies Aramis chatting with two musketeers and decides to join them, when he discovers that Aramis' foot is resting upon a beautiful lace handkerchief. Wishing to ingratiate himself in the good will of Aramis, he calls his attention to the handkerchief. Aramis denies ownership, but D'Artagnan insists that he saw him drop it and, picking it up, hands it to him. D'Artagnan is again soundly berated for his stupidity; the result is another challenge at three o'clock at the convent. D'Artagnan has lost so much time quarreling that he finds it now time for his first duel. He hurries to the convent only to find all three musketeers waiting. Hardly has he crossed swords with Athos, however, when a company of the Cardinal's guards appear and attempt to take them into custody for dueling. D'Artagnan volunteers to fight on their side and is gladly welcomed. The fight proves a glorious victory for the musketeers, who gather up the swords of their fallen enemies and march triumphantly from the field, arm in arm with D'Artagnan, their sworn friend. They are all brought before the king, but when he hears of the odds against them he not only rewards them, but promises to make D'Artagnan a Musketeer.
- A young boy, opressed by his mother, goes on an outing in the country with a social welfare group where he dares to dream of a land where the cares of his ordinary life fade.
- D'Artagnan having discovered that the girl he has rescued on his way to Paris is none other than the Queen's confidante, Constance, loses little time in becoming better acquainted. The Queen has a secret love affair with the Duke of Buckingham and as a token of her love, she gives him a set of twelve diamond studs. Richelieu's spy, Milady, discovers this and at once reports it to the Cardinal. He sends Milady to steal the studs and persuades the King to give a state ball and ask the Queen to wear the diamond studs, which he does. As soon as she hears this request she writes a note to Buckingham, but finds she has no messenger whom she can trust. Here Constance comes to her aid. The Queen gives her the note and also her handkerchief as a token and she leaves to find D'Artagnan. He is not far away, so she tells him his mission, gives him the note and handkerchief and bids him God-speed. Richelieu's spy has overheard their plans and hurries to report the matter to the Cardinal. He sends the spy out on the road ahead of D'Artagnan with instructions to prevent his reaching Buckingham. D'Artagnan in the meantime has confided to his comrades that he is on a dangerous mission and all three decide to accompany him. The spy manages to leave D'Artagnan's three friends disabled, but our hero arrives safely at Calais, where he finds the port has been closed. Buckingham's boat is about to lift anchor. He forces the Captain of the port to have him rowed out to the ship, where he meets Buckingham and finds that Milady is also on board. Milady manages to cut off two of the diamond studs and hurrying out of the cabin jumps into D'Artagnan's boat, and is rowed ashore, realizing that Milady has taken them they hastily call for a boat to go ashore, but Milady has taken the last one, so there is no way but to swim. Taking two valuable studs from Buckingham to replace the stolen ones, D'Artagnan leaps through the port and swims ashore. He wins the race to Paris, arriving in time to have the two studs set and delivers the twelve intact to the Queen, who generously rewards him by giving him a valuable ring and also his heart's desire, Constance.
- Becky, a child, is left an orphan by the death of her father and is consigned to the tender mercies of the Misses Pinkertons, who conduct a fashionable school for girls. Becky feels keenly the semi-charitable nature of her life, and, when kindly-hearted Amelia Sedley invites her home, she eagerly accepts. It is then that Becky, the child, becomes Becky, the adventuress, cold, calculating and selfish. With the entrance of Becky into the peaceful Sedley home comes misfortune. Sedley goes bankrupt. Old man Osborne promptly breaks the engagement between Amelia and his son, George. Becky lays her traps for Joseph Sedley, Amelia's brother, and nearly succeeds in her designs on that self-satisfied young man. Urged by his faithful friend, Captain Dobbin, George marries Amelia. This change throws Becky into new surroundings. She goes to Queen's Crawley and enters the most active sphere of her existence. Her adventures with old Pit Crawley, her marriage to Rawdon Crawley, their poverty Becky's flirtation with Lord Steyne and her subsequent separation from Rawdon, the Battle of Waterloo and the death of George Osborne are all faithfully portrayed incidents of Thackeray's novel.
- The action opens in the humble home of Betty Hampton, whose mother is very ill. Tom Driscoll, a typical "Green Mountain Boy," to whom Betty is engaged, brings her the coat of his new Continental uniform, to have the buttons changed, when they are interrupted by a hail outside. Hastily hiding the coat, lest it be seen by some enemy of the cause, they are much relieved to find that their caller is none other than Ethan Allen, the leader of the Green Mountain Boys. Allen has just received word of the battles of Concord and Lexington and decides to take steps to aid the revolt against Great Britain on his own responsibility. He imparts to them his plan to capture the British strongholds on Lake Champlain, the first one to be Fort Ticonderoga. He and Tom go to a well-known glen in the woods, having sent Neshobee, an Indian scout, to call in all the leaders for a council. This meeting results in their eagerly following Allen's lead and they depart to collect their followers. Allen, Tom and Neshobee are on their way to the village when they come across Betty, who is being annoyed by several of the soldiers of the fort. Quickly putting them to rout, they send Neshobee home with Betty and continue their way to the meeting place. Arriving home, Betty finds her mother in a very serious condition. She sends Neshobee for a neighbor, who, upon arriving, says a doctor is needed at once. The only doctor in the neighborhood is at the fort, so Betty goes to him, taking Neshobee as escort. She is ushered into the Commander's presence while the officers are banqueting and all more or less the worse for liquor. She states her errand, and while the doctor has gone for his kit, they attempt to make her drink the King's health, which she indignantly refuses to do. Arriving home she finds her mother has passed the crisis safely and at once resolves to tell Allen of the conditions at the fort and urge him to attack at once. Allen upon hearing her news, decides to attack at once without waiting for reinforcements and, gathering his men about him, eighty-three in all, they silently make their way across the lake. Creeping silently up the steep slope to the fort they overpower the sleepy sentinel and enter the fort unmolested. Beating upon Captain De La Place's door, Allen rouses him out of bed and when the sleepy commander opens the door, he finds himself confronted by Allen, sword in hand, demanding "Surrender, in the name of the Great Jehovah and the Continental Congress!" and his stronghold in possession of the Green Mountain Boys. He surrenders the fort and without firing a shot, the American heroes gain possession of the strongest fortification on Lake Champlain, together with all the stores of munition and cannon, a great number of which were afterward used to drive the British out of Boston. Allen leads Betty out before his men and publicly thanks her for her share of the night's work which is echoed by cheers from the men, while she blushingly hides her head on Tom's shoulder.
- A monk tells a tale about a woman who can only surrender her heart to a man who can offer her jewels. A poor man falls in love with her and steals jewels off a statue of the Madonna to give to her.
- Aida, daughter of the King of Ethiopia, having fallen a prisoner into the hands of the Egyptians, is given as a slave by their king to his daughter Amneris who, captivated by the grace and beauty of the unknown maid, takes her into favor. Radames, a young captain of the king's guards, loved by Amneris, suspecting a rival in her slave, swears to be avenged. Meanwhile war is again declared between Egypt and Ethiopia and Radames, appointed leader of the army by the High Priest of Isis, is invested with the sacred arms and departs to fight the Ethiopians who, headed by their king, have invaded Egypt. Radames defeats them and returns victorious, followed by the prisoners, among whom is the king himself, disguised as an officer. Through the intercession of Radames the prisoners are set free, with the exception of the king who, being recognized as Aida's father, is detained with her. As a reward for his great services Radames is given the hand of the Princess Amneris. The Ethiopian king in his captivity, having noticed the mutual affection existing between Radames and Aida and finding that they have a secret meeting place near the Temple of Isis, forces Aida to obtain from Radames the plan by which the Egyptians are to attack the Ethiopians. Radames incautiously reveals the plans to Aida, but is overheard by Amneris and the High Priest, who are in the temple and who suddenly appear and accuse Radames of treason. He is brought to judgment and condemned to be buried alive, but is visited by Amneris, who offers him pardon from the king if he will renounce Aida forever. He refuses and goes bravely to death. He enters the tomb and as the stone is being slowly lowered, he discovers Aida by his side. She had entered the tomb and has come to prove the depth of her love by sharing his fate.
- In the days before Olaf Tryggreson had welded the kingdoms of Norway into one, Helga, called The Glorious, was queen of Drontheim. Under her sway, Drontheim flourished, and took its place among the nations of the earth. It happened once, while Helga was away, leading her armies to conquest against the Skrellings, that Ragnarr, jarl of Binskarr, swore by all the trolls in Midgar, that he would no longer submit to a woman's rule. So, with his barons and house karls, he entered into all manner of evil doing, ravaging and destroying throughout the land, and openly defying the queen's government. When Queen Helga returned, there came many to her crying out against Ragnarr and his wickedness. The Queen summoned a council before her and tried Ragnarr for his crimes. Finding him guilty, she commanded that his lands be declared forfeit to the state, and that he leave Drontheim forever. But even as the queen's guards were leading him forth to exile, friends of Jarl Ragnarr fell upon them and rescued him. Then, in the blackness of his evil heart, Ragnarr devised a plot against the queen's majesty. With bribes he won over Olaf, captain of Helga's guard, and that night Helga was seized, bound, and carried over seas to a lonely island. Ragnarr seized the throne, and ruled in her stead, and the courtiers, after their first shock of surprise at the queen's disappearance, submitted to his bloodthirsty reign. It happened a little later that the traitorous Olaf quarreled with Ragnarr because Ragnarr had not given him the money he had promised. In revenge Olaf proclaimed to the entire court that Ragnarr was the abductor of Queen Helga. Wild with rage, the people rose, and killed Ragnarr. Then, they sent a ship over seas to Queen Helga. They found her lying on the shore, with her face turned toward Drontheim and her eyes closed. With great wailing and mourning they bore her to her native land. But while the funeral cortege was passing through the streets of her capital Queen Helga started from her death-like trance, and like Balder, lived again to bring joy and happiness to her people.
- A factory hires only children, forcing an immigrant family to put their daughter to work. When the girl brings home a foundling, the family gets sends her to work. Little do they know that the girl's father bought the factory.
- A Tale of Old Tucson is a silent 1914 short film directed by Richard Ridgely.
- Young Jim Hawkins is caught up with the pirate Long John Silver in search of the buried treasure of the buccaneer Captain Flint, in this adaptation of the classic novel by Robert Louis Stevenson.
- Eugene Aram, devoid of opportunity as far as scholasticism is concerned, is ambitious to learn, and his labored course. of study is a source of merriment to Housman, a degenerated distant relation. Housman chances to read a letter written by a man known as Clark to his son, Walter, at Grassdale, England, to the effect that he is about to return to him with a quantity of jewels and sundry valuables, given him as a reward for saving a person's life in India. Housman sees many of the jewels and rarities and determines to rob Clark. He persuades Eugene to go in on the job with him. Clark is attacked by Housman and felled by a blow, as Eugene comes up. Clark seizes the tatter's hand as Eugene prevents another blow from being struck. Clark is killed, however, and Eugene, refusing to accept any of the money, dismisses Housman after the body has been covered up with leaves. At Grassdale, Walter is in love with Madeline, who treats him with pronounced apathy in consideration of her sister, Eleanor, who loves Walter extremely. Five years pass and Eugene is a schoolmaster in Grassdale. His mind is tortured by the vision of Clark which he continues to have. Even his pupils, with the aid of significant poems and verses, seem to be conspiring to add to his discomfort. Eugene has met Madeline and they are enamored of each other, their association firing the jealousy of Walter, who warns Madeline against Eugene. Housman and his associates force entrance into the Lester home and Eugene, who happens to be there at the time, shoots Housman, but not fatally. They recognize each other, and Eugene promises to meet Housman at the glen the next day. At the meeting Housman demands a large sum to keep from Eugene's friends the particulars of Clark's death. Subsequently Eugene goes to Housman's hovel in London and gives him the money and receives the assurance that Housman will leave the country. Walter continues to disparage Eugene in Madeline's eyes. Housman receives word that his child, Ann, is dying and holds up Walter, who is on a trip to London, and relieves him of his fleet horse. Housman arrives to find his beloved daughter dead. He enters an inn and soon is intoxicated. Some strangers are discussing the unearthing of a skeleton, supposed to be that of Clark, who disappeared five years before. Walter enters the inn and listens. Housman interrupts by stating that they are wrong, as he can show them Clark's skeleton. He goes to St. Robert's cave and shows him Clark's bones. He then tells Walter that Eugene Aram committed the murder. Eugene is arrested, tried and adjudged guilty on the strength of Housman's testimony. Walter implores Eugene to confess, promising him forgiveness, and Eugene gives the exact account of the robbery and murder. Walter believes and shows great gratitude and friendship. Madeline is approached by the now repentant Walter and is told the verdict. She crushes to her bosom the rose given her by Eugene and dies, the shock killing her. The closing scene shows Eugene on the gallows, expiating a crime that he did not commit.
- A man is arrested while posing as a woman and is saved by suffragettes.
- Young Henry Clay Madison, a clerk, falls in love with Flossy Wilson, a prostitute from New York's East Side. Although she reforms under his influence, Flossy believes that she is unworthy of Madison and rejects his marriage proposal. Seventeen years later, Madison's nephew Bert, a social worker, falls in love with wanton Fifty-Fifty Mamie, reforms her and elicits her help in his work. Bert falls ill, and when Mamie tries to visit him, Madison, who now is concerned only with money, convinces her to give up the idea of marrying Bert. Mamie goes to work in Madison's canning factory to investigate conditions. In addition to employing children, Madison's factory has no fire escape and only one staircase, which catches fire, many children die and Mamie is seriously injured. Madison visits Mamie, who cries Bert's name in delirium. When Madison brings Bert, now recovered, Madison notices a photograph of Flossy, Mamie's mother and realizes that Mamie is his daughter. She dies in Bert's arms, and Madison resolves to toil for the welfare of workers and the end of child slavery.
- Episode 1: "The Perfect Truth" The day after Dolly Desmond had startled the community with the excellence of her graduation oration, Bobby North, a reporter on the local paper, suggested that it would be a good idea for her to write stories and things for his paper. Dolly was delighted with the idea, and started at once to put it into effect. She decided to write a story, which, although ostensibly fictional, should actually give a truthful picture of life about her as she saw it. After a week of hard work, which involved much burning of midnight oil and much weariness for the fair young authoress, the masterpiece was finished. The editor was delighted with it. It was published under the title, "The Perfect Truth: A Story of Real Life" and, at Dolly's request, the name of the author was omitted. On the afternoon of the publication of the story, the Ladies' Home Sewing Guild was engaged in its customary routine of languid needlework and somnolent gossip. One of the members began to read "The Perfect Truth," but stopped with a gasp of surprise, and called the attention of the other members to the article. In graphic, pitiless bits of description, the essential characteristics of each of the members of the Ladies' Guild were set forth so plainly, that there was no possibility of mistaking their several identities. Dolly had used the pen of a satirist with telling effect. The meeting of the Ladies' Guild ended in a furor of confusion. Mrs. Broome, the hostess of the afternoon, who had been particularly scored by the anonymous author, rushed to the newspaper office and demanded the name of her defamer. The editor refused to give her the desired information, but a note from Dolly on Bobby's desk made all things clear to Mrs. Broome. With the spreading of the news, the storm center shifted to Dolly's home. While indignant citizens waited on Mr. Desmond, and threatened to withdraw their accounts from his bank, the infuriated wives filled Mrs. Desmond's ears with their complaints. Dolly's father commanded her to stop the story and make a public apology, but Dolly, for the first time in her life, refused to comply with her parents' wishes. With the fifty dollars her story had brought in, she left for the city to earn her own living. We shall discover later what happened to her there. Episode 2: "The Ghost of Mother Eve" The first thing Dolly did after her arrival in New York was to try to find herself a job. The fifty dollars she had been paid for her story was practically all she had, and Dolly was wise enough to know that such an amount would not carry her very far in the city. At the very time that Dolly went to apply for a position on "The Comet," Mrs. Yorke, a wealthy society woman, was also on the list of applicants. But whereas Dolly merely wanted a position in order that she might feed and clothe herself, Mrs. Yorke desired a sinecure of a post wherein she might indulge her love for notoriety and scandal. As not infrequently happens, the rich and undeserving succeeded, while the poor and deserving failed. Dolly was politely turned away, while the paper agreed to publish a column from Mrs. Yorke's pen under the name of "Mother Eve." Mrs. Yorke noticed Dolly as she was leaving the newspaper office. Discovering the girl's literary ability, she invited her to lunch, and offered Dolly a position as her private secretary. Dolly, naturally enough, jumped at the offer, and entered upon her duties immediately. The main portion of her duties consisted in writing the "Mother Eve" column. Mrs. Yorke had not the remotest idea how to set about her self-appointed task. All she cared for was the money. For some days Dolly was moderately contented and happy. But one afternoon, while she was collecting news of an approaching ball in the showrooms of a fashionable modiste, she happened to encounter Mrs. Yorke. That estimable lady looked over and past and through Dolly, without the slightest trace of recognition in her face. When Dolly entered her room that evening to accomplish her nightly literary task, she fell, sprained her wrist, and promptly fainted. When Mrs. Yorke returned from a dance in the wee small hours of the next morning, she found a copy boy waiting patiently for the "Mother Eve" material. Dolly, roused from her swoon, was unable to work the typewriter on account of her wrist. So the copy boy wrote it to her dictation, while Mrs. Yorke stood by and fumed. After the boy bad left, Mrs. Yorke was highly unpleasant. Dolly, in a few crisp words, told her employer exactly what she thought of her, and informed her that hereafter she could write her own column. Then Dolly went away. Episode 3: "An Affair of Dress" It will he remembered that Dolly was engaged by Mrs. Yorke, a fashionable member of the smart set, to write a society column for the "Comet." Dolly furnished the brains and did the work. Mrs. Yorke received the money. After she had received a few unpleasant proofs of her employer's unreasonable selfishness, Dolly shook the dust of the Yorke mansion from her feet, and departed. In the course of her gathering of society notes, Dolly had met Minnie, a mannequin in a fashionable tailoring establishment. As luck would have it, there was a vacancy when Dolly arrived to ask Minnie about her work, and twenty-four hours after her quarrel with Mrs. Yorke, the girl was engaged at Browngrass' as a mannequin, with the princely salary of twenty-five dollars a week. Let it not be supposed that she was entirely infatuated with her position. She had come to the city to write, and write she would eventually. This was merely a makeshift, a temporary bar to keep the wolf from the door. There were other reasons too, why her situation did not satisfy her. The proprietor was kind, a little too kind, Dolly thought. One afternoon, he tried to kiss her, and she, quite naturally, slapped his face. In the midst of all her little difficulties, Dolly was not allowing herself to drift out of touch with the magazine and newspaper world. A poem sent by her to the "Jester," brought a gratifying return in the shape of a letter from the editor inquiring into her capabilities for a small editorial position. Later, the editor called, and since he was a nice sort of person, Dolly took dinner with him. In the excitement of the moment, she sailed off to the restaurant in the gown she was wearing. As it happened, the proprietor of Browngrass' came to the restaurant, saw the gown, called a policeman, and ordered him to arrest Dolly. Aid came from an unexpected quarter. Rockwell Crosby, editor of the "Comet," was sitting at the next table. He discovered that Dolly had written Mrs. Yorke's column, showed his card to the policeman, and ordered him to remove the angry proprietor. Dolly, he said, had no connection with Browngrass'. She was his star reporter. After the man had been removed and Dolly thanked Crosby for his kind lie, he told her it was the truth. She was engaged. Episode 4: "Putting One Over" When Miss Mindel, president of the Reform League, received a pathetic letter from certain tenants of the Union Realty Company, complaining of unsanitary living conditions and unjust rents, she wrote a sharp letter to the president of the Realty Company, threatening action in the courts unless improvements were made. James Boliver, the president, had put his company into its position of prominence, largely through his entirely unscrupulous method of dealing with any type of opposition to his plans. Briefly summing up the probable results of any action on the part of the Reform League, he decided that it must be prevented at any cost, so he decided to bribe Miss Mindel. Miss Mindel did not understand the carefully couched letter she received from Boliver, asking her to come and see him. She felt that she was getting into deep water, and decided to appeal to the newspapers, before taking any action. At the office of "The Comet," where she went first, Miss Mindel met Dolly Desmond, and with characteristic impulsiveness, told her the whole story. Dolly immediately hit on a plan, which she confided to Miss Mindel. That good lady, after some thought, consented to it. She was personally unknown to Boliver, and there seemed no reason why the plan should not succeed. In accordance with it, Dolly presented herself at the Union Realty Company's office as Miss Mindel. Mr. Boliver was very nice to her, indeed, and, finding her even more compliant than he had hoped, gave her a check for five thousand dollars, and allowed her to write him a receipt on the typewriter. Dolly made a carbon copy of the receipt, thanked Mr. Boliver, and turned to go. At the door she met Mr. Browngrass, her late employer, who happened to be one of the directors of the company. Since Browngrass recognized her immediately, there was nothing left for Dolly but flight via the fire escape. The enraged directors pursued her, but without result. She got her story in in time to go to press, and we leave Dolly glancing affectionately at the staring headlines of her "scoop." Episode 5: "The Chinese Fan" All newspaperdom was excited over the strange disappearance of Muriel Armstrong and each daily was doing its best to discover the missing heiress first, and thus secure for themselves one of the most sensational bits of news of the day, but no trace of her could be found, despite all efforts. The editor of the Comet ground his cigar and swore impotently and even Dolly, the star reporter, was at a loss for clues. Dolly was pondering over the matter on her way to her evening's assignment: the Chinese theater in Mott Street, where she was detailed to report the play. During the second act a little Chinese pin in the shape of a fan, which Dolly was wearing, unconscious of its significance to the Tongs, started a riot in the theater. As Dolly was escaping down the side street a huge hand protruded itself from a small door, pulled her inside, down a narrow corridor and thrust her into an ill-lighted den. How could she get out? She pounded on the door and called for assistance but all that greeted her was a chuckle and a slushing of soft footsteps down the corridor. She peered around in the gloom and suddenly a frightened bundle of humanity detached itself from the corner and a young girl fell at Dolly's feet, imploring assistance. Dolly raised her gently, looked into her face and discovered that she was Muriel Armstrong, the missing heiress. All fear of the Chinese vanished. Here was the scoop of the year. Fate helped her too, for the half-crazed opium fiend who was Muriel's guard, upset the lamp and set the place on fire. This enabled Dolly and her prize to escape and the next morning the heiress was turned over to her delighted parents. Episode 6: "On the Heights" Dolly's friend, Rockwell Crosby, editor of the "Comet." disagrees with the management and resigned. Dolly was disappointed at the news, but that was as nothing compared to her rage at the attitude of his successor, who was a self-confessed "hustler" and intended to make everybody on the paper "sit up and take notice." The first assignment he gave Dolly was to wander about the streets after dark until she found a story. Dolly was furious. She had made a distinct place for herself on the staff, and was accustomed to being treated with consideration. There was nothing to do but obey, so Dolly started out. To her amazement she ran across Ella Snyder, an old school friend, who was weeping bitterly. She had eloped with a young man named Oliver Allen. Oliver had brought her to a hotel, and had departed in search of a license. Having not come back for two hours Ella concluded that she had been deceived and decided to drown herself. Dolly took the girl home, told her not to be silly, and went to get Allen. She found him at the hotel bewildered at the disappearance of his bride-to-be. Dolly, convinced that his intentions were honorable, took him back with her. They found Ella had disappeared again. She left a note, saying she had resolved to die. In order to repay Dolly, Ella said she was going to jump from the highest building in town, so Dolly could make a scoop of the news. Dolly and Allen rushed to the Woolworth Building, and stopped Ella just in time. Then they repaired to the City Hall, where Ella and Allen were married. Dolly returned to the office and told the editor she had a story, but didn't intend to write it. He was wildly indignant at first, until she had calmly explained she knew perfectly what she was doing. Episode 7: "The End of the Umbrella" The Aqueduct Construction Company has been having a good deal of trouble with certain anarchistic elements, who, anxious to seize any cause of discontent to further the bloody revolution they hoped for, opposed the building of the great pipe which would carry fresh sparkling water to the crowded people of the great city. Finally, after the company had been worried half to death by anonymous threats, a tremendous explosion killed a couple of dozen workmen and completely wrecked the main section of the great work. Dolly Desmond, in the city office of the newspaper, heard of the catastrophe and begged the editor to allow her to investigate it. The editor, who had formed a high opinion of Dolly's character, readily consented, and Dolly set out for the scene of the disaster. As she wandered about the wrecked aqueduct, she came upon a curious umbrella handle in among several pieces of a shattered bomb. Dolly kept her find and said nothing about it to anybody. With some little difficulty, she succeeded in obtaining a position as cashier in the dining room of the little hotel near the works. She had the umbrella handle placed on a new umbrella, put it in the stand where she could keep her eye on it, and settled herself to watch. It wasn't as easy a matter to devote her entire attention to the stand as she had thought at first, for Grant, a young engineer at the works, fell madly in love with her. and insisted on talking to her at every opportunity. At last, when she was on the point of giving up in disgust, a shifty-eyed individual picked up the umbrella, started to go out with it, and then apparently remembering, looked at it, put it down and looked frightened. Dolly recognized him as "Nutty Jim," one of the lodgers in the hotel. That evening Dolly went up to his room to investigate. She had just unearthed several bombs when Nutty Jim entered and sprang at her. She fired at him, but missed. A bomb was knocked off the table and exploded. Nutty Jim was killed and Dolly severely injured. We leave her at the hospital with the anxious Grant at her side, delightedly reading her "scoop" in the Comet. Episode 8: "A Tight Squeeze" When the news came to the Comet office that Mr. Martinengro, the well-known Italian-American merchant and philanthropist, had been murdered, Dolly Desmond was very anxious to have the assignment. To her disgust, the managing editor gave the story to Hillary Graham, the young man Dolly had met in "Mother Eve's" house. Dolly, forced to be satisfied with a Salvation Army wedding. Hillary set off on his assignment in high spirits. He had not made much of a success of reporting yet, but he was confident that his work in this case would convince the Comet management that he was one man in a thousand. Arrived in a dingy little barroom near the scene of the crime, he announced his intention of apprehending the criminals to the interested bartender. As a result, a few minutes later, Hillary was knocked on the head and thrown into the cellar. Dolly, after finishing her report on the wedding, donned a Salvation Army uniform, and accompanied the band about town in search of more material. In the course of her wanderings, she entered the barroom, and saw a necktie on the floor which she had noticed that morning on Hillary. Creeping unobserved into the cellar, she discovered the unconscious Hillary lying on a pile of coal. As she stood in puzzled anxiety, wondering how she could possibly save the young man and herself, she was startled by a sudden rush of coal into the cellar, through the coal hole from the street. Daddy, the copy boy on the Comet, happened to be on the street above, watching the coal men at their task. Hearing a muffled cry, he stopped the men. A moment later Dolly crawled through the hole. She and Daddy rushed for the police. After Hillary had been rescued, the police entered the saloon, and arrested its occupants. A lucky chance resulted in the discovery of the Martinengro murderers. While Dolly was writing her story in the police station, the grateful Hillary proposed. Dolly was non-committal. She was afraid she wasn't quite ready to give up her adventurous life even for so successful a reporter as he was. Episode 9: "A Terror of the Night" Mrs. Winslow, a young widow, owned a piece of property known as "Beach House," for which the Union Realty Company were the agents. The money for the rental of the property meant a good deal to Mrs. Winslow, and when her tenants began to grow few and far between, she naturally called on her agents to inquire into the causes. President Bolivar, of the Realty Company, gravely informed her that "Beach House" was haunted. To substantiate his remarks, he showed Mrs. Winslow some newspaper clippings about the reported ghost at the house. Many complaints had been received from tenants and the property was becoming more and more impossible to rent. In short, Mr. Bolivar advised Mrs. Winslow to accept the Realty Company's very generous offer of $10,000 for the property worth $50,000. Mrs. Winslow thought that her property was worth more and went to consult her friend, Dolly Desmond, the star reporter on "The Comet." Dolly, instantly excited at the prospect of investigating a haunted house, suggested that Mrs. Winslow leave the property to her for the space of a week. Mrs. Winslow made out the necessary papers and then went to Bolivar and told him what she had done. Bolivar, an old enemy of Dolly, immediately planned a trap for her. He arrived at Beach House a little while after Dolly had made herself at home in one of the gray dreary rooms. After his first expression of pretended surprise, he began to make love to her, but the derisiveness of her answer showed plainly that his original plan was useless. So he bowed and took his leave. Dolly slept that night on a sofa in the front hall in the midst of a number of garden implements which had been stowed there for safekeeping. In the middle of the night, she was awakened by a slight noise. Looking up, a terrible sight met her eyes. A shrouded figure, clad in garments of ghastly white, was coming down the stairs toward her. Instead of shrieking and fainting, Dolly turned the hose on the advancing figure. It halted, wavered, and then ran out of the house and into the arms of Malone, who had just arrived to investigate the anonymous letter. The ghost was, of course, Bolivar, who had chosen this means of attempting to get Mrs. Winslow's property at a low price. Episode 10: "Dolly Plays Detective" When Mrs. Cambridge invited Dolly Desmond, and Malone, the managing editor of the Comet, to a dinner party, Malone naturally offered to take Dolly around to the Cambridge's in his car. For in the short space of time in which he had held his new office on the Comet staff, Malone had grown very fond of the clever young girl. When, on their way to the party, Dolly waved her hand to her old friend the policeman on the beat, she noticed a quick frown of displeasure on Malone's face. To tease him, she started to flirt outrageously with all the men present as soon as she arrived at the dinner, among whom was one of society's newest lions, the Count de Rochepierre. In the midst of the dinner, it was suddenly discovered that one of the ladies' necklaces was missing. She had worn it about her neck when she sat down, and it seemed absolutely inconceivable that anybody should have been able to remove it in the brilliantly-lighted room. On the following afternoon, the count called on Dolly, and begged her to accept a beautiful ring as a slight token of his esteem. Dolly, who rather enjoyed leading the count on, told him she should be delighted to wear it. Shortly after he had apparently taken his leave, Mrs. Cambridge and several ladies came to call. At Dolly's suggestion, a game of auction bridge was commenced. As they sat about the table, precisely the same thing happened as on the preceding night. Two of the ladies' necklaces vanished. The fact that Dolly had been present at both occasions when the mysterious occurrence had taken place, seemed a little significant. The ladies left hurriedly, and somewhat coolly. Left alone, Dolly decided to go and see the Count. She was led to this decision by several suspicious little incidents she had observed. In the Count's quarters, she discovered not only the missing necklaces, but absolute proof of how he had perpetrated his astonishing crimes. But even cleverer than her discovery of his method, was the way in which she inveigled the Count into playing a game of '"Forfeits" at the Cambridge's, and at the crucial moment in the game, clapped a pair of handcuffs on him and turned him over to the police. Episode 11: "Dolly at the Helm" When the city editor of the Comet burst into the managing editor's office and told him that his child was desperately ill with diphtheria, Malone, the managing editor, naturally told him to take as much time off as he wanted. Malone himself was feeling very badly at the time, and his resolution to take charge personally of the city editor's department was never carried out. Shortly after the city editor had left, Malone fainted at his desk. Dolly Desmond, the Comet's star reporter, found him there when she came into the room. She revived Malone from his stupor and had him taken home. In nine cases out of ten, both Malone and the city editor might well have been absent without any particular disturbance in the ordinary routine of the office. It was four o'clock on an unusually dull summer afternoon. The likelihood of anything happening seemed extremely remote. However, scarcely had Malone been taken away when things started. A terrible excursion boat catastrophe was the first. Right on its heels came the news that a great hotel was burning. In the excited chaos into which the Comet office was plunged, Dolly showed the stuff of which she was made. Her small hand seized the deserted tiller and with the quick incisive decision which was her chief characteristic, she wearied the legs of messenger boys, and kept the telephone wires hot with the dispatching of her swift Napoleanic commands. When it was all over, and the day was won, Dolly received a letter from home telling her that her father's bank was on the verge of ruin, largely as a result of the hard feeling which had been stirred up by Dolly's story, "The Perfect Truth." Poor Dolly, at her wits' end, went to Malone for advice. She took the manuscript of "The Perfect Truth" with her. Malone' s illness was a blessing in disguise for it gave him a chance to read the story, the first installment of which had had such a disastrous effect. He was amazed by its brilliance of style and theme. In a gush of unwanted enthusiasm he told Dolly that he was willing to publish the story at his own expense as a speculation. So Dolly, with her hopes once again raised, went away with the dim belief growing in her that "The Perfect Truth" might not be so bad a thing for her father as it had at first seemed. Episode 12: "The Last Assignment" When Dolly Desmond left the home of her youth to embark on a journalistic career in the city, she left the town in a state of furor behind her. The story called "The Perfect Truth," the first installment of which Dolly published in the town newspaper, aroused so much resentment against Dolly that the townspeople revenged themselves by withdrawing their money from her father's bank. Two or three months after Dolly went away, the bank was in such straits that suspension of payment seemed only a matter of hours. Then "The Perfect Truth" in its complete form was published as a book. It met with an immediate and startling success. Dolly attained to fame and wealth almost overnight. The echo of her success reached her native town, and people began to sit up and take notice. It was one thing to feel themselves the butt of the joke of an immature schoolgirl, and quite another to know that they had been the material from which a famous authoress had drawn her inspiration. In the midst of the excitement, Bobby, at the newspaper office, suddenly received word that Dolly was coming to town. The news was not an unmixed pleasure for Bobby. He had an evil conscience. He had been madly in love with Dolly before she left town, and believed that she cared a good deal for him. After she left, he fell in love with another girl. However, Bobby's first duty in the matter was perfectly clear. So he wrote up a headline article for his paper announcing Dolly's arrival. The town went wild with excitement. Fame was about to fall upon it again for the first time since Hank Bowers had been lynched for horse stealing many years before. All hatred and jealousy was forgotten and Dolly was welcomed by a tremendous popular demonstration. The first thing she did was to set her father's bank on its feet again, partly with the help of the money she had made and partly by the use of her extremely persuasive tongue. In the midst of the excitement, a stranger arrived in town, James Malone, the enterprising business manager of Dolly's paper. Everybody wondered who he was, and Bobby was the first to find out. For when he went to Dolly's house, with hanging head, to explain how matters stood, she told him that she was going to marry Malone. And that is how we leave Dolly with one career behind her, and another and far finer one ahead.
- Ralph Valentine and his father are musicians of proud and aristocratic ways and are so wrapped up in their art as to be oblivious of their poverty. Their faithful servant, Joseph, has been wont to withhold the threats of debtors from them, but there comes a time, shortly after the father's death, that Ralph must be told the truth. Joseph tells everything and suggests that Ralph accept money that he has saved and go to Paris, where he may show the world his art. Ralph does so and goes to live with the Gardins. His uncle Victor Valentine, wealthy and fond of gay life, invites him to live at his home provided he will leave behind his foolish dreams and fancies. Ralph refuses, preferring to remain where he is. He wins the love of Pauline Gardin and is quite content. Through his Bohemian acquaintances he meets Mme. Flora Margot. This tired, blasé young woman makes a pet of him and enraptured by her dazzling beauty he longs to satisfy her every desire. Attempting to do so, he becomes indebted to impatient creditors, who demand immediate payment or his arrest. Pauline, ignorant of his infatuation with Flora, assists him out of his present difficulties with her own savings. Realizing Flora's fast waning affection, he resolves to regain it by buying a certain antique necklace which he knows she covets. The antique dealer demands an exorbitant price which he is unable to pay. He is further disheartened when one day he finds her in the arms of his uncle, and he rushes forth intent upon suicide. About to throw himself into the river, a vision of Flora appears before him and he resolves to secure the necklace at any cost. The dealer of the antique shop is busy when he enters and Ralph wanders into a room where there are curios upon the walls and tables. Curiously examining the various articles, his hand suddenly touches a secret panel which springs back, revealing a marvelous painting of the Christ. A spiritual influence comes over him, so profound is its impression upon his mind. While awaiting the attendance of the dealer, he becomes greatly interested in a peculiar skin which has writing upon it in Sanskrit. Sitting down he becomes drowsy and falls asleep. The writing changes into English, which reads that the possessor of the skin has only to wish and his wish will be granted, but that with each desire the skin shall grow smaller and the days of the possessor grow less until death is the penalty at the last wish. The dealer approaches and Ralph is amazed to behold him now in the form of a devil. The devil asks if he desires the skin and Ralph, fearfully undecided, suddenly thinks of Flora and agrees to take it. What are his desires and his terrible anguish as the talisman grows smaller have been woven into a story of weird and mystic situations.
- The theft of an important document from the ambassador's residence leads his daughter to investigate the crime.
- Mary Brash and Tom Carroll are engaged to be married. Just before leaving his home to attend a ball with Mary. Tom discovers that he has forgotten to remove some valuable papers from his pocket and bring in a hurry and not wishing to go back to his room, he hides the papers in the most available place, the old family Bible, and hurries out. At the ball he becomes insanely jealous of Clem Bannes, who is very attentive to Mary, and he accuses her of showing partiality toward Clem in allowing him to put his name on her dance program for a greater number of dances than Tom thinks proper. Mary resents his accusation and they part in anger. The next day a book agent calls at the Carroll home. He explains to the servant that he is selling Bibles on a new plan; he will take the old family Bible as part payment for a new one. The servant, thinking this a remarkable bargain, buys the new Bible on her own initiative, letting him have the old one as part payment. During his various calls the agent arrives at Mary's home and explains his plan, showing her the old Bible he has taken in exchange at the Carroll's. Mary, on opening the old Bible, finds that it belongs to Tom's family and is at once desirous of possessing it for old times' sake. She strikes a bargain with the agent for the sale of the old Bible and carries away her treasure. In the meantime Tom has not missed his valuable papers until at lunch one day the servant shows the family her wonderful bargain and explains that she exchanged it for the old family Bible. Tom at once recalls that he had put his papers into the old Bible, and thinking they are now lost, rushes frantically from the house in search of the book agent. Arriving at the hotel he finds that the agent has already gone to make his train. He catches him, however, just as he is about to board the train, and learning from him where he has disposed of the old Bible, hurries away to Mary's home. Here he is very much embarrassed at meeting Mary again, but finally manages to explain his errand. Mary and Tom pick up the old Bible and in searching for the papers their hands touch. They both realize in that moment how foolish their quarrel has been and their love having remained unchanged, they are happily brought together, thanks to the old family Bible.
- The pictures open in the camp of Chief Three Bears' tribe, near McDermott, in Northwestern Montana. Chief Three Bears is the last of the great war chiefs of the Blackfeet. Today, at the age of eighty-six, he is a good citizen of the United States. Chief Three Bears opens the picture by saying, in the picturesque sign language of the Northwestern Indian, that his tribe intends to break camp and to move to a new location. The chief is followed by Lazy Boy, Judge Wolf Plume, Mrs. Dog Ears and Medicine Owl, the medicine man, each of whom has something to say in this peculiar language. While the men ride ahead to the new site, the squaws remain to accomplish all the actual work of moving the equipment. Mrs. Dog Ears, an old lady of some eighty-two summers, exhibits an extraordinary degree of activity. On the way to the new camp, the men are obliged to pass across a ford just above McDermott Falls, which has a particularly dangerous reputation. Intimate views of the daily life and habits of these Indians are shown, the picture ending with a "heap big dance."
- The story opens in Frederick's youth. His father, Frederick William, was a rough, burly man, fond of outdoor sport, a hearty eater and a heavy drinker. Because his son was frail and delicate and more interested in intellectual matters than in sport and hearty living, Frederick William hated him. He forced Frederick to drink and smoke, and on one occasion when the boy defied him on the subject of a favorite flute, attempted to strangle his son with a window-cord. From these joyless days we shift to the tragic death of the old king, hastened by the receipt of an insulting message from the Austrian emperor. With his dying breath, Frederick William besought his son to avenge him. Frederick heaped coals of fire on the head of his dead father by laying Austria waste in the terrible Seven Years' War. Amalie, Frederick's sister, fell in love with Baron Trenck at first sight, and their love that started in the palace garden at Sans Souci lasted all their lives. But if it started with roses and moonlight, it ended with ashes and rue, for years later Trenck was imprisoned by Frederick on a charge of high treason. Amalie pleaded for her lover, but in vain. The king was obdurate. "Even as you have taken from me the only thing I loved," cried the poor princess, "so may God deal with you, brother." Frederick did not have long to wait for the fulfillment of his sister's prayer. The discovery that Voltaire, the great French philosopher, whom the king had honored with his friendship, was playing traitor, nearly broke Frederick's heart. A tremendously dramatic scene shows the king reviewing his army for the last time, and raising his trembling hand to the salute as the flag passes. Last of all, the great king, lonely for all his greatness, is talking to two little peasant children in the grounds before his palace.
- Jimmy Carter, a millionaire, leading an idle, indulgent life, gets an urgent message from his friend, Reginald Travers. Travers, who is dying, has been ruined in the stock market by Mortimer Reynolds, and penniless, he leaves his little daughter in care of Carter, who promises faithfully to look after her. After the death of Travers, Carter takes Ruth to his luxurious home and gives her to the motherly care of Mrs. Jenkins, his housekeeper, Mortimer Reynolds, anxious to add Ruth to his list of unfortunates, instructs his mistress, Edna Morris, to make her acquaintance and to gain her confidence. Carter and Reynolds become bitter enemies because of Reynold's sarcastic reflections on the relationship between Carter and Ruth. As time passes, Ruth, by her winsomeness and innocence gradually changes Carter's mode of life. He no longer feels an interest in the gay life of former days, and even loses his taste for the morning nip. Unconsciously, Ruth is transforming his sympathetic dutiful interest in her to love. In a moment of ecstasy he crushes her in his arms. At the Charity Ball, where Ruth is taking part in a tableau, she meets Edna Morris. Fearful of Reynold's wrath should she fail, the unhappy girl works her way into the graces of Ruth. Carter sees this and immediately takes Ruth home, refusing to explain his conduct to her. Meeting Ruth in the park the following day, Edna denounces Carter for his action of the previous evening, "Why should he object to me, pray? Everybody knows that your father didn't leave you a penny, and that you are living on the, shall I say, generosity, of Mr. Carter." Stunned by the revelation that she is looked upon as Carter's mistress, the impetuous little girl rushes to the house, and in a burst of fury, screams her hatred of Carter. In the still of the night, she makes her way out of the house to Edna's apartment. It is here that Reynolds finds her. Impelled by a fiendish lust, he forces her to partake of his wines, and slowly they begin to work their effect. Carter, who, in desperation, has been searching for her, finds her in the apartment, stupefied and disheveled. Disgusted and heartsore, he looks upon her contemptuously and leaves, feeling that she has gone the way of Edna. Mrs. Morris, Edna's mother, prompted by a subconscious feeling that all is not well with her child, comes to the house from her little cottage in the country. She takes both penitents back home with her, hoping that they may forget and begin life anew. Meanwhile, Reynolds, whose financial affairs have taken a turn for the worse, and who is being sought by the police for forgery, attempts to make his escape. He is caught by the police and so made to pay for the misery and misfortune which he has brought upon others. Miserable and despairing because Carter has mistaken her, Ruth can find no peace. But Edna, she who has dragged her to darkness and degradation, succeeds in lifting her once more to the light of hope. The once impetuous Ruth is again folded in the arms of Carter, knowing that there only will she find eternal happiness and peace of soul.
- Thelma, Mr. Chadwick's little daughter, is not at all agreeably surprised when her father returns from his honeymoon with his second wife. With undue frigidity, Thelma meets her new mother, and then recoils, as if wholly displeased with the selection. She is called into the next room by her father, given a scolding and told to go out and meet her stepmother as any nice little girl should. She goes reluctantly and stands looking at the new arrival doubtfully. As the days go by, Thelma's attitude toward her new mother remains unchanged, despite the fact that the latter has done practically everything in her power to alter the narrow perspective of the child's mind. Thelma and her dog, Jerry, played together and the girl took little or no notice of the sorrowful mother. Occasional trips were made to the attic by Thelma for the purpose of gazing at the portrait of her real mother which had been relegated to the heap of rubbish and antiques. One evening, after a birthday supper in Thelma's honor, she went to the attic to spend a few minutes with her real mother. Jerry followed her, but before he could get up through the trap door, it had slammed, breaking off the strap which was used to lift it. Thelma went to the old couch and took the picture. She soon fell asleep with the picture in her arms. She dreams that her real mother had come back to her and tells her to love her always, but to love the new mother for father's sake and as she deserves. In her dream, Thelma embraces her real mother. In the meantime, the others are frantic not finding her in bed, as expected. They search the house and finally hear Jerry barking upstairs. They go up and find him at the foot of the stairs to the attic. The dog rushes upstairs when he sees them, and soon they are at the couch where Thelma is asleep. The stepmother sits at the foot just where the real mother was in the dream, and when Thelma is awakened, she embraces her stepmother, thinking it is still the dream and that she is her real mother. Suddenly realizing, she recoils and then remembering what her real mother had said to her in the dream, throws her arms about her stepmother and forthwith calls her mother.
- When Edward Pendleton drove through the little village of Rosedale, in the late nineties, he passed a girl of extraordinary beauty, with whom he promptly fell in love. Instead of passing through Rosedale, as he had at first intended, he stopped at the little inn there, formed an acquaintance with the girl, Margaret Brown, won her love, married her and took her away to the city. John Forbes, a very young farmer, had worshiped Margaret with all the intensity of a boy's devotion. When Pendleton took her away, Forbes received the greatest hurt of his life. Bitterly angry, he swore to be revenged on the man who had taken away the only girl he could ever possibly care for, and devoted the remainder of his life to the accomplishment of his vindictive purpose. Sixteen years later, John Forbes had risen from a mere farmhand to the position of one of the most powerful financiers in the great city. He had never lost sight of his hatred for Pendleton during all these years, and finally, after months of cautious planning, he was able to sweep Pendleton's fortune entirely away from him by one decisive stroke. Pendleton, ruined and desperate, called on Forbes and implored him to be lenient. Forbes refused curtly and Pendleton, buying an interest in a western mining claim with the few hundreds that were left, went west with his fifteen-year-old daughter. Two years later, Forbes, making a tour of inspection of his railroad property, was held up by track repairs, left the train and fell down the side of a canyon. Margaret Pendleton, riding down the bottom of the canyon, came upon the mysteriously injured man and carried him back to her home. Forbes, wounded and delirious, thought the girl was his old love. Margaret Brown, and surprised her by calling her "Margaret." The meeting between Pendleton and the man who had ruined him was fraught with some emotion. But Forbes was helpless and Pendleton could do nothing else but care for him. Forbes recovering, was newly struck by the remarkable resemblance between Margaret and her mother. He became ashamed of the part he bad played and promised Pendleton to restore the fortune he had wrested from him. When he was entirely well he fulfilled his promise. Forbes was still, to all intents a young man, and Margaret a peculiarly beautiful girl. We leave them with a full assurance that the romance, so unfortunately shattered years before, is now at length to he happily continued.
- When young Jean Germaine's father decreed that his son should not marry Lizette Rouget, unless the girl brought with her the sum of ten thousand francs. Jean, bowing to the inherited custom of generations, would as soon have thought of flying to the moon as of disobeying the parental command, Lizette was somewhat downcast when she learned the size of the required dowry, but soon brightened up and assured Jean that she would surely have it within a year, as a result of her clever embroidery work. But the end of the year found poor Lizette in a sorrowful state. Only a fifth of the required sum had been earned and Monsieur Germaine was beginning to grow insistent that his son should choose another bride. At her wits' end, Lizette readily accepted the offer of her brother, Paul, to increase the money to the proper amount by means of a certain investment. Unknown to his sister, Paul was an habitué of the gambling dens of Paris. With his sister's money in his charge, he betook himself to a somewhat shady resort, where, owing to a streak of exceptional luck, he succeeded in winning the required stake within half an hour. But although winning the money was easy, taking it away was attended with serious difficulties. The proprietor of the den was distinctly unwilling to have so much money taken away. Paul escaped after a scuffle, only to be held up on the street and stabbed. Desperately wounded, he took refuge in an inn, staggering up to a room, and died after he had concealed the money in a crevice in the floor. From that date, Paul's ghost kept watch in the room and faithfully guarded the money from unworthy hands. Soon the room acquired the evil reputation of being haunted, and was shunned by all. Poor Lizette's hopes expired with the disappearance of her fortune, and nothing was left for her to look forward to but a life of poverty and despair. One day an Englishman came to the den, and, laughing at the landlord's explanation, engaged the room. The ghost recognized an honest man. Under its mysterious influence the Englishman found the money and the paper with Lizette's address upon it. Still under the ghost's guidance, he carried the money to Lizette and changed her sad despair to hopeful joy.
- A stranger is invited to a bachelor dinner, where he tells the story of his life.
- Old Jim Elliott's life was not pleasant after he came to spend his remaining days on his son's farm because of his daughter-in-law's coldness and lack of consideration for the old man. She knew nothing and cared less of his record from '61 to '65, when he fought with the famous "Fighting Sixth." To her he was merely a lame old man who had to be cared for and fed. The love that grew up between the old soldier and his little granddaughter Jennie was his only source of happiness, and when the announcement of the annual township picnic came, it was Jennie who helped him brush up his old uniform for the occasion. Judge Williams from upstate was to speak, and Jennie wanted Grandfather to look his best. But Grandfather was not to go. At the last moment Jennie's mother gave the old man's seat in the backboard to a neighbor's child. Sitting alone, Grandpa nursed his keen disappointment. Suddenly an auto drove in and a stalwart, soldierly old man alit and inquired the road to the picnic grounds. Old Jim gave the desired information, a look of recognition passed, and two old comrades clasped hands that had not met in 50 years. Judge Williams (for it was he) was to speak at the picnic, but as he and old Jim fought battle after battle over and over again, the picnic was forgotten until finally the chauffeur called his attention to the time. He insisted upon his old friend accompanying him and they arrived an hour late, but greeted by the cheers of the waiting assemblage. Jennie's mother was thunderstruck at sight of her father-in-law and was more than ever embarrassed when the judge eulogized him from the platform. After lunching together, the old fellows strolled off for a chat on the bank of the lake. Little Jennie and the boy who had usurped her grandfather's place in the buckboard played on the rocks beside them until Jennie fell into the deep water. In a moment Grandfather's coat was off and he had plunged in, saving her only after a bitter struggle. Jennie's mother's shame was great when she learned of Grandfather's heroism, but she was womanly enough to repent of her past smallness towards the old man and make amends.
- Jean Dutard, a habitant of the Canadian woods, has a beautiful daughter, Annette. It is his ambition to have her marry Philip Boileau, a young woodsman. Annette, despite her dislike for Boileau, dares not rebel against her father's wishes. One day, Gerald Austin, a young American camper, gets off his usual trail and stops at the Dutard's to inquire his way. Dutard gives him the directions, but Austin pays little attention to them because he has suddenly caught sight of Annette. Dutard angrily orders the girl into the house and dismisses Austin coldly. Austin takes every opportunity to grow more intimate with Annette. One day Dutard surprises them together in the forest. He orders Annette home and threatens to kill Austin if he does not leave the woods. Austin follows Dutard back to his house and saves Annette from a whipping. With the assistance of Boileau, Dutard overpowers Austin, carries him out into the woods, and tying him to a sapling, leaves him to the tender mercies of hunger, exposure and the wolves. Dutard sends for the priest and makes immediate preparations for marrying Annette to Boileau. Cowed by her father's will, the girl dares not protest and proceeds with the ceremony until the moment when the priest asks her if she will take Boileau as her lawfully wedded husband. Her love for Austin overcomes her fears, and in a tensely dramatic moment she tells the priest the whole condition of affairs. A powerful scene follows in which the fearless priest completely dominates the two savage woodsmen by sheer strength of personality. Guided by Annette, he effects Austin's release and then marries the two lovers. Later he returns to Dotard, lectures him severely on the error of his ways and persuades him to turn over a new leaf.
- Count Giuseppe Rizzo, pressed by his creditors, marries June Baxter, heiress to a large fortune, for her money. As the wedding party emerges from the church, Phillipa Garrie, once mistress to the Count, but now cast aside, attempts to stab him. Humiliated, and realizing a. side of the Count's nature unknown to her, June secludes herself in her home and orders him out of her sight. To avoid notoriety, she leaves town to take up her home near the site of the plant left her by her father. Together, with Clay Foster, superintendent of the plant, she devotes her time to the welfare of her workmen. By threats of creating public scandal, the Count blackmails June, compelling the payments of large sums of money. As their work at the plant draws them closer together, the seeds of love take root within the breast of Clay Foster and with them a deep hatred for the Count, who refuses to give June a divorce. After a while, however, hard pressed by his creditors, and a heavy loser at gambling, the Count agrees to grant her a divorce if June will make a settlement upon him. June, determined, leaves for New York, and registers at the Count's hotel. Unbeknown to June, Clay Foster follows her to protect her from harm. The Count's demands upon June are staggering and she refuses to comply with them. The Count is enraged and June saves herself only by her presence of mind. Clay Foster enters the scene, and threatens to kill the Count if he does June any bodily harm. Adventure and complication follow each other in quick succession. Thirteen, the number on the door of .the Count's room in the hotel, has begun to cast its spell about. That night, the Count is murdered. Suspicion falls upon Clay, and he is arrested for the murder. Yet, as the numerous complications begin to untangle themselves, we find that the Count was killed, not by June, because of her fear of him alive; not by Clay, because of his hatred for him; not by Phillipa, because he had blighted her life; nor by Antonio, her father, who had sworn to take vengeance, but by one with no personal ties, urged on merely by the sight of the Count's winnings that night, and cursed by the awful spell, unable to escape the talons of number thirteen.
- A Safety First Film Produced in Co-operation With Public Service Railway Company of New Jersey. General Superintendent Bolen sends John Carlton on a trip to Bridgewood, with instructions to start a "Safety First" campaign in that town. On the very day of his arrival, in saving a little boy who has foolishly tried to cross the tracks ahead of an oncoming streetcar, he is himself knocked down and badly injured. He is taken to the hospital in the auto driven by Edith Weston, daughter of the editor of "The "Sentinel." They become good friends, and upon his recovery, John finds his stay in the town very pleasant. Edith promises the children in her Sunday school class a picnic, and when the Assistant General Superintendent of the road is dining with the Westons, she asks him to let her have a special car to take the picnic party to a park outside the town. They spend a merry day and are returning on the special, tired out, but exceedingly gay and carefree. Meantime, two former employees of the railway, who have been discharged a few days before on account of drunkenness, come seeking revenge to one of the stations. They attack the telegraph operator and render him unconscious with a blow on the head. They are about to attempt to rob the safe when a street car stops there. Surprised, the toughs attack the motorman and conductor. The conductor gets the best of one man and makes him a prisoner. The motorman, struggling with the other, in the front end of the car, accidentally pushes his opponent against the controller. This starts the car, just as the two men, locked in a deadly struggle, roll out of the door and down an embankment. The car plunges ahead and on down the line. The motorman falls on top of his assailant, and the man is quickly overcome. Then the motorman and conductor hurry to the assistance of the telegraph operator. He has recovered consciousness sufficiently to be able to send a message ahead telling the operator at the next station to hold back the special bearing the picnic party. He gets the reply that the special is on its way and they know that it is directly in the path of the onrushing trolley. John and one of his assistants are engaged in some work close to the other station, and are told of the runaway car and the danger to the special. A gasoline-driven hand-car is beside them. They hurriedly place it in position on the track, and start off in pursuit of the wild car. Catching up with it after a thrilling chase, John climbs aboard through the rear window and, running to the front of the car, brings it to a stop, when it is only about fifty yards from the oncoming special bearing the children and Edith. That evening John wins Edith's promise to be his wife, and her father not only gives his consent, but promises his full support, through his paper, in the safety first campaign which the young man has been carrying on so successfully.
- "Miss 318," a salesgirl in the "Mammoth," a department store, is busily waiting on customers as the local fire inspectors survey the big store. The inspectors are not favorably impressed with the conditions and inform the proprietor, Abraham Hirschberg, that unless more means of egress are provided for. the building will be condemned. Mr. Hirschberg immediately consults with his lawyer, who succeeds in having the report of the inspectors "tabled" for a while. "Miss 318" attends a motion picture show, and when a woman in front refuses to remove her large hat, "Miss 318" is obliged to stand in the aisle. "Mr. 37," a fireman doing duty in the theater, informs her that she is not allowed to stand in the aisle. They become friendly and while they do not mention names, their numbers are exchanged. The next morning "Mr. 37" meets "Miss 318" and he tells her that the "Mammoth" is a firetrap. He makes some purchases in the store, not forgetting the most important thing, a diamond ring. Several days later, while "Miss 318" is admiring the solitaire, Mrs. Lancaster Varden, wife of a millionaire, enters the "Mammoth" with her daughter, Priscilla. They are very affable, contrary to "Miss 318's" expectations. In the basement a careless porter has knocked a lighted cigar into a basket of rubbish and soon the blaze has spread beyond control. There is panic upstairs. The elevator is unable to carry down all the persons, and while Mrs. Varden is taken out by firemen, Priscilla is left with the less fortunate. She and "Miss 318" are helpless in the raging furnace. "Mr. 37" enters and offers to take his sweetheart out. She refuses and tells him to take Priscilla first, which he does. He works his way partly across a yawning chasm of hungry flames on a rope, with Priscilla clinging to him, and then the rope burns and the two swing against a building across the street and drop to the pavement. Soon after the entire wall of the store collapses, with "Miss 318" a prisoner. Before she left with her rescuer, Priscilla had placed a diamond bracelet about "Miss 318's" arm. The parents of Priscilla are unable to find her after the fire. "Miss 318," wearing the bracelet, is found beneath the smoldering ruins, and the firemen think it is Priscilla. Priscilla is found in the same ward as "Miss 318" later, and "Mr. 37," bandaged from head to foot, is brought to the little salesgirl. The scenes between these two and Priscilla and her sweetheart and parents are touching.
- Bobbie played with his little sister and she began to cry, nobody would believe it wasn't his fault; if he played ball in the yard, his mother said he was a nuisance and made him stop; when he wanted to go fishing they made him stay home and meet fussy old people he didn't like; and when he acted sullenly and broke things because of his great shyness before those same fussy old people, they sent him out of the room in disgrace. Bobbie stood the nagging and scolding as long as he could, then ran away. He did not run very far because he found what he was looking for within a couple of miles of his home. A tired farmer's wife was only too glad to humor the lad with wistful eyes who wanted to play with her children. So Bobbie played with them to his heart's content and had a glorious time. Bobbie's mother and father, off on an automobile ride, were greatly touched by the sight of a lad playing with a number of smaller children. "Why can't our Bobbie be like that?" they asked each other sorrowfully, and then these blind parents saw, not that it was Bobbie, but that it was another boy they had never suspected was their son. To their credit, be it said, that they realized how wrong their attitude had been, and that they made a fervent resolution to enter into a more sympathetic understanding with their son.
- Intertwining tales of love, greed, and secret identities in 1860s London.
- Retelling of the famous incident in the 1854 Crimean War when a British cavalry unit, because of a mix-up in orders, charged an almost impregnable Russian artillery position and was decimated.
- Old Jim nearly causes the downfall of himself and his son, who is boss in a quarry and who falls in love with Amy, daughter of Pearson, his employer. Pearson refuses to accept Old Jim's son. This makes Old Jim do better and he is able, when the chance comes to save Pearson's youngest daughter from the danger, of a big blast at the risk of his life. This changes the face of the matter and gives a happy ending.
- John Bolt, a wealthy manufacturer, is a helpless paralytic, who has lived a selfish and grasping life. To him comes a visitant, who, in a vision, makes him see bow wrongly be acquired a valuable invention. When he awakens from the vision he sends for the workman from whom he acquired the invention, and. by making restitution by a large sum of money, he regains the use of his right arm. The second time the visitant comes. Bolt is drawn into another vision where he sees how he let his tenants live in a disease-breeding alley, and how he had the clergyman, who appealed to him for better conditions, removed from the parish. By correcting this evil he regains the use of his left arm and the upper part of his body. In the third vision the visitant shows Bolt how mean he had been to his wife and when he awakens from this vision he yearns for her. Learning from the visitant of her husband's relenting ways, Mrs. Bolt goes to him to see him rise from his invalid chair and take her in his arms.
- A Duke has arranged to marry a lady of fortune, but when the time comes for her presentation at his castle, the Duke realizes that he is financially ruined and that his court has deserted him. In the midst of his dilemma a theatrical troupe arrives to try and book an appearance at the castle. This gives the Duke his idea. He gets the actors to appear in costume as his court ladies and gentlemen and thus saves the day. The comedy lies in the peculiar court etiquette of the actors, and in the incidental flirtations between aristocrats and barnstormers.
- Bessie Graham has been a sort of maid-of-all-work in her mother's boarding-house for years. Determined to make a change, she tells her mother that she is striking out for herself and heading to the city to look for a job. When she gets to the city she rents a cheap room and starts to hunt for work. At two or three different places she is told that only trained assistants are required. Coming out of an office building where she has met with another refusal, she starts down the street, almost in tears. A flashily-dressed woman of the underworld sees her, as does her male companion. The woman approaches Bessie and tells her that if she's in trouble, she might be able to help her, and Bessie is glad. The man trails along behind, then suddenly approaches them and speaks; the woman introduces him to Bessie as her husband. Together the three continue down the street. Turning a corner, they run into a tough-looking customer who, the moment he sees the woman's "husband," halts the party and starts hurling epithets at him. When the man gets back at him, the tough lands a stinging blow to his face and declares that this is one time that his game of trapping young girls will be thwarted. A furious struggle commences, while the woman quickly bolts from the scene. Bessie stands there paralyzed with fear as both men draw revolvers. A moment later a shot is fired and the tough turns and flees down the street. leaving the other man dead at Bessie's feet. In an upper room of the of the building in front of which all this has taken place, young newspaperman Jim Ross is hard at work when he hears the shot and rushes downstairs. Taking hold of Bessie's hand, he pulls her into the hallway, closing and locking the door. A moment later, two policemen dash around the corner. The janitor tells the cops that a girl was with the murdered man when the fight started. The cops have the body removed and one of them remains on guard, waiting for a chance to get into the house, they having discovered that the door is locked. At last, Jim tells Bessie that the policeman will probably stay on guard all night, and offers to let her sleep in his room. She trusts him instinctively and accepts the offer. The next morning the police, armed with a search warrant, come to his room, accompanied by the janitor. As they knock on the door, Jim tells Bessie that she had better pretend to be his wife. When the police enter, Jim tells them that Bessie is his wife, and that they know nothing of the murder. The janitor, "getting wise," does not give Jim away, and after the police have gone satisfied with their investigation. Jim tells Bessie that he wishes, now that she has posed as his wife, that she would make it come true. And Bessie does.