- District attorney Robert Darrow is in love with young widow Edith Russell Dexter. Her wealthy grandfather, Judge Philip Russell, wants her to marry his business manager, Walter Elliot, who has actually been embezzling from Russell's company. During a garden party, Edith and the judge fight over her attentions to Robert, Elliot and a maid mistakenly thinks that Edith is threatening him. That night, the judge is murdered and Edith is the prime suspect until old horse thief Bill Crump is found hiding on the property. Later, when Edith rejects Elliot, he hires a private detective to plant false evidence against her. While Edith is in jail, Bill is befriended by Edith's little daughter Alice. During the trial, when Robert breaks down and cannot cross-examine Edith, Bill comes forward to say that he saw the real murderer during a robbery. In the end, Bill willingly goes to jail, and Robert and Edith are free to marry.—Pamela Short
- Robert Darrow, District Attorney of Russellville, meets and loves Edith Dexter, a young widow, granddaughter of Phillip Russell, the community's leading citizen. Russell wants Edith to marry the son of his lifelong friend, Walter Elliott, to whom he has given the management of his business. Elliot, unknown to his benefactor, has juggled with the firm's money, and the old man, discovering a shortage, telephones Walcott, his legal advisor, to go over the books and see what is wrong. Elliot learns this, fears Walcott will discover the truth, and hopes to make certain changes in the ledgers before it is too late. That night Edith gives a lawn-party, and Darrow is the favored guest. Old Russell observes that she is slighting Elliot, and a violent quarrel follows. in a frenzy, Edith at last seizes a paper-knife, threatening to take her life if her grandfather does not cease his persecution. Miss Tripp, an old maid, and Elliot, witness the quarrel, and the former believes Edith to be threatening her grandfather. That night Phillip Russell, while going over the books alone, is struck down and his murderer fires. On account of the recent quarrel, and because she inherits the bulk of the old man's fortune, Edith is suspected. Darrow protects Edith, and against his own sense of duty, conceals the knife he finds on her person. Bill Crump, a horse thief, is discovered lurking about the premises, and is finally charged with the crime, but as no proof can be found against him, the affair is temporarily suspended. But Elliot, being finally rejected by Edith, engages a detective to whom he gives clues which seemingly convict Edith, and in spite of Darrow's great love, he is forced to sign the warrant for her arrest. While in prison, Crump, awaiting his sentence for horse stealing, is befriended and comforted by little Alice, Edith's child. The night before the trial, Darrow, torn between the conflicting forces of love and duty, goes to Edith and tells her that alive the evidence against her could not be wrested from him, but dead it can be easily taken from his hand. From his frenzied manner Edith divines that he contemplates suicide to liberate her, and she urges him to do his duty and prosecute her, telling him that the truth will in some way come to their rescue. Darrow lacks her faith, and goes home to spend a sleepless night. Crump overhears Edith's plea with Darrow, and this determines him to a great decision, for he, too, has been struggling between two strong emotions, love and fear. The trial takes place, and Darrow is forced to cross-examine the woman he loves, as she stands on trial for her life. If he remains true to his oath to the State, he must produce the concealed and condemning evidence; if he remain faithful to the woman, he must sacrifice honor and duty. In a paroxysm of grief he breaks down during the cross-examination, and resigns his office rather than publicly prosecute his fiancée. But the love of little Alice has conquered the hardened Crump, who comes forward and confesses that he had seen the real murderer strike the fatal blow, and that fear had kept him silent until that moment, when sympathy proved stronger than terror. Crump goes to serve his sentence, a happier man than ever before, and Darrow takes up his life anew, having learned that love is the greatest law and outweighs all else in the scales of Almighty Justice.—Moving Picture World synopsis
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