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- The Countess of Northstone, wife of the Prime Minister of a great power, gives a lawn party at her country home. Among her guests is an ambassador whose government is suspected of plotting a war against the country to which he is accredited. The prime Minister asks his wife to obtain as much information as she can from the ambassador, who is in love with her. She plays with him and, as he is fully convinced that he has conquered her, his secretary brings him a note. Lady Sibil plays with him pretending the note is from a woman. To vindicate himself he shows her the letter: "Meet me at the Carlton Club tonight. Important information," the note is signed, von Hatzfeldt. The Countess knows this man as the leader of a party called "The Brotherhood," which was formed for anarchistic purposes. Leaving the Ambassador she at once seeks Captain Balfour, secretary to the Prime Minister and asks him to play the spy, "In the interests of your country." He goes to the club and obtains positive proof that the Ambassador has been bought with the crime money of the "Brotherhood" represented by Baron von Hatzfeldt. The Foreign Ambassadors are received by the Prime Minister that evening at his official residence. While the reception is in progress a note arrives from the continent: "Declaration of war is imminent unless strategic diplomacy is used. Send special envoy with full power to act at once." Salston, who is the representative on the continent of the Great Power, is in fact its Ambassador. That night at the reception Baron von Hatzfeldt is confronted with the proofs of his treachery and the Countess exposes him to the people and tells what he was ten years before. We see him as a leader of a detachment of soldiers invading a peaceful country and shooting down unarmed and defenseless peasants, and also see him murdering the brother of the countess as he lies asleep in his bed. At the end of the story the wife of the Baron enters, and sorrow for her makes the Prime Minister relax his decision of punishment and he permits them to go with the understanding that they leave the country at once. This they agree to do. Balfour is to be sent as an Envoy Extraordinary to the foreign power and is to use his best efforts to avert the threatened declaration of war. As he is leaving his apartments he is attacked by the Baron and the Ambassador, assisted by their hirelings. They think he has information about him as to the purport of his mission and attempt to rob him. Fortunately his instructions are verbal, so they accomplish nothing. In revenge they place him on a steamer and put to sea. intending to rid themselves of him at the first chance. He is disabled but gradually his reason and his strength return and when attacked by the crew he gives a good account of himself. He is overpowered at last and made to walk the plank into the sea. Thinking Balfour is dead they return to port, but blindfolded and with hands and feet tied, he manages to reach the shore and is revived by some fishermen. He again starts on his mission. A wonderful scene in the palace of the Emperor is shown; the Emperor is surrounded by his chief officers and civilian advisers and announces amid great enthusiasm that war against the world is declared. Fighting his way to the Emperor the Envoy Extraordinary reaches the council room as the Emperor is signing the document. Seizing it he tears it to pieces and in the scene which ensues he convinces the Emperor and his advisers that it is better not to fight. To this they readily agree when shown the reason. Balfour returns to his own country and, as both the Baron and the Ambassador demand "satisfaction," they get it, but in a way that can hardly be called pleasing to them. The Baron is beaten at the game he himself invites. In the duel with the Ambassador, it is very evident that the Ambassador will hardly serve his country again. Balfour receives the thanks of his country and all ends as wars should end, with satisfaction and peace on all sides.
- On learning that his son, Richard, has got himself heavily into debt and is leading a reckless life, Richard Bedloe, Sr., disinherits him and makes his will over in favor of his stepson. A cabaret dancer is induced by her husband to apply for a position as maid in the Bedloe household and act as his accomplice in a robbery which he contemplates making there. She secures the position and is surprised to meet Richard there, having met him several times at the cabaret where she was formerly employed. Late that night her husband enters the house, and with her assistance, succeeds in getting at the safe. Mr. Bedloe, Sr., hearing a sound, comes down to see what is wrong and is shot down by the robber, who makes his escape. His stepson, awakened by the shot, seizes his rifle and, seeing a slinking figure on the lawn, takes a shot at him. but misses. He then enters the room where his stepfather lies dead. The entire household has now been aroused and all rush into the room where the tragedy has taken place. Richard, seeing the rifle in his brother's hand, immediately concludes that he has shot his stepfather in order to get the money left him in the changed will, and when the police arrive, the stepson is arrested on suspicion. The next day the maid resigns her position and returns to her husband, who roughly orders her out. Filled with anger, she hunts up Billy and relates to him the truth about the robbery and murder. She then returns to her husband and cajoles him into accompanying her to the restaurant where she used to work, where she has told Billy to wait. While her husband is carrying on a flirtation with a cabaret singer, Billy phones for the police, who arrive and take the real criminal away. Billy then hastens to the prison with his mother and his step-brother's sweetheart and has his brother released from the crime.
- Jim Neal and Mollie Wells are sweethearts. Molly is living with her mother in a small cabin out west. The mother is devoted to her daughter; she is lamentably poor, eking out a miserable existence by taking in washing. She realizes that she cannot give her daughter the advantages she would like to and finally she determines to rob for the sake of her child. Disguised as a man, she robs the paymaster of the smelter works of a large sum of money. During the robbery, she drops her handkerchief, which is found later by the sheriff and gives him a clue to her identity. Buck Carter, another sweetheart of Molly's, is as equally favored by Molly as Jim Neal. The employees of the smelter works roast Jim, the sheriff, for his failure to arrest the thief, Jim's great love for Molly prevents his arresting her mother. The name the men have given the robber is the Sand Rat. Jim happens upon a tender love scene between Buck and Molly and after the withdrawal of Buck, he upbraids Molly for her fickleness. She, in turn, tells Jim that he should have spoken to Buck, not to her, branding Jim as a coward. Owing to the failure of Jim to arrest the Sand Rat, the manager of the smelter company seeks outside aid. The Sand Rat is almost trapped and wounded, but makes her escape, subsequently hiding in a cave, the location of which is known to Jim. He finds the woman wounded to death and finally takes her home; he places her on a bed and leaves a letter for Molly telling her of the circumstances of her mother's death and his knowledge of the crime. The girl's heart goes out in gratitude to Jim. The identity of the Sand Rat is never revealed but the men are led to the cave which she inhabited by Jim, and are satisfied by the evidence they discover there that the Sand Rat is dead.
- While on his vacation. Billy meets Betty, a charming little flirt, who invites him to call to see her. Billy responds to the invitation and is introduced to Betty's sister and mama. He falls in love with Betty and begs her to accept him before he has to go home, but Betty teases him and refuses to give him a definite answer. The day for his departure having arrived. Billy calls to say "good-bye," and accidentally overhears a plan of Betty's and her sister. Betty has the following advertisement put in the newspaper: "Handsome unmarried young men wanted for boarders. Unusual accommodations." Billy reads the announcement and decides to stay over. The boarders arrive and the girls become quite friendly with them. Meanwhile, Billy has disguised himself as an old gent, suffering from rheumatism and applies at the boarding house. He finds the girls and two of the boarders seated in the porch swing, and immediately "butts in" trying to squeeze himself in the tiny space between them, whereupon the young people leave in disgust for more secluded spots, hut Billy is on their trail and makes it his business to see that there is no spooning while he is about. A professor calls that afternoon and presents them all with invitations to visit his gymnasium. The next morning, they all attend. The boarders try to impress the girls with exhibitions of their athletic accomplishments, but the "old rheumatic" gives them the surprise of their life, by knocking them all out. Later, they go bathing, and the boat in which they are seated, upsets. Their escorts cannot swim, but cling to the boat for dear life, but Billy is on the job and pulling off his disguise, he swims out and rescues the girls, and finally succeeds in winning Betty.
- Billy's weekly salary amounts to $9.00 per week, but his tastes are those of a millionaire. He has never met his boss personally, but the boss has taken an interest in Billy from the good work he has done and decides to pay the young man a visit. Accordingly, Billy receives a letter telling him of his boss's intention. The millionaire accidentally drops the letter of introduction to Billy, which he had taken along, and it is picked up by a tramp who, after reading it, decides to impersonate the boss. He calls on Billy, presents the letter and Billy immediately treats him with his best cigars, drinks and makes his visitor perfectly at home. Then he suggests going out to a restaurant to dine, and after phoning his sweetheart to meet him at the restaurant where he is going to have dinner with his boss, he and his guest depart. Arriving at the restaurant, the tramp, delighted at his good fortune, proceeds to order up the best in the place. To Billy's dismay, he discovers that he hasn't enough to pay the bill, and just then the real boss, who has come in, seeing Billy's predicament, slips a $100 bill into his hand. The tramp, noticing this, immediately accuses Billy of having stolen the money from him and calls the police. The party is taken to the police court, where the millionaire discovers that Billy is the young chap he has been looking for, while Billy makes the startling discovery that the boss is none other than Betty's father. After seeing that the tramp gets all that is coming to him, they all leave the courtroom. Shortly after Billy gets up courage to ask his boss for Betty's hand, which is granted together with a substantial check as a wedding gift.
- This story is an allegorical play portraying the beginning of human emotions, such as love, hate, jealousy, crime, etc. There are but three people in the entire cast.
- Everything is going along smoothly until Billy comes along and steals Jack's girl, Betty. Jack is filled with jealousy, but resolves he will show Billy up in his real light, that of a fickle flirt. He induces his sister, a pretty actress, to come to help him out, and she cheerfully agrees to carry out his plans. Billy meets the actress through a flirtation and, not knowing she is Jack's sister, soon falls a victim to her charms. That night at a ball Betty is entirely neglected while Billy dances with the actress and apparently forgets Betty's existence. Sadly Betty walks out into the garden and there she finds Jack sitting all alone in a dejected attitude. She approaches him timidly and soon everything is forgiven. Meanwhile, the actress has taken Billy out for a stroll in the garden and has him completely fascinated. He endeavors to kiss her, whereupon she gives him a resounding slap which sends him splashing into a nearby fountain, to the great delight of Jack and Betty, who arrive on the scene. Jack then introduces Betty to his sister, and all three have a good laugh on Billy.
- Percy calls for Betty and takes her out in his auto. Father takes another auto and pursues them. He catches up with them and makes Betty come home with him. Percy follows and goes to Betty's home; they plan to elope. Percy decides that if he is going to be married he needs more money, so he goes to the bank. After a short talk with the clerk, Percy draws out all of his money. He goes back to Betty's home and finds a check of father's on the floor. He takes it and rushes to the bank to have it cashed. Father returns for the check and cannot find it. When Percy returns he tells father the bank failed at two, but that the check has been cashed. Father after a little persuasion gives Betty to Percy and all ends well.
- Two little children, stepsisters, are living with their respective parents in humble surroundings. The father tenderly loves his little girl as does the mother her little girl. The skeleton in the closet is the fondness of the mother for drink and her hatred of the child of her husband's former wife. The cabin accidentally is set on fire and in rescuing his daughter the father is killed and the little one is blinded for life. Fifteen years later the children, grown to womanhood, are discovered in sordid surroundings. The mother has become an absolute slave to drink and in her frenzies she brutally ill-treats the blind child of the dead man. A young artist and his brother meet in one of their rambles the blind girl and her sister. The young people are mutually attracted to each other, and after a romantic courtship they are happily married.
- Father wishes Fanny to marry a rich old banker, but she prefers Billy, a handsome young doctor, of whom father disapproves. Billy calls on Fanny and when the choleric father interrupts, Fanny pretends illness. Scoffing at Billy's medical knowledge, father telephones for the reliable old family doctor. When the old physician calls, he agrees to help the lovers and Fanny is quickly cured. Pleased with her rapid recovery, father remarks that when he can be convinced that Billy is as good a doctor as the family physician, he will consent to his marriage to Fanny. The old doctor suggests to Billy that father be made ill through "mental suggestion." Fanny has a conference with the kitchen staff. Father has been feeling unusually trim and athletic, but when his servants ask him whether he is sick and suggest calling a doctor, their comments soon take effect and he imagines he is really sick. The old doctor is summoned and tells father nothing is wrong with him, but gives him a powder, which really makes father pretty sick for a short time. Father angrily orders the "old-fool doctor put out" and a regular doctor called in. Here is Billy's chance. He goes to his laboratory and mixes a wonderful "convincer pill," composed mainly of cheese, as large as a golf ball. He runs an electric vibrator down father's back and then forces the "pill" down his throat. By this time the effects of the powder has worn out, and father feels himself again. Father is now thoroughly convinced of Billy's wonderful skill and readily consents to his marrying Fanny.
- John Vallance, manager of a bank, discovers that his cashier, Harry Barnes, has taken a large sum of money from the bank safe. He calls on Mrs. Barnes with whom he is in love, and offers her an alternative of either accepting his proposal or seeing her husband sent to jail. While she is pleading with him to spare her husband and clinging to his arm, her husband enters. His suspicions aroused, he draws his gun, but Vallance wrenches it away from him and leaves, with a final threat. Half crazed with jealousy and fear of the future, Harry is about to take his life but is prevented by Dora. She mixes him a drink containing an opiate, and he soon falls asleep under its influence. She goes to the telephone and. calling up Vallance, tells him she is coming to see him. While Vallance is talking to Dora over the phone, his valet sees the safe door open, and taking out a bundle of money, hides it in his clothes, just as Vallance steps into the room. The valet takes the revolver (Harry's), which is lying on top of the safe, and shoots, Vallance drops dead. As the valet is leaving, he meets Dora at the door, and, seeing a chance to shift suspicion from himself, lets her in. Dora finds Vallance's dead body, and before she can get over the shock, the police arrive and arrest her on the valet's word that she was last with the dead man, and her handbag, Harry's gun, etc., are taken as evidence. Harry awakens, finds the note his wife left and misconstrues the entire affair. Heartbroken, he takes the last train out of town. A lapse of tea years finds Harry in a mining town out west where he is known as the "copper king." The valet is running a gambling joint in the same town and Dora, discharged from prison, takes up work as a hospital nurse. The valet is wounded in a gambling row and is rescued from the burning mine in which he has taken refuge by Harry. Both men are severely burned and taken to the hospital and put in Dora's care. Here, the valet recognizes Dora and confesses. A happy reconciliation then takes place between the husband and wife.
- Hogan is the manager of a small dramatic company and a succession of bad houses finally lands the company back in the city broke. The company is dispersed and Hogan finds shelter at the boarding house of Mrs. McStinger, a widow of ancient and acidulated vintage. The blarneying tongue of the witty Irishman and his evident admiration for her, coupled with possession of the company's wardrobe trunks, wins the heart of the unusually obdurate landlady, and she foregoes her regular rules and takes the shelterless Hogan in. Hogan ingratiates himself with various members of the household, from all and each of whom he borrows indiscriminately. The leading woman of the troupe succeeds in finding an "angel" and the company is booked to open at a nearby town at an early date. But Hogan is found to be in pawn; the landlady has discovered him in a tender love scene with a café entertainer, and after she has inflicted condign punishment on him, she, assisted by the lodgers, incarcerates Hogan in his room. He subsequently escapes and joins the company.
- Billy is not looked upon with approval by his girl's father, who orders him out of the house. Nothing daunted, Billy writes him a letter saying that he will still succeed in marrying the girl, despite all objections. Father accepts the challenge and replies that he will offer $50,000 if he can carry out his boast. The girl's father has the house closely watched by detectives and the girl guarded. The cook leaves and a new one is advertised for. Billy is on the job. He disguises himself as a cook and is hired. The next day the new cook is taken sick and sends for a doctor (his friend), who advises him to send for a minister. The minister is brought into the cook's room and Billy and Bee are married right then and there. They then face papa and claim the $50,000. As he writes the check, he cannot help smiling at resourceful Billy.
- Mrs. Brooks has been led to her marriage with Mr. Brooks against her better judgment. He is a tyrant and treats her brutally. Her former lover, Joe Brown, shoots her husband in revenge. She. is not aware of this fact and is accused of the murder. Brown confesses to the murder and she is acquitted.
- When Stumpy gets into an argument in the Bowery lunch-room in which he works as waiter, he grows careless and drops a bowl of noodle soup over an old man's head. A free-for-all fight starts, and Stumpy finds himself without a job. So he leaves the Bowery and makes for the country by freight. On the same car he finds an old pal, and uniting their fortunes, the two drop off together at a small station. Ambitious Mrs. Justgotrich, who has been vainly trying to break into local society, has been snubbed by her aristocratic neighbors from the next estate. So she is boiling over with resentment when she spies Stumpy and his pal at their toilet by the wayside. She gets an inspiration and decides that the pair shall be the instruments of her vengeance. When she offers them $500 each "just to be her guests," they need no urging, and soon they are installed in her home, waited upon by the butler, who has a few moments before kicked them off the porch, and delighted with the chance to doll themselves up. Meantime Mrs. Justgotrich invites the woman who has snubbed her to "meet her old friends Baron Eyeland and Count Yourchange." The appeal of foreign titles proves irresistible to the haughty one and she comes. But, alas, the charms of two pretty maids work havoc with the hearts of the pseudo-nobles and likewise with Mrs. Justgotrich's plans. Maids and tramps abandon her, after wrecking her fine car. Her social aspirations are forever destroyed.
- Henry Ross, a retired banker, is discovered murdered. Detective Lindsey is called in, and after giving one of the maid servants the third degree, he finds that Robert Stanley, the fiancé of Marjorie Ross, the dead man's daughter, quarreled with him the day previous, when Robert asked for Marjorie's hand in marriage. With this circumstantial evidence in hand, Lindsey places the murder on Robert's head, and is about to arrest him when the old butler, who has brought Marjorie up since the death of her mother, confesses. The butler tells that he is the only one who knew of the lover's secret marriage, and after hearing of the quarrel between Robert and his employer, he went to Mr. Ross and pleaded for his sanction to their marriage. Ross, who had been suffering from heart failure, got so overwrought that his heart failed him and he dropped dead. During his fall he cut his head and on account of that cut the butler was afraid to disclose the cause of Ross' death, fearing that he would not be believed and blamed as the murderer. The detective believes him, and everything ends happily.
- Ruth, the daughter of Joe Garstone, the latter a gambler and adventurer, arrives during vacation with her friend, Clara Blair, from the Villa Maria Convent. She is met at the depot by the mother and brother of her chum. Jack Blair, the brother, and Ruth conceive an immediate liking for each other. He leaves on the outgoing train bound for the goldfields. Later Ruth, who has never had a home or parental care, learns that her father is a desperado and that he and his gang are sheltered in Devil's Canyon near Eldorado goldfields. The girl leaves for the west and learns that the statements made about her father are true. Ruth's arrival at Devil's Canyon frustrates an attempt made by Garstone to kill Blair. Blair has struck it rich at the Canyon, and in an attempt to oust him from his claim Garstone inflicts injuries on him which result in his losing his memory and becoming an innocent associate with Garstone's gang in many of their depredations. Jack and Ruth subsequently marry and five years later we find them in the possession of a comfortable home and a boy. Jack's memory of his early life is still a blank and life holds nothing for him but his wife and son. The arrival of Jack's mother and sister in search of tidings of their loved one precipitates a climax in the story. The stage on which they are riding is held up by Garstone's gang and among the loot stolen and taken to the camp is a satchel belonging to Mrs. Blair. On opening it the outlaws discover a family group picture. They are about to throw the photo into the fire when it is seized by Jack, and his dawning reason tells him that he is gazing upon the features of those near to him. The father of his wife is brought wounded into the camp and lives long enough to entreat forgiveness of his son and daughter. Jack, believing that Ruth has willfully deceived him, parts from her and presently meets his mother and sister. They are about to leave camp when they are attracted to the cries of the little boy standing on a lofty eminence, his arms outstretched. He offers an irresistible appeal to the father and presently Ruth and her child are folded in the loving arms of the man to whom that baby boy had proved "The Bond Between."
- Billy decides to take up the study of music. He buys a lot of second-hand instruments and, after much difficult practice, makes up his mind to visit his sweetheart, Betty, and show her his proficiency in the musical line. Father seriously objects to this concert and finally breaks the fiddle over Billy's head. After many adventures showing Billy exhibiting his musical talent on various instruments with disastrous results, we see father forgiving him, after he has quieted the "howls" of a visiting baby.
- Billy is employed in the office of the "Daily Howler." He is entrusted with a special assignment but fails to turn in his "copy" on time, the lapse from duty being caused by a charming girl, the daughter of a mighty local magnate, whom Billy has wooed and won, and through whom he forgets the care of the office. The following day Billy loses his job. He learns that his former boss is making strenuous efforts to obtain "copy" from the millionaire father of his sweetheart. The millionaire has stood off the besieging pressmen with the aid of a stalwart gardener. The latter, armed with a hose, has deluged the reporters with great liberality and Billy, happening on the scene on one of these occasions, is apprised of the fact that a big "scoop" is to be had from the father of his girl. Knowing that the old man will not stand for an interview, and not desiring to share the fate of his fellow-reporters, Billy obtains a complete fireman's outfit, which he dons and thus fortified, he storms the citadel. Billy wrestles with the gardener and takes the offending hose away from him. He turns the water on the reporters, the gardener and finally holds the millionaire up at the nozzle of the hose until he obtains from him the items which go to make one of the biggest scoops of the season. Billy proudly turns his "copy" in to his former boss and is immediately re-engaged. The millionaire learns from his daughter that the daring young pressman who so cleverly held him up and succeeded where so many others had failed, is her lover. After a momentary fit of anger, Billy is sent for. He and the victim of the ruse meet. The millionaire looks from the glowing face of his daughter to the expectant Billy, and finally extends his arms to both.
- Billy is in love with Betty and his Pa is aiming to win the hand of Mrs. Stuart (Betty's mother), a charming widow. Billy, however, is quicker than his dad and at a garden party, succeeds in winning Betty's consent to marry him, whereupon he places an engagement ring on her finger. Thereafter every time Pa calls on Mrs. Stuart, he finds Billy there ahead of him, making love to Betty. Finding that this interferes with his plan to win the widow, he conceives of a plan by which Billy can be eliminated for a while. He calls up an Insane Asylum, and has a doctor call and examine Billie as to his sanity, and tips him off to make out a certificate to the effect that Billy is "nutty." Billy, however, is on to Pa's game, and as soon as his back is turned, changes the certificate, substituting Pa's name for his own. The automobile arrives for the lunatic and Billy assists in dragging Pa into the machine, where he is speedily driven to the asylum and put in a cage full of "nuts,"' among them being a particularly funny one who imagines he is Napoleon, and makes things very uncomfortable for Pa. In the meantime, Billy confesses to Betty what he has done, who hastens to the asylum and has Pa released. She then phones Mrs. Stuart that she can tell her where Pa is. All ends happily, Mrs. Stuart and Pa falling into each other's arms, Billy and Betty following suit and a double wedding is the result.
- Rollicking comedy ensues when an old-fashioned traveling melodrama troupe arrives in the town of Hickville.
- The story of a little girl left at a tender age to mother a baby brother and bear the brutality of a drunken father. The children escape and climb to the roof of a freight car. As the train is pulling out of the depot the pursuing father falls beneath the wheels and is killed. The youngsters arrive in a great city and the little mother takes up the burden of life for herself and brother. In the years that follow the boy begins to follow in the footsteps of his father, the girl loyally stays by him, even to the extent of becoming a thief to save him from the result of his folly. The boy's regeneration is brought about in due course and the little mother marries the man of her choice.
- Cold and weary, the vagabond peers into the brilliantly-lighted saloon. He hesitates a moment, and then slips in through the glass doors in search of warmth just as Dave Reilly, ward heeler, lifts a fat, diamond-covered hand and gulps a drink. The bartender, spying the vagabond, comes over and roughly puts him out in the street, while the ward heeler chuckles. Again the vagabond finds himself roaming the wet, deserted pavements. He is seized with a fit of coughing and leans against a stone wall for support. Suddenly his eye catches the outline of a dark, deserted house behind the wall and the next moment he has vaulted the wall and let himself into a room through a window. A light suddenly flashes around the room and the vagabond finds himself facing a man, seated by a fire, his foot bandaged and resting on a stool in front of him, his hand holding an automatic gun. The vagabond pleads with his captor, assuring him his only intention was to secure a night's lodging. The man relents and the vagabond relates his early life, telling of a sister whom he has sought all over, who was placed in an orphan's asylum when a child and whom he is anxious to meet again before he dies. The man is moved by the vagabond's story and lets him go, giving him a roll of money. Feeling weak, the vagabond again enters the saloon and buys, this time, the warmth that was denied him before. Seated in a corner he overhears Reilly and his lieutenant discuss a scheme whereby they expect a rich haul. Reilly shows the man a newspaper with a picture of a beautiful girl and an account of her arriving in town that night. The vagabond recollects having seen the same photo in the man's house, and plans to frustrate the plan. He follows the lieutenant to the depot, watches him meet the girl as she gets off the train, telling her that her father has been injured and that she was to go with him. The vagabond follows them from the station, and, although he is interrupted by a member of the gang, he gets away and catches up with them, just as the girl is being led into the rear of the saloon. He breaks in on them and is able to get a few words of explanation to the girl before it is too late. He pays for his interference with a mortal wound, but the girl is saved and the vagabond is taken to the man's home to spend his last few hours. There the man offers to take up the vagabond's search for his sister, and the vagabond makes his last statement. The man, learning the name of the city and other details, finds that the girl is no other than his adopted daughter, whom the vagabond has rescued.
- Deacon Witherspoon is stern and bigoted in his religious beliefs. He lives with his ward, Dora, and his son, John, in a small village. John, a lad of high spirit, frets under the constraint exercised by his father and longs to break away. Dick Harris, a young sportsman from the city, arrives in the village and acquaints John with the temptations of wine and cards. The next morning he is discovered by his father who orders him out of the house. He leaves, promising Dora he will send for her as soon as he finds work in the city. Months pass and no word is heard from John. Dora is afraid her condition will be discovered, and soon after it is. The deacon, not knowing it is his son who did the wrong, orders her out of the house. Five years elapse and we see John in a saloon brawl. We then see Dora, ill and her little boy playing beside her. Going to his mother's bedside and getting no reply to his childish inquiries, he goes in search of aid. The child walks in front of an automobile and John saves him. They enter the machine and are driven back to the address given by the child. There a recognition follows and Dora and John are married. Dick, who is the owner of the automobile that ran down the child, goes back to the country and tells the deacon of his narrow-mindedness. He is more than sorry for his cruelty and is forgiven by Dora and John.
- Edward Alexander, the husband of Miss Brunnette, is nearly crazed by jealousy that is entirely unfounded, although circumstances seem to point differently. These scenes continue and finally reach a crisis when Alexander finds a telegram and misinterprets its meaning. After a number of thrilling scenes all difficulties are cleared to the satisfaction of everyone and lead to the restoration of the happy home.
- Billy is sure his girl loves him until one day when he takes her to a theater to see a show in which a particularly handsome leading man is the hero. Betty promptly gets stage-struck and falls head over heels in love with the actor. Billy finally hits on a scheme whereby he can regain her love. He applies for a position as an actor in a road company and after a try-out, is engaged. Later, he induces the manager to give Betty a position in the same company and after some rehearsing, the company together with Billy and Betty takes to the road in search of fame and fortune. Billy's first night, however, is not encouraging. He is greeted with dozens of cabbages, carrots and none too fresh vegetable matter, so he and Betty come to the conclusion that home is the best place after all, and take the next train back. Betty is now cured of the stage, much to Billy's delight, and she joins him in swearing "Never Again."
- Carlo Marino, an aged music teacher, had in his youth joined an Italian secret society and at the time of the opening the story is trying to separate himself from the survivors of the society. His reason for so doing is that he has learned that they have degenerated into a gang of blackmailers and that they are working under the title of "The Crimson Circle." Carlo has a daughter, Floria, who is employed in the office of Ravenport & Co., express agents. She is loved by the general manager of the company, a sterling young fellow who sees in his clever assistant the one woman who can make him happy. The arch villain of the story is the leader of "The Crimson Circle," one Luigi Vampa, who rules with an iron hand the members of the gang who have sworn to the league. Through the aid of a female member of the gang, Luigi learns that a valuable package of gems and other securities are being shipped through the express company with whom the daughter of the old member of the gang is working. Luigi notifies Carlo that his presence at the meeting to be held that evening is absolutely essential and attempts to carry into immediate execution a plot he has formed to rob the express office. The plot is frustrated by Floria in a novel way. Luigi makes his escape, but his henchman, Beppo, is arrested and Luigi, in revenge, plots the destruction of Floria and her father. The old man is lured to the den and there, in the midst of "The Crimson Circle," he is given the option of destroying his own child and so obtaining his liberty or meeting death in her place. After perilous experiences Floria succeeds in rescuing her father and with her lover she manages to break up the gang. A thrilling fight through the underground arteries of the city culminates in a sensational climax in which Luigi Vampa is taken to prison and the young people are united.
- Mr. Richmond is the man with the taint; Peter McGraw, the man with the liquor taint; and Dr. Jackson the man with the gambling taint. Mrs. Richmond gives birth to a child and it is born blind. Richmond begs Dr. Jackson to keep this from his wife. At the same time Mrs. McGraw, a washwoman, gives birth to a child and the doctor suggests they change the babies. The change is made unknown to all except Richmond and the doctor. Twenty years later we find the babies grown, one to womanhood, the other to manhood. McGraw is killed by a fall from the stairway. The girl, blind, sells flowers. Dr. Jackson, heavily in debt from gambling, demands more money from Richmond or says he will divulge the secret. Richmond, now paralyzed, tells him that it is the last, as he is going to right the wrong done the children. Dr. Jackson is discovered cheating and shoots himself, so Richmond is the only one knowing the secret. In the meantime Robert Richmond has met the girl and fallen in love with her. He takes her to his home and his parents consent to their marriage. Richmond, knowing all will be well, does not tell the secret and all ends happily.
- A young medical man who has made a specialty of aphasia cases breaks down from overwork. He is ordered on a vacation which he takes in a small fishing village, where the malady he has treated in others overtakes him. He is rescued from a perilous position by the daughter of the light-house keeper. She and her father take the unconscious man to the shelter of the light house. Here he recovers his physical attributes but his mind has become a blank. Around the light-house keeper and his daughter, there is woven a story of a little girl supposedly drowned, but in effect living with the chief of a band of gypsies. This man has broken away from the tribe, and has offices in the doctor's home city, where he practices the art of fortune telling. The light-house keeper's daughter, under the name of Zara, believes that the gypsy is her father and she has studied under him the mystic arts and really possesses hypnotic power. The doctor and the girl of the light house become engaged, but the course of their true love is interrupted by the recovery of the doctor's memory. He returns to his old life, oblivious of his experiences at the light house and back in his home town he meets the twin sister of the light-house keeper's daughter, and they fall in love with each other, but Zara, jealous of her lover's past, places him in a hypnotic condition and under this influence, he tells her the story of the light house. An old gypsy crone, one Ogar, quarrels with the professor and betrays the identity of Zara. The doctor's heart goes out to the girl he left behind him as does the heart of Zara for the father left in the lonely light house. The two young lovers sail into the sea of summer and the lost child is last seen clasped in the arms of the rejoicing father.
- Moreau, a young blind musician, is greatly loved by Marie, a servant in the Petite Pension, where he resides. She learns through a letter that Moreau has lost the income derived from a small inheritance, but keeps him in ignorance of his misfortune by entreating his attorney to send Moreau her small savings. Eloise De Montjeu, an opera singer of the lower class, introduces herself to Moreau, upon receiving the vocal score for a new production which she is unable to understand. Later, through his skillful training, she secures an engagement. Moreau has grown to love her, while she apparently returns his love, finding him amusing. Marie's hands, owing to the work she has been forced to perform, have become coarse and rough. Moreau indifferently tells her that he abhors coarse hands, little knowing the deep sorrow he has brought to one who truly loved him. Eloise, upon meeting an old admirer, mocks Moreau's love. When in despair he calls to plead with her, she takes the revolver with which he intended taking his life, removes the shells, and laughs at him. Her laughs and jeers craze Moreau, who loses his reason. He seizes a chair and starts to strike but falls to the floor himself. Upon regaining his feet he discovers that he has regained his sight. Marie, hearing the struggle, comes to the door of Eloise's room. Moreau looks from Eloise to Marie and finally takes Marie in his arms and denounces Eloise.
- Percy, a soda fountain clerk, and Betty are in love. Betty's father objects to their marriage and they plan to elope. Percy gives Betty a sleeping opiate to put in pa's coffee. Betty breaks the bottle. At the drug store Percy learns that the bottle containing what he thought was a sleeping potion is deadly poison. He immediately phones for an ambulance. After a series of side-splitting scenes we see father safely home, and Percy and Betty happily married.
- Hilary lives with her father, Jim Durland, in an isolated mining camp in the hills, several miles from Black Hollow, the nearest railroad station. Ben Lee, the mining camp bully, is in love with Hilary. The girl has known Ben all her life; she is a little afraid of him, but he exercises a certain influence over her. He asks her to marry him, afraid to refuse, she puts him off, tells him he must wait. Her father and the miners look upon the pair as practically engaged. A strike is threatened at the mine. Robert Grayson, the mine owner, who lives in the east, sends his son, Theodore Willard Grayson, to investigate the trouble. The elder Grayson, a hardened, grasping money maker, has never treated the miners fairly, and is hated by his employees. Ted believes he can accomplish more with the men if his true identity is unknown, owing to their hatred of his father. On arrival at the mining camp, Ted is introduced to the miners (and later to Hilary) as Ted Willard, the new mine superintendent. Ted is in sympathy with the miners and does his best to better their condition, but they have been ill-treated for so long, they distrust him and refuse to believe that he is actuated by fair motives. In Leila, the dance hall entertainer, Ted recognizes his only sister. A few years prior to the opening of the story, Leila married Robinson against her father's wishes. Mr. Grayson refused to forgive her and drove her from home. Later Leila discovered that Robinson was a gambler; they drifted to the mining camp, where he deserted her. Her letters to her father, begging for forgiveness, were never answered. Unable to leave the mining camp without funds, and forced to support herself, she became a dancer. To avoid bringing disgrace on the name of Grayson, Ted and his sister meet in public as strangers. While Ted is trying to effect a reconciliation between his sister and their father, Leila meets him secretly at his cabin in the woods. Ted and Hilary become interested in each other, and their friendship ripens into love. Ben, the camp bully, notices Ted's interest in Hilary, becomes jealous of him and spies upon him. Ben sees Leila, the dancer, going to her brother's cabin in the hills at dusk, and mistakes her for Hilary. Filled with jealous fury, he follows the girl. Leila quarrels with her brother and leaves the cabin before Ben arrives. Ben accuses Ted of having Hilary hidden at the mine, which results in a desperate fight between the two men on the edge of the cliff. Hilary accidentally witnesses a meeting between Ted and the dancer, where Ted, with his arm around Leila is trying to comfort his unfortunate sister. Unaware of their true relationship, Hilary becomes jealous. Mr. Grayson, in the east, failing to receive satisfactory reports from his son Ted, determines to visit the mine. He notifies Ted that he will arrive at Black Hollow, the nearest railroad station, on Friday, and will bring money for the next payroll. Ted starts with a horse and buggy to meet his father. Ben learns that Mr. Grayson is bringing money for the payroll, and with two confederates, he plans to rob Ted and Grayson at Wind River, a lonely point on the road. Hilary learns of the plot, secures the aid of several cowboys, and starts for Wind River. Ben and his confederates overtake Ted and his father before Wind River is reached. The masked men order the occupants of the buggy to climb out and turn over the money. Instead of complying, Ted strikes the horse a sharp blow with the whip and makes a wild dash for liberty. Ben and his confederates follow in pursuit. In the desperate fight which follows Mr. Grayson is wounded, and Ben is killed before Hilary and the cowboys arrive. Mr. Grayson is taken to Durland's cabin where Hilary cares for him. Leila at the dance hall hears the cowboys talking of the hold-up. She inquires it anyone was hurt, and is told that old Grayson was shot. Thinking her father was killed, she faints. Later she hears that her father was only wounded and goes to Durland's cabin to see him. A reconciliation takes place, and Hilary learns that the dancer is Ted's sister, not his sweetheart, and he induces her to fill the latter role.
- Donatello, an Italian musician, agrees to adopt the daughter of his friend who has died in Italy. The girl arrives and Donatello takes her to his lodgings. Julia shows great talent as a violinist and Donatello secures for her a position in the orchestra at a fashionable restaurant in which he is playing. Unknown to Julia, Donatello is at the head of a band of crooks who make it a practice to steal from wealthy people. One night in the restaurant, Donatello steals a valuable necklace from a lady patron and places it in Julia's hair to escape detection. Frank Walsh, a man employed by the Secret Service is on the ground, and suspects the musician. He follows the two to their lodging and there, by a clever ruse, takes the place of one of the confederates. When Julia learns the true nature of her foster-father, she is shocked and determines to leave. He locks her up in a room but the next moment, Walsh enters followed by the police who capture the musician and his confederates and take them away. Walsh then liberates Julia and the two fall in love with each other, and after a short courtship are married.
- The murderer of Craig MacDonald, a wealthy bachelor, is discovered by Jack Wright, a sculptor, some months after the police have arrested and the State has sentenced to death his chum, Malcolm, Craig's nephew. Circumstantial evidence pointed strongly to Malcolm. He was known to have been in urgent need of money and to have quarreled with his uncle about his debts the night of the murder, and to have used threatening language; to have been much disturbed by the announcement the same evening at a house party given by Craig, of the latter's engagement to Geraldine, a society girl, since the marriage would mean not only a new interest for his uncle but the legal invalidating of the latter's will which made Malcolm his heir, and lastly, because he was found beside his dead uncle's body with the knife in his hand. Geraldine is in reality an adventuress in league with St. Clair. The pair are in imminent danger of arrest unless they can raise a large sum of money immediately to cover a "phony" check they have passed. Geraldine has seen a large package of bills in Craig's safe and has taken advantage of her stay in his house during the party to attempt to steal the money, and being discovered, she accidentally kills Craig while trying to escape without recognition. Inadvertently she left a thumb print behind her and Wright ingeniously trapped her into making another one with her subsequent confession. Malcolm is brought from the shadow of death into the sunlight and to his waiting sweetheart.
- The forgery of his employer's name by a trusted clerk and the discovery through the confession of the culprit and the intervention of the latter's wife, gives the employer an opportunity to avow his love for the woman and to ask for terms in settlement which compromise the wife's honor. The husband tries to take the life of the tempter of his wife, but is overpowered and the gun is taken away from him. The man leaves, taking the revolver with him and telling the wife he will give her until midnight to pay the price. The woman, devotedly loving her husband and desiring to save him from the penitentiary, administers a sleeping potion to him and at the hour of twelve arrives at the man's house to pay the price. She finds him dead and her husband's gun at his side. The man has been shot by a thief who was caught rifling his employer's safe. The woman secures the gun, is about to leave, but is apprehended. She is subsequently adjudged guilty of murder and sentenced to life. Previous to her arrest, the husband, awaking from his stupor, reads in his wife's absence the fact that she has yielded to the man. He leaves for the west, and does not learn of the happenings of the night. A lapse of ten years shows the woman pardoned and seeking employment in a far distant state. She obtains work as nurse and the first case she is called upon to attend is that of the real murderer. He has been mortally shot in a gambling row, and desiring to atone for his past misdeeds, he tells the woman that he is the guilty man. In the adjoining room the runaway husband, suffering from severe burns, is recognized by his wife and finally husband and wife are reconciled.
- Tom Sanford, law student, and William Barstow, student for the ministry, are inseparable chums. Tom has wealth and is rather wild. William, on the contrary, is working his way through college and is industrious and sober. Both are in love with Louise Wentworth, who admires and respects William but is fascinated by the reckless Tom. William, who is broken in health through overstudy, goes west to regain his health, and takes up sheep herding. He does not write his friends of his pinched circumstances and correspondence ceases. After a quarrel with Louise, Tom goes west to visit a prosperous uncle who owns a ranch. The wild life of the cowboys appeals to him and he becomes a general favorite. During a sort of feud between the sheep owners and cattlemen, Tom, in a drunken spree, takes a shot at a lone sheep herder, intending only to frighten him. The shot tells, however, and Tom returns east to avoid trouble. He intends to confess his crime to Louise and break their engagement, but hasn't the courage and they are married. However, the thought of his crime continually torments Tom and he becomes morose and neglectful and again takes to liquor. At their son's christening, while gazing abstractedly at a stained glass window back of the altar showing "Christ, the Good Shepherd," the picture suddenly fades away to a vision of the actual Christ with a lamb in his arms and then fades slowly into a vision of his victim, and to his horror the face revealed is that of his old time chum, William Barstow. Conscience stricken, he rushes from the church to the consternation of all present and hastens back to the scene of his crime, where it is reported to him that William Barstow had only been wounded by the shot, has recovered and was now a pastor in a modest little church in the community. Tom searches for him and they become reconciled. The terrible mental torture of the last few months proves too much for Tom's debauched vitality and he goes over the Divide in the house of his friend, requesting that he be laid to rest in the quiet church yard on the hill. William breaks the sad news to Tom s wife, but feeling that his life is consecrated to the people who nursed him back to health, he remains at the little pastorate in the western village. A few years later, after steady correspondence, Louise consents to share his ministry and she and her little son join the "Shepherd."
- Jim Arnold, a dope fiend, calls on Quan Ming, a Chinese servant employed in the household of Dr. Franklin, to obtain some "hop." The Chinaman takes him up to his room and there provides Jim with a "layout." A little while later, the doctor smells smoke and rushing upstairs finds Jim surrounded by flames, the bed having caught on fire. He drags the unconscious man out of the room, quenches the fire and telephones the police who call and take Jim away. Finding some opium on his servant, he immediately discharges the Chinaman. The doctor shows the opium to his wife, who is very much impressed by what has taken place. The doctor is called to go to visit a patient. While he is away, his wife picks up a piece of opium and examines it. Her curiosity aroused, she tastes it. Suddenly a peculiar drowsiness overwhelms her. The discharged servant stealthily enters the room and sprinkles some opium into the fire. The fumes fill the air, and Mrs. Franklin is unable to shake off their effect. The Chinaman silently slips a card in her hand and leaves. The card reads: "Private Smoking Parlor for Veiled Ladies, Conducted by Hong Yee." The next day she cannot resist the temptation to visit the place designated on the card. Heavily veiled, she calls and is admitted into an Orientally furnished room by Hong Yee, the proprietor. The discharged servant then proceeds to tell the other Chinamen who the woman is, and Hong Yee becomes very much interested. They plan to keep her prisoner, and while she is under the influence of the drug they tattoo a dragon on her left cheek. Quan Ming takes some of her clothing and her pocketbook and drops them on a dock near a sleeping tramp, who delivers them to the police. The next day the papers contain accounts of Mrs. Franklin's suicide suggested by the furs and pocketbook which were found near the water's edge, and her husband is heartbroken at her disappearance. Years pass and the doctor's wife is now a confirmed fiend, unable to tear herself away from the habit. Time has robbed her of her beauty and she has become haggard and aged-looking. Hong Yee who has tired of her, has her put out, and she gets into a quarrel on the streets, is arrested and put into prison. Her daughter, Ruth, is interested in slum work. While visiting the prisons, she sees Mrs. Franklin and takes pity on the wretched woman. Before she leaves, Ruth gives her a Bible. After Ruth has gone, the doctor's wife picks up the Bible and discovers her daughter's name on the flyleaf. She is overcome with grief that her own child should find her under such circumstances, and collapses. The prison guards enter and roughly drag her out of the prison and push her into a chair. She looks about her wearily. Suddenly she sees her husband leaning over her and her child beside her. Her husband smiles and then she realizes she has been asleep.