- The story opens with an allegorical prologue, which presents various personified vices, including ambition and greed, then moves into the following drama: Arnold Gray, a fighter against child labor and other social ills, comes under the influence of Rhoda Lewis, an ambitious clubwoman who helps him win the gubernatorial nomination. Arnold meets and falls in love with Jane Morton, a respected writer, and they soon marry. All goes well until Jane becomes pregnant. Hard at work on a child-labor bill and winning the governorship, Arnold feels that a baby would be an encumbrance to his career. Jane is at first elated by her pregnancy, but Rhoda and Arnold gradually talk her out of having the baby. Because she suffers acute depression, Jane visits Dr. Brainard and confesses her troubles. Arnold is elected governor, but because Jane dies soon afterward, he no longer cares about living. After dreaming of his unborn son, Arnold awakens to find his wife beside him, joyful that his ordeal has been only a nightmare.—AFI
- Arnold Gray (Young Manhood), a young man of means and reputation, is devoting his energies to fighting against child labor and otter social wrongs. Rhoda Lewis (Ambition) is an influential club woman who is interested in Arnold. She is instrumental in bringing about his nomination for governor. Arnold falls in love with Jane Morton (Love), who is a young woman of culture and high aspirations, who is making a name for herself as an author. They are married after a short courtship. Their married life opens happily with prospects of great work to be accomplished; she in the writing of a novel and he in the pursuit of his great ambition. During his absence in Washington in the interests of the Child Labor Bill, Jane realizes she is about to become a mother. Reserving the happy secret as a surprise for Arnold on his return, she makes preparations for the stranger. Rhoda Lewis discovers Jane's expectations and strongly advises her against the bearing of the child, warning that it will interfere with the writing of her book, and burden Arnold with family affairs at this critical period in his history. Jane sees the logic of Rhoda's reasoning, but her maternal instincts gain the upper hand and upon Arnold's return she tells him the secret. Finally Arnold thinks the matter over and comes to the decision that it is not expedient for him and Jane to have the child and he convinces her of his view. Arnold's campaign progresses satisfactorily and he becomes absorbed in politics. Jane's spirit and bodily strength is failing. She confesses all this to Dr. Brainard. Arnold is elected and hurrying home after the news finds Jane dead. He becomes governor, but all the zest has gone out of his life and he feels that he has been a complete failure. Standing by the balustrade on the portico of the Governor's mansion one evening, the spirit of Jane comes to him and shows him the mystic realm of lost tomorrows, the shadow land of souls unborn and the joys that might have been. He sees his son that might have been, and he then turns to the spirit of Jane and with a heart full of yearning and remorse gathers her in his arms. As he does so the vision becomes a reality and he finds himself seated before the fire in his library with his arms about his wife, and realizes that he has awakened from a dream. As he and Jane sit before the fire the vision of a little child comes to them, and he gazes upon it with love and tenderness and a new realization of the meaning of life.—Moving Picture World synopsis
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