- Mary Alden and her brothers Matthew and George have extremely different political views. Matthew is a committed pacifist, and is constantly giving speeches against war. George is notified that his draft number, 258, has been called and to report for induction, but he refuses. Mary, on the other hand, is intensely patriotic and comes up with a plan to shame him into reporting for induction. Meanwhile, Matthew is being set up for a patsy by a gang of German secret agents led by Van Bierman who are planning to blow up an airplane factory.—frankfob2@yahoo.com
- Mary Alden lives with her mother and two brothers, Matthew and George. She and Matthew and also her sweetheart, John Graham, are employed in a department store. Mary is a patriot, while Matthew is a "soapbox" orator. He neglects his work for his speeches against the government to such an extent that he loses his position at the store. Their father was killed in the battle of San Juan Hill. John Graham urges Matthew to enlist in the army, but he scoffs at the idea, and gives all his time to his street-corner speeches. These are broken up by the police, and a German agent, under the guise of Socialism, takes quick advantage of Matthew's indignation to invite him to join their meetings and address them. Matthew is taken at once to Van Bierman, a banker, who is the master spy on this side of the ocean in the employ of the enemy. At Washington the draft board has met, and has drawn the now historic number 258, calling to the colors the men holding that number. A humble Italian, who is caring for a little Belgian child orphaned by the war, anxious to serve the country of his adoption, thanks God because he holds the number 258. George Alden is also called, but he has no such patriotism, and fails to go before the local draft board for his examination. Mary takes his papers herself to the draft board and offers to go in his place, as women in Russia have done. While the board cannot accept her offer, her bravery and spirit arouse the latent manhood in many present who have been trying to claim exemption. Finally George Alden becomes imbued with the same spirit to the great joy and pride of Mary and her mother. Van Bierman and his associates have succeeded in inciting the workers at a munitions factory to strike, and have otherwise impeded the government in response to instructions received by wireless from Germany's war lords. Matthew is being drawn deeper into their net, and Mary, hoping to make him see the light, attends a meeting he is to address. She gives them a stirring talk on patriotism. Mary reminds her hearers of the glorious deeds of the nation's history, of the heroism shown at the battle of Bunker Hill, at San Juan Hill and at the Alamo, when the immortal Travis asked those who were on the side of right and honor to step across the line, even though it was to certain death. She calls upon those who love the Stars and Stripes to stand beside her. One or two men venture over, but Van Bierman and his assistants overpower George, and the meeting breaks up in a wild fight. Van Bierman hurries Mary into an automobile and drives her to an aeroplane factory he and his fellow spies are planning to blow up. George learns of her whereabouts and rushes to the encampment of cavalry troops. John Graham is among them. With victory apparently within their grasp the German agents throw dissimulation to the winds and speak frankly before Matthew of the atrocities they are planning and the atrocities already committed. Matthew, seeing them for the first time in their true light, tries to protest. Fearing he will expose them they bind him to a chair so that he will perish when the fuse is lighted that is to demolish the aeroplane factory. Van Bierman promises to save Mary if she will accept his loathsome advances. She refuses, and he takes her in his arms. John Graham, at the head of the cavalry troops, arrives in time to cut the wire that is attached to the fuse, saving Matthew and the factory, and then searching the building for spies rescues Mary from the master spy. The traitors are brought to justice. Matthew hurries to don a uniform. Mary marries her soldier lover, and she and Mrs. Alden bid a brave farewell to their boys bound for the front.
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