Advanced search
- TITLES
- NAMES
- COLLABORATIONS
Search filters
Enter full date
to
or just enter yyyy, or yyyy-mm below
to
to
to
Exclude
Only includes titles with the selected topics
to
In minutes
to
1-50 of 629
- Dr. Henry Jekyll experiments with scientific means of revealing the hidden, dark side of man and releases a murderer from within himself.
- Frank Watson was spending a month in New York when one day he receives a letter from his father requesting him to come home and also that a surprise awaits him on his return. This aroused Frank's curiosity, so immediately he made preparations to leave at once. One arriving home he went at once to the drawing room and there to his surprise he saw a very attractive girl sitting by the fire-place seeming to be perfectly at home with her surroundings. Frank coughs. The girl turns around and then nods to him but leaves the room at once. Just then his mother and father come in and greet him. At once Frank begins to question them about the girl. For an answer Frank's father walks to the desk and brings Frank a letter. There he learns that this girl is the daughter of his father's best friend who has just died and has made his father guardian. The girl's name is Peggy and she has been left a large fortune. Frank does not approve of this and begins to offer his objections. At the same time Peggy is seen coming down the stairs at the back of the room and accidentally overhears what Frank is saying. She then comes into the room and they are introduced. Six months later we find Frank in bad company. He has started gambling and has hard times settling all his debts. At present he owes $500 to a very miserly Jew who has Frank's promissory note to pay in a week's time. Poor Frank is almost a nervous wreck, for he has no means by which he can lift this debt. The day has come and we now see Frank nervously awaiting the Jew's arrival. The Jew is ushered in and at once starts business. He then learns that Frank is unable to pay and then swears that he will go to Frank's father for payment. Frank pleads not to tell his father. The Jew looks around the room in order to find some plan with which to force Frank to pay. Suddenly he notices a small safe in the desk marked EMERGENCY SAFE. He calls Frank's attention to it. After much arguing the Jew has persuaded Frank to get his payment from this safe with the hope of winning it back and then replace the money before the father finds it out. Frank takes the money, gets a receipt from the Jew and orders him out. Frank leaves the room at once. Suddenly we see Peggy getting up out of the large chair by the fireplace. She has accidentally overheard all that has passed between them without their knowledge and she realizes Frank's position at once. She decides to help Frank out of his trouble and starts to think of a plan. Later we see her coming into the drawing room all ready for a journey, carrying a suitcase in her hand. She puts a letter on the table for Frank's father and then leaves the house. The girl makes a splendid sacrifice to save Frank and later, in an impressive scene Frank admits his guilt and asks for forgiveness of the girl he has grown to love.
- A sympathetic bandit chief fights for freedom in Naples against the Bourbon King Ferdinand.
- Lola refused to marry Jean, son of the Gypsy king, and sought consolation in the woods each day. On one of these occasions, her tears were interrupted by the sudden moans of Frank Hathaway, a young American, who had fallen from his horse. Lola assisted him to the Gypsy camp, where his wounds were dressed and his horse's faulty shoes mended. It was love at first sight for Lola and Frank and they made a habit of meeting in their sylvan retreat every day. Jean once more pressed his suit, and, upon being refused, cowardly attacked Lola. Frank heard the screams and rushed to the Gypsy girl's assistance. After thrashing Jean, he declared his love for the girl and suggested that they marry in order that she might leave the camp where she was so persecuted. Frank took the girl home to his father, but that proud, haughty gentleman was sadly disappointed in his son's choice and vowed he would disown the boy if he married Lola. Frank let love take its course and soon gained employment on a ranch. Not long after becoming the happy father of a bouncing baby, Frank is taken ill and his father is sent for. The old gentleman, not yet having forgiven his son, still refuses to come. When, however, he hears of the stork's arrival, things take on a new aspect. The express is not fast enough to carry him to his grandson, and the child, all unwittingly, brings reconciliation and happiness once more to the estranged father and son, with the final recognition of '"the Gypsy bride."
- Rastus Johnson, a happy-go-lucky coon, after eating a large meal, lies down on the dock to take a nap. While he is slumbering three roughs happen along and see him, and knowing a sea captain who is in need of men to fill out his crew, they seize Rastus and shanghai him. He is placed aboard the ship and the voyage started. The vessel is wrecked off the African coast, and poor Rastus is the only survivor. While wandering along the beach he is seen by the Zulus, who immediately give chase. Rastus runs through the jungle, but is compelled to give up. They capture him and take him before their king, who orders him to be cooked. One of the women of the tribe, who happens to be present when Rastus is brought in, knowing the king's daughter is ambitious to be married to some man outside of her own tribe, runs off to tell her of the captive. Rastus is led to the royal kitchen, where the cook pot is prepared. They are just about to thrust him in, when the daughter pleads with her father, for Rastus' life. This he grants on one condition, that Rastus must marry the daughter. This he tells to Rastus, and Rastus, after a good look at the daughter, decides to take to the cook pot. This enrages the king so that he orders Rastus to be seized and given a sound beating. They seize him and throw him on the ground and commence. They beat him so hard that he wakes up to find a policeman tapping him with his club. The blue coat orders Rastus to move on his way, which he does, little the worse for his terrible dream.
- Thompson picks up an artificial curl dropped by his wife's French maid. Thinking it is his wife's curl he kisses it and is discovered in the act by Mrs. Thompson, who is very pretty and very jealous. She thinks that he is in love with some other woman and she arranges a meeting with Madame Clairo, a fortune teller, with the hope of learning who the other woman is. Thompson finds this out, and he bribes Madame Clairo to let him wear her robe and take her place at the séance. "Wifie" enters and Thompson gives her the time of her life. After several screamingly funny scenes Thompson says he will show his wife a spirit picture of the man who loves her best. He removes the mask, puts his own face through a picture frame and his wife is convinced. Meanwhile, in another room we see Madam Clairo receiving a message warning her to flee, as the police are about to raid the place. Clairo goes out and the police enter and arrest Thompson's wife, who faints. Thompson comes out. The police arrest him and are about to take him away, when he pulls off the mask and the laugh is on the cops. The wife goes away without seeing her husband, and the last scene, where Thompson's wife begs him on her knees to forgive her for her jealous suspicions, is a farcical gem.
- A conjurer, by mental suggestion and tricks, known as slight-of-hand, and optical illusion, changes the habits and disposition of an inebriate and a grouchy old father-in-law. Through his efforts, the grouchy old man becomes a gay old blade, and the inebriate son-in-law becomes a teetotaler. This change brings satisfaction to the young man's wife, and the wife of the old grouch. The story starts with a big artistic insert, of a neglected young wife, looking at a clock at 3 a.m., and hubby still at the club. Wifey, the next morning. Immediately goes home to mamma upon whom she inflicts her tale of woe. Papa is an old grouch, and he does not encourage the protestations of his daughter. The mother, however, sympathizes with her child and plans to engage the conjurer, by whose advertisement she has been attracted. The conjurer's services are enlisted and the merry time begins. A remarkable scene takes place in the conjurer's laboratory, in which a skeleton goes through many grotesque and comic stunts.
- "Wild Bill" Gray is a renegade and a wife-beater. He is about to start on some expedition of crime and his wife implores him to stay at home. She receives a beating for her trouble. Jim, a cowboy, rides past the shack, hears Mrs. Gray's screams and interferes, and takes Mrs. Gray over to his friend, the postmaster, so that she may have a good home. "Wild Bill" plans vengeance. Paxton, the postmaster, starts for the station with money and gold, and is accompanied a short way by Jim. Gray sneaks after them. After going with Paxton a short distance, Jim takes a turn in the road and Paxton rides on alone. Gray closes up on the postmaster, gets the drop on him, but Paxton is quick and there's a hand-to-hand struggle. Bill, however, worsts Paxton, and finally sends him over a precipice. But in falling, Paxton falls into a tree and thus is saved from sure death. In the meanwhile Paxton's horse comes back to his general store. When the riderless horse arrives there is naturally considerable excitement. Gray arrives on the scene and he makes things look pretty black for Jim, the man who was last seen with the postmaster. Jim is placed under arrest, but the boys, as well as the postmaster's young daughters, May and Gladys, do not believe Jim to be guilty. May and Gladys ride the trail and finally find their father after he calls to them. Gray stoutly asserts his innocence and manufactures evidence incriminating Jim. May and Gladys, the "two little rangers," however, untangle the evidence and their father's story cinches things. When things begin to look pretty black for Gray he retreats to his shack. The girls, however, are determined to get him and, after seeing their volleys of bullets have no effect, discharge a firebrand from a bow. The firebrand sets the shack on fire and Gray perishes in his own tomb.
- Unaware that they are related, children born to the octoroon (1/16th Black) mistress and a white wife of a white man meet and fall in love.
- Billy takes his friend Tom out for a drive in his new car. Tom gets off to make a purchase while Billy is waiting. Along comes Marian, beautifully clad; Billy wishes to himself that she would come into his car. Somehow his wish is immediately fulfilled, for Marian, thinking that he is a public chauffeur, hires him. Billy blissfully drives Marian on, and at his journey's end tells Marian that she may always have his car at cut rates, if she 'phones him at the garage. Billy rides off in high spirits. He is rich in imagination and already sees himself embroiled in a tempestuous love affair. After a series of auto complications and fun, with mistaken identities worked out in an entirely new way, and in an atmosphere absolutely original, mirth-provoking Billy boldly captures his pretty maid and rides off, but the car breaks down, and so we see them both in the end fixing the car amidst besmudged and begreased bliss.
- A woman innocently stealing roses catches the attention of the owner of the garden, who falls in love with her.
- About the time that General Lee was preparing to invade the North, Alfred Archer was sent by the Federal Government into Pennsylvania to look after the secret preparations to circumvent that wily general's further advance. He advises his old friend Applegate that as he will be in his vicinity he will call upon him and renew his suit of Cicely, Applegate's daughter. Applegate is delighted, but Cicely resents her father's desire to marry her off to Archer. Applegate in a rage tells her she shall never marry the man of her heart, Everett Kenyon, as he is a rebel. About this time Kenyon is sent by Lee to get information regarding the country through which he intends to march. Kenyon runs across Archer and knocking him senseless, gets away with his papers. He sends Cicely a secret message to the effect that later in the evening he will throw a pebble against her bedroom window so that she may come out and meet him. Archer is taken to the Applegate home. As the guest room is not in order Applegate compels Cicely to give up her room to him. Cicely protests and Applegate locks her in the guest room to get over her temper. Archer discovers a photograph of Kenyon in the room and realizes it is the same man that stole his papers. At the same time Kenyon shows up and throws a pebble against the bedroom window to attract Cicely. Archer, seeing who it is, shoots him from the window. Kenyon is brought in unconscious and the papers recovered. Cicely is apprised of her sweetheart's condition and told to take care of him. Then Kenyon is revived, but with a resulting loss of memory. Archer leaves to complete his mission, placing Kenyon in Applegate's care until his return, when he intends to give him over to the authorities. When he returns some weeks later he finds Kenyon recovered, but still in the dark as to who he is and what has gone before. Cicely tries to arouse the resemblance of their former love and to get him to escape, but fails. After Archer and Kenyon leave. Archer sees a better way to revenge himself on Kenyon. Without realizing what he is doing Kenyon allows Archer to enlist in his regiment and later, when the two armies meet, Kenyon is fighting side by side with Archer against his old companions in gray. At a crucial moment in the battle Kenyon gets the Confederate flag away from the flag bearer. Then his memory returns and he tears the hated blue and rebel flag clutched in hand and turns on the Yankees in an effort to help drive back their advance. One of his former fellow officers sees the action and remembering that Kenyon turned traitor and entered the Northern ranks has him captured and sent back of the lines under guard. After the battle, Archer is brought dying to the Applegate home. There he makes a clean breast of the matter and Cicely hurries off to the Confederate lines to help her lover in his extremity. Kenyon is court-martialed, but Cicely gets to the general in command just in time to get his release.
- A woman is forced to reevaluate the quiet man in her life when she finds he actually could be her knight in shining armor.
- Nellie Thomas and Frank Howard are in love with each other. Phyllis Black, a school chum of Nellie's, pays her a visit, falls in love with Frank and, at a picnic party in the woods, she throws her arms about him and tells him so. Nellie's father sees this and, thinking that Frank is trifling with his daughter's affections, orders him to leave the place and never see his daughter Nellie again. Frank is a western boy who does not give in quickly. He writes a note to Nellie, "Sweetheart: I love only you. Will you meet me at the crossroads and marry me now?" The stupid messenger delivers the note to the other girl, who, thinking that she is meant, rides off to meet Frank. But she drops the note on the ground and Nellie finds it. Here follows a novel and most interesting race between two women to meet the man they both love. Nellie passes her rival on the road, meets Frank and they are married. Phyllis comes up just in time to see them receive the minister's blessing.
- Three travelers board a submarine. A man and woman go out fishing in a little boat and the woman casts her line overboard. The hook becomes attached to the submarine in the bottom of the sea. A man in a diving helmet opens a porthole of the submarine, untangles the line and pulls the woman out of the boat above down through the sea and into the porthole. The fishing boat capsizes and the man saves himself by clutching the legs of a big flying bird which bears him off. The girl meanwhile, is made love to by the three men in the submarine. She fights them off, knocking them insensible. She pulls the lever and the submarine ascends to the surface. The girl appears on deck; the bird with the man clinging flies by the girl, catches hold of the man's legs and is carried aloft with the submarine in pursuit. As the bird flies over an island the shots of the pursuers kill it, leaving the man and girl unharmed. A soldier from the fortress fires a cannon at the submarine, which sinks. At the bottom of the sea foolish looking fishes frisk about, retreating in terror when the submarine comes on and discharges two men in diving helmets They shoulder guns and march off. Later, after they shoot a brood of baby sharks, the mother swallows the hunters. From the submarine the remaining traveler hurries to their rescue He finds mother shark weeping copiously and sponging away her tears with seaweed. After a fight the man cuts open the fish and rescues his two companions, alive. No sooner have they returned to the submarine when a whale swallows the craft, finally coming to the surface near the island where the girl and her lover are. The whale ejects the submarine, the lover and the soldier break it open with an axe and the three occupants are marched away to prison. Presently an aeroplane sails by with an anchor dangling from it, which catches hold of the island and flies off with it. The prison slides off and drops into the sea. The lover and his sweetheart climb up the anchor rope to the aeroplane, followed by the soldier. There is a fight in mid-air for the possession of the airship, which finally plunges into the sea, where all are rescued by a pursuing vessel.
- Doris is up a tree as to which of two suitors to accept. Tom is very companionable and Fred is very noble, each equally lovable. She is in the throes of despair, when an idea comes to her to test which is the better man. To the postmistress, her friend, Doris gives two letters, one of which each of the lovers is to call for the next day at noon. Meanwhile, she instructs her faithful old servant Pedro, in the part he is to play in determining the better man. Both letters contain the same: "To prove who is the better man, deliver this letter to me as soon as possible," and upon reading, the rivals mount their steeds and race for Doris' house. It is a desperate ride in which Tom shows no pity for his horse. He is far ahead of Fred when he comes upon old Pedro, who is lying on the road, apparently hurt. But Tom determines to win, so rushes on. When Fred sees the old servant in distress, he is touched, and even at the risk of losing Doris, helps the old man home. Doris and her folks have observed the whole thing through a pair of field glasses. When Tom arrives, he rushes to claim his bride, but is met with an indifference hitherto unknown. His horse drops from exhaustion. Fred arrives with Pedro, fully expecting he has lost the prize. Pedro gets suddenly strong and laughs, which makes Fred all the more mad at himself for having stopped, but when Doris explains her little plot. It does not take either long to understand which has proven "the better man."
- The story revolves about the jealous plots of Stephen Swenson, a man with little or no moral sense. He is jealous of young Henry George, who is betrothed to Blanche, the daughter of the paralytic. Swenson hires two thugs to "do up" his rival. The thugs drop George down a well, in the sight of the paralyzed man, who is powerless to interfere. Knowing that the paralytic cannot divulge the crime, Swenson comes back to make love to the paralytic's daughter. What follows is the pantomimic agony of the paralyzed man in his mute attempt to disclose the fact that Swenson is a murderer.
- The old widower stricken ill, his daughter Ynez takes his place in the orange grove. The rich owner of the grove while making his rounds, sees Ynez and is attracted by her beauty. A man of whims, he is in a measure infatuated with her. Being in poor health, owing to heart trouble, he is cautioned by his physician against undue excitement, hence none of his own household try to thwart him when he proceeds to fascinate the girl. Of course, his nature being capricious, he soon tires of the pretty senorita and the pledge he bestowed proves worthless. Fearing the scorn of her father, she leaves his house. Her former sweetheart tells her father of his suspicion and the old man goes to the orange grower, but he pleads in vain. It is then that both the boy and her father vow vengeance. Fate intervenes, however, for the man dies, a victim of heart failure. Later the poor girl is drawn back home where she finds a father's heart yearning for her return.
- Padre Dominguis, the village priest of a quiet little spot in old Mexico, has been on a visit to the daughter of his dead sister and is about to return to his charges. He is much surprised and more than a little pleased to find that his niece is in love with John Brown, a progressive American, who has settled among them, for the Padre is a broad-minded man and knows that Mexico needs the influx of American energy to make her a great country. A different feeling possesses some of the Mexicans, however, and Brown is particularly hated by Baptiste Matteo, a "caballero," who is infatuated with Anita, the Padre's niece. Finding that Brown is favored and fearing to have a personal altercation with him. Baptiste lays a trap to injure his rival. He seeks an isolated spot, where he knows Brown will pass, and ties a rope between two trees, just high enough to "garrote" a man on horseback. Brown returns from a visit to his sweetheart and is riding fast to reach his home. The trap is successful and the hated American is caught by the rope and thrown to the ground. He is stunned by the fall and Baptiste, who has watched from a clump of "mesquite," is satisfied that his "gringo" rival is dead. He writes a letter to Anita, to which he signs Brown's name, saying that he is leaving the country as he is convinced that Anita has been flirting with Baptiste and making sport of Brown. Anita receives this forged letter and as she is not familiar with Brown's handwriting and the latter fails to appear, she believes the letter to be genuine and yields to the ardor of Baptiste's persuasion that she shall be his wife. In the meantime, Brown has been found on the road by a fellow countryman, who takes the injured man to his plantation and nurses him back to health. Baptiste, while he has been successful in his intentions, is sorely troubled in mind and sees frequent apparitions of the man he thinks he has killed. Under stress of conscience, he journeys to the distant village of Padre Dominguis and, not knowing that the reverend Padre is Anita's uncle, he confesses the murder of Brown and asks for absolution. His mind is relieved by his confession, and he returns to his own village and makes preparations for his marriage to Anita. The latter writes a letter to the Padre, asking him to officiate at her wedding and the priest immediately departs for her home. Here he is introduced to the prospective bridegroom, and he is horrified to recognize the man who has so recently confessed to him a murder. He is torn with conflicting emotions. On the one hand is his duty to his dead sister's child, to guide and guard her, and on the other are his vows to the church he serves, to preserve the secret of the confessional. He dare not betray the fact that Baptiste is a murderer, but resolves to let the marriage take its course, hoping that he may eventually succeed in converting Baptiste to a life of righteousness that will atone for his crime. Brown, after a hard siege with death, in which he has conquered, thanks his benefactor and rides leisurely into the village of his sweetheart. He is shocked to learn, at her home, that she is on her way to be married. He puts spurs to his horse and dashes into the mission church just in time to interrupt the ceremony. Anita is overjoyed to see him again and he quickly explains the forged letter. Baptiste attempts to escape, but is stopped by the men of the wedding party, and the Padre continues the service with a change of grooms, while he gives thanks to God that his niece is spared from becoming the wife of a criminal.
- The play opens with the escape of John Forsythe from prison, where he has been sentenced to a term of ten years for counterfeiting. He is seen running through the woods in striped clothing until he emerges on an open road. He there holds up a passing chauffeur and secures a linen coat and cap. These cover the stripes to the knees, and he blacks the remainder from the mud of a swamp until those who sit in front can't tell the difference. In this guise he makes his devious way to the house of his brother Robert, a highly respectable member of good society, who has just been made guardian of person and property for a young lady he has never seen, charming Rosalie Clarke, just fresh from boarding school. John enters the house of Robert and demands protection. Robert offers a small sum of money and tells him to get out. John tears up the money and insists upon a larger amount. The good brother goes to another room, while the wicked one responds to a new criminal impulse. He shoots through the door and kills the man who sought to befriend him. He swaps clothes with the dead man, makes up to resemble him, and rings for the police; the latter is an act of insane cunning. Meanwhile, Dublin Dan hears of the escape of a convict he was instrumental in sending to jail for a long term. He goes to the country home of Robert Forsythe and watches at the railroad station. Who should come down by the next train but charming Rosalie. In gathering together her effects she drops the card of Robert Forsythe, and it falls into the hands of the detective. He promptly makes her acquaintance and assists her to find what is to be her future home. His pleasing appearance and manners, he is a winner, inspire confidence, and Rosalie consents. Thus it happens that they arrive simultaneously and opportunely just as the police John has summoned come on the scene. John claims that he is Robert and asserts that he shot a burglar whom he caught in the act of breaking into his house with the intent of committing a felony. This part of, the plot is replete with dramatic possibilities. Detective and criminal both fall in love with Rosalie, and it is man to man from this moment through exciting situations to the end. Dublin Dan's suspicions are excited by some trivial clue he finds, and he manages to examine this silent testimony while the others are variously engaged. He also objects John to sharp scrutiny when the latter receiver Rosalie. The criminal betrays that he did not know she was coming, and the fact that he has not had time to adjust himself to his new environment is shown in his conduct. Forsythe is savage and brutal, or merely sensuous and lazy as the mood strikes him, but in all cases an instinctive malefactor. Forsythe naturally gravitates to his old haunt, a den of counterfeiters, and there renews relations with confederates who have been operating in a small way. Their laboratory is shown behind a long screen, and John takes up his former occupation with the fanatical enthusiasm of an artist. It is revealed that the adventuress, Jumo, is still infatuated with him, though she has ostensibly given her affections into the keeping of his pal, Bill Steele. Mag Steele is an old hag whose services are those of guard over the safety of the retreat. Forsythe has the temerity to take these people to the house of his slain brother and there make merry to the discomfiture of innocent Rosalie. Rosalie escapes and goes to faithful Dan for advice and help. Dan places her with his mother. Dan goes to the Forsythe house in disguise and informs the merry party he meets there that his motor car is stalled not far away from lack of gasoline. Forsythe offers to send a servant for a new supply. Dan extends a hundred dollar bill, the smallest he has with him, in payment, but this does not attract suspicion. Forsythe takes it and gives counterfeit money in exchange. He is certainly suffering from induration of the occipital. The detective detects, but no matter, just wait. He must locate the den. Forsythe locates him and attempts to abduct Rosalie. She barely escapes the first time by the timely intervention of Dublin Dan in the disguise of a cabman. The second attempt is more successful, and Rosalie is carried away to the den. She is there incarcerated in a prison cell; the den is almost as well equipped as a motion picture studio, to languish while Forsythe resumes his nefarious work in the hidden laboratory. Now comes a closing in of all the elements. Juno is so cruelly jealous that she releases Rosalie from the cell after the others have retired for the night and proceeds to torture her, at least she makes ready, when Rosalie's screams bring the others and the former status is restored. Dublin Dan is not idle. He chances upon Matt, the thug of the counterfeiting gang, in a nearby tavern. In preparation for this encounter the detective has brought along a makeup bag which contains among other wonderful things a live carrier pigeon. Matt the thug has become interested in a drunken sailor who rashly flashes a roll. Dublin Dan interferes and conducts the drunken sailor to a bed-chamber. There the detective has an inspiration. He disguises himself as the drunken sailor, secretes the carrier pigeon in his bosom and contrives to encounter Matt the thug near the counterfeiter's den. Matt takes the drunken sailor into the den to rob him. Dublin Dan not only sees imprisoned Rosalie looking out from behind the prison bars, but is given a full view of the secret laboratory. Feigning sleep while the others play cards, he manages to write a note and attach it to the carrier pigeon's legs. As he sends the dove up the chimney, Matt the thug turns suddenly to help himself to whiskey and catches Dublin Dan in the act. The entire gang assaults the detective in a terrific struggle, with a result that he is overpowered, bound and thrown into a dungeon through a trap door. Is he done for? Ask of the white rats that crawl over his prostrate body and gnaw the ropes that bind him. Dublin Dan rises and rids himself of his bonds. He creeps up an iron ladder, opens the trap and seizes a brace of pistols. Now he has the whole gang at bay. After effecting Rosalie's release, he marches the counterfeiters, one by one, into the prison cell and there he holds them until the police arrive. Best of all, he is so cool about it. When the officers come on the scene he is calmly smoking a cigar.
- Proud old Major Neal disowns his only child, a beautiful girl, because he considers her marriage a misalliance. Years pass. The old major becomes a recluse feared by all. One Christmas morning, a hamper is found beneath the Major's covered driveway. The butler and housekeeper (in the secret), carry the hamper to the library and present it to Neal. He is greatly puzzled and finding a card attached inscribed "To Major Neal," he opens the hamper, only to slam it hastily shut with a startled and angry expression: The hamper contains a baby girl. The old man orders the child taken from his presence, and advertises for the one who presumed to leave it to take it off. But no one claims the child, whose sweetness and innocent joys soon begin to move the old fellow's heart. The baby constantly makes advances, in spite of rebuffs, until the old man succumbs and worships the child, calling her "Little Sunbeam." Sunbeam is stricken with fever. Now is the mother's chance. She comes (the old family doctor aiding and abetting her), disguised as a nurse, and with a mother's untiring love and care nurses Sunbeam back from the shadowy brink. Old Major Neal and his disowned daughter meet at the bedside of the child, and through their great and mutual love for Sunbeam become forever reconciled.
- Lily Adair is forced by her society-struck mother to live far beyond their means. Her mother hopes that Lily will eventually make a good match, and to this end encourages the advances of Stephen Peters, a multi-millionaire, seventy years old. On a day when the bills have come in thick and fast, when the servants have been asking for wages overdue, and the girl feels at the end of her resources, old Peters proposes. The girl is horrified at first, but feeling it is the only way out, she accepts him. But later the girl realizes the immensity of her act and sends back his ring. As he walks up and down the room in anger he hears a noise against the window. He opens it to disclose a man in convict garb cowering on the ledge. There is no fight left in the hunted starving man, and he pleads for shelter. Peters gets an idea. He will dress this ex-convict as a gentleman, introduce him to society, force him to pay attention to Lily Adair and when they become engaged, humble her pride by a disclosure of facts. A month later the convict, as Sir John Clyde, meets Lily Adair at a ball. They fall in love and before long become engaged. On the day the engagement is to be announced Peters calls up the warden of the jail and tells him where an escaped convict is to be found that evening. As John rises to toast his bride- to-be, the warden and the police enter. As John is about to be lead away two gentlemen enter. One announces himself as the British Consul and tells them his companion is the Earl of Clyde, John's brother. Proceedings are stopped as the Earl tells that years before John and the present Earl (Seymour), brothers, came to America to work in a large bank. They were of good family, but poor. Seymour was addicted to gambling and lost all his money at cards. One day he borrowed some funds from the bank, hoping to recoup his losses, but he lost that also. Desperate, he returned to his rooms to find a letter from an English law firm, stating that his cousin had died, leaving him next in kin to his uncle, the Earl's title. He does not know what to do and confesses his crime to John, who feels that, as younger brother, it is his duty to protect the name. He shoulders his brother's crime and sends Seymour back to England. When John realizes his love for Lily he wrote his brother, asking for the truth at last, and in response to his letter, the Earl came to America. All are convinced of John's innocence. Peters, his plan of vengeance frustrated, leaves the house angrily. The Earl enters into conversation with the warden, while Lily goes into John's outstretched arms.
- Unjustly driven from his post, the young lieutenant keeps his oath of allegiance to the flag by saving his persecutors. Suspecting treachery when he leads the Indians into an ambush, the chief forces him to take his sweetheart with him, and she is killed by the bullets of the soldiers.
- Buck and Jeff, cousins, are the last two males left in the McCall clan to continue the feud between the McCalls and the Buckners. Jeff falls in love with Almyry Buckner, daughter of old Simon Buckner. Buck McCall, having been in hiding from the sheriff before young Jeff met Almyry, finally returns to the old home and learns of Jeff's marriage. He meets a pretty little child, who says she is Honey Bee McCall. He takes a great liking to her. Through the untiring efforts of Preachin' Dan, the feud is dropped and a general reconciliation follows.
- Mrs. Casey plans a surprise party for her husband. He comes home drunk and starts a fight with the party guests.
- Senor Don Alma Bendadoso, who has been away from his native home, has sent word to his adherents that he is returning to his castle for the purpose of teaching the true word of God. One of the local newspapers printed a warning to the natives, who are all superstitious to a terrible degree. In his boyhood, the don, while out hunting, met with an enraged mountain lion, which he held with his eye and escaped unharmed, the people then giving him the title of "He of the Evil Eye," and fearing him from that day forward, therefore the unjust title held fast to this quiet man of love. Upon his arrival the people were warned by one Don Immonco Superstisioso and his daughter's sweetheart, Ocloso Ignoranto. The girl, Sobre Superstisioso, wishing to know more about the man with the evil eye, fled the house to the thick of the fray and there met the cursed one, who fascinated her, much to the chagrin and envy of the one who has been selected for her. Later the girl cultivated the acquaintance of Alma, and finds him to be a master, and superior in every way to those with whom she had come in contact, and respect and admiration slowly ripened into love, which was returned by he of the evil eye. Her father demanded that she marry Ocloso Ignoranto, and she finally declared herself by saying that one month hence she will marry him who is most worthy. Senor Don Alma Bendadoso rises clear from the darkness of ignorance to that lightness of reason and understanding, enveloping the girl with the halo from his own soul.
- A father is greatly beloved by his two children and it is a bitter blow to them when they learn from their nurse that they are to have a stepmother. They decide to run away, leaving an affectionate note for their father, in which they explain that they don't want a "stepmother," so they have "runned away." They pack their toys together and make their home in a huge piano packing box. The father returning with his pretty young bride finds the note, and immediately starts a search for them. They come upon the packing box and the children reading "The Story of the Cruel Stepmother." The stepmother asks her husband to leave her alone with the children. They ask her if she is running away from a cruel stepmother too, to which she answers "Yes." Of course they take her into their confidence. The wife finds a better story in the same book, entitled "The Story of the Fairy Godmother," and it is while reading this to the little ones, that they fall asleep. The husband now returns with some men, and they carry the children asleep in the packing box, back to the garden of their home. Here he awakens them, after he has sent his wife to the house to be ready to receive her stepchildren. They do not like the idea of having to meet the stepmother, but the father persuades them, and gently takes them to the room. They are astonished to find it is the lady who read them the story of the "Fairy Godmother."
- Jean, a young wood chopper, has a sweetheart, Annette. She is insulted by the grand seigneur of the parish and Jean rebukes him. The dignitary tells his flunkies to thrash Jean, who seizes a gun and drives them from the house. The next day the girl is annoyed by the seigneur and Jean gives him and his head huntsmen a chastisement. A warrant is issued for Jean's arrest, but he evades them, and in his escape is pursued to a cliff on the seigneur's grounds where he encounters the seigneur and hurls him from the cliffs, crippling him. Jean is sentenced to the galleys for life, but wins a pardon through his efforts in saving the prison governor's life during an uprising of the galley slaves. He returns home and a happy reconciliation follows.
- He is the noted gambler of the county and the most disliked, because of his habit of invariably winning. One day a pretty little woman arrives and is announced as the new postmistress. The male population is all in love with her, but she is partial to none, until she meets Dawson, who impresses her as being different from the rest. He proposes, but she tells him she cannot marry a gambler. He finally wins her by making a promise to reform. When he seeks work everyone refuses him because of his former profession. He pawns all of his personal effects, piece by piece, telling his wife that the money is wages. One day he is given a real job as laborer at a rock crusher, but he is unequal to the task and is discharged. He returns home to find he has been ejected for failure to pay rent. In cheaper quarters his wife falls ill. The doctor says it is due to impoverishment and prescribes wholesome food. Dawson is in despair. His wife forces him to take her wedding ring to obtain money. On his way home with the money obtained by pawning the ring he passes the gambling hall. He tries to resist, but the desire to play and win overcomes him. He wins and wins honestly. One by one the players drop out until only Dawson and one opponent remain. The cards are dealt. The stakes are high. The opponent "stands pat." Dawson is afraid to take any chances. To play straight might mean no food and death for her; to play crooked is safe and sure. He plays it crooked and fools them all but one. This one tells the loser how it happened, the deck is inspected and an extra queen is discovered. Dawson has fed his wife a bowl of hot broth and she falls into a peaceful sleep. He hears a sound at the door and opens it when he finds himself looking down the muzzle of the loser's six-shooter. He is about to be handled roughly by the crowd when the loser sees the sick wife, surmises what the situation is and asks Dawson if that was the reason he did it. Dawson says it was. The loser's attitude changes. He tears up the queen and throws it out of the window. The crowd starts to leave when Dawson calls them back and swears to them that he has played his last crooked deal.
- Jabez Hardy, a hard-hearted old bachelor, discharges his nephew, Chester, from his employ because he married without the old gentleman's consent. Pearl, Chester's wife, whom Uncle had never seen, decides to get a position in Uncle's office, with a view to getting Chester his job back. She is engaged as typist, and Uncle is very much smitten with her. He pays her attentions, and one evening insists upon seeing her to her home. She invites him in, and Chester, seeing them coming, hides. The old gent is making love to Pearl, when Chester enters the room with a gun and pretends to be very angry. He recognizes his uncle and, after expressing his surprise, introduces him to his wife. Uncle congratulates the pair and leaves the couple serene in the belief that Chester will be re-employed. However, Uncle dispatches a letter to Chester, telling him that as his wife is such a treasure he has no need of any other, so he has made a will leaving his entire fortune to a Chinese missionary fund. The young couple are very much chagrined, but have to make the best of the plot, that failed.
- A mother with two young children survives the San Francisco earthquake disaster.
- Lee, after winning Dorothy's affections, breaks his engagement and marries Jessie. Heartbroken, she arrives too late at the church to induce him to right the wrong, or to catch more than a parting glimpse of Lee and his bride as they drive away to the wedding supper. Going to the pier, she takes a long, last look at Lee as the steamer taking them on their honeymoon recedes from view. Discouraged, she would end it all, and is about to jump off the cliff into the sea, when she is persuaded by the gardener of the convent not to sacrifice her life, but to devote it to good works. She thus becomes a sister of mercy, but Lee cannot forget the look of anguish on her face as he gazed upon her from the receding boat. Wherever he goes he is obsessed by her presence and haunted by his conscience. It at last so preys upon his mind that, seeing her spirit once more, he cast himself into the sea. A sailor rescues him and he is taken home, where the doctor, seeing his dangerous condition, sends to the convent for a nurse. Dorothy, not knowing who it is, answers the call. Lee is stricken with fresh fear at seeing her, but is at last persuaded that she is no spirit, and Dorothy's generous forgiveness effects his cure.
- Cynthia Moore, daughter of Colonel Moore, who is the commander of a cavalry post near the Mexican frontier, is much beloved by two junior officers in her father's command. They are Lieutenant Robert Bright and Lieutenant Arthur Hartley, both graduates of West Point, where they had been rivals during their Academy Days. This rivalry, which had been friendly at West Point, became very bitter when they were both assigned to Col. Moore's post and met his attractive daughter, and the true nature of the two men began to assert itself. Under the influence of Cynthia's smiles, Hartley worked with a will, mastered the intricacies of frontier strategy, proved himself in several tight places, and won the respect and esteem of the Colonel. Bright, on the other hand, became surly and morose, drunk a great deal, and placed himself daily farther and farther away from Cynthia and the hope of winning her. Hartley took up the study of wireless telegraphy, so necessary to maneuvers in latter-day warfare, and perfected himself in it. He also taught it to Cynthia, and when they were bending over the sender, with the blue spark hissing and biting as it leaped through the air, with their heads in proximity and their hearts beating time to the mysterious dots and dashes of the Morse code, it was all that Hartley could do to keep from blurting out his deep love. The agony that Bob Bright would undergo, when he would see them thus together, can only be understood by one who has suffered from the pangs inflicted by the green-eyed monster, Jealousy. Hartley has invented portable wireless equipment which may be carried in one's pocket, and he repairs to a spot away from the fort to test the success of his invention. Cynthia is at the sender in the wireless room at the post, and receives his call. Distinctly there comes to her the query, "Cynthia, are you there?" and she flashes back the reply, "Yes." Overjoyed at the success of his invention, Hartley is emboldened and flashes through the message, "Cynthia, I love you." Cynthia receives the message O.K. but the ardent lover is surprised and chagrined when his receiver spells: "Your instrument must be out of order." Hartley feels that he is successful in his love affairs, however, and Bright, with the eyes of jealousy, knows that he is. In this extremity, when he can stand it no longer, he resolves to destroy Hartley and conspires with a band of smugglers and desperadoes, who infest the frontier, to waylay Hartley, with the intention of killing him. This is done, but the revengeful Lieutenant cannot forbear a sight of his rival, and so accompanies the party who abduct Hartley. The latter realizes his fate, particularly as he is kicked and cuffed by Bright, but instead of being killed at once, he is allowed to suffer until sunrise of the following day. He is placed in the courtyard of an old ruin, from which it is impossible for him to escape, as his captors guard the entrances. By cutting the ropes on a jagged stone, he succeeds in freeing his hands, and taking the wireless instrument, which has been unmolested by the ignorant bandits, he sends Cynthia the well-known distress signal, "C.Q.D." She receives a call but cannot locate it, but soon through the air come the words from Hartley, telling of his plight and the place of his incarceration. Bright is present, endeavoring to press his suit, and is annoyed by the call from the wireless machine, which he does not understand. Cynthia, as soon as she can get rid of her undesirable visitor, excuses herself and rushes to her father with the news. The latter immediately dispatches a troop of cavalry to the spot, and in a pitched battle the bandits are defeated and Hartley is rescued. Bright is not aware of the miscarriage of his plans, and has sought out Cynthia with the intention of again declaring his love. Cynthia is overcome with horror of the man, and will not listen to his protestations. Maddened by her actions, Bright takes her in his arms just as Hartley enters the wireless room. Bright is astounded to find his rival unharmed, and when Col. Moore tears off his shoulder straps in indignation, he leaves the post and the service.
- Scotty's only daughter, Ethel, was becoming gradually blind. Doctors made an examination, and concluded that an operation was necessary to save the girl's sight, the cost of which would be two hundred dollars. Scotty had not the required sum and to make things worse, lost his job at the factory. At this state of affairs, Scotty, determined to save Ethel from a bitter life, set out into the world to find work. His wanderings led him to an oil well, where a goodly foreman pressed him into service. It was not long before Scotty was sent out on a special job near the wells. Meanwhile, the foreman's little girl had started from her mother's side and wandered to dangerous ground near a cliff. Scotty saw the little one and risked his own life to rescue her. He climbed the treacherous precipice and carried the child safely to the wells. His heroic act was witnessed by the frantic mother through a surveying instrument. At the wells Scotty fell, exhausted, and was carried to the foreman's house. On regaining consciousness he told of his own little girl back home becoming more and more blind every day, and to save whom he was struggling. His tale struck deep into the hearts of the men, all of whom had witnessed his valiant deed. It was voted to lake a collection, and, with the foreman as the largest contributor, Scotty was enabled to save his daughter from a calamity shortly worse death.
- The police are on the lookout for Jim Spike, alias Jim Nail, a dangerous highway robber, who has been working with more or less success without being apprehended. The chief of the detective bureau puts two new detectives on the case and enjoins them to be very careful in their investigations, and not to come back without landing the prisoner. The three detectives soon come upon Edgar Carroll, in whom they immediately see a striking resemblance to Spike, the crook. They shadow Edgar from place to place, and soon his life becomes one long game of hide and seek with the detectives. Finally Edgar consults his friend and they both decide to give the detectives a merry chase. Edgar and his friend dress as women and parade the streets in their ludicrous feminine attire. They flirt with the detectives and entice them away from their duty. They do not discover the real identity of their charming feminine companions until they accidentally come upon them one evening and see them leisurely, and with enjoyment, smoking clear Havana cigars. This shocking and unfeminine spectacle arouses their suspicions, but the boys are too clever for these cousins of Sherlock Holmes and, with the aid of an automobile, give them the slip, but the detectives eventually turn up again and arrest the masqueraders. However, they do not remain long in the police station, for the real Jim Spike turns up soon as the crook who tried to snatch Jane Ellery's purse on the ferryboat. Jane is Edgar Carroll's sweetheart, and she recognizes him. A few more complications arise, however, until Edgar and the crook are seen side by side and their likeness discovered, and the cousins of Sherlock Holmes see they have been misguided in their investigations.
- Far from the maddened throngs of the city, far from the teeming, seething city streets, in a little fishing town, lives Tess and her half-witted brother, Sam. By clam digging they earn a simple living, but life is sweet in spite of its simplicity. Right near their hut lived a young fisherman, handsome, brave, and bold, who sympathized with the girl because she had to support her semi-demented brother, who took an interest in her, a friendly interest, and no more. But the maid, in the manner of woman misconstrues his attitude and takes his friendly interest and concern for the divine spark. So she learns to love him as a woman can only love once in her life, and he is ignorant of the romantic relations she has assumed this simple friendship to be. Often human hearts suffer, and this time the warm, young heart of Tess is to feel the pang and anguish of a love in vain, for there comes to the fishing bank a city girl, accompanied by her mother and father. They meet the young fisherman and the girl is impressed by his clean-cut form, his robust health, his winning ways. She asks him to take her about the place, which he obligingly consents to do, and as they are laughing, talking and smiling, Tess follows them. Once, to avoid detection, she slipped into the icehouse, leaving the door open, intending to stay there until the two got out of sight. But Jed, seeing the door open, closes it, locking it after him. When Tess realizes her predicament, she shouts, but her calls bring no response. However, her half-witted brother, with the intuition that is a gift of all mentally effected, feels a presentiment of danger to his sister, whom he idolizes, and going to look for her, hears her cries, and going to the icehouse makes a vain effort to unfasten the door. At last he runs to the beach, where some fishermen are talking, and tells them of his sister's dilemma, and they, thinking it merely some of the boy's wild talk, refuses to assist him. Then Jed, coming ashore, hears the story and goes with Sam to see how much truth there is in it. He opens the door, and into his arms falls the unconscious form of Tess, resting at last in the arms of him whom the god of hearts had destined for the task.
- General Rossi, in command of the arsenal in Mexico City, offers to sell the plans of the arsenal to the insurrectos. The offer is accepted and Rossi returns to get the plans. While searching for the documents, Capt. Alonzo Calvo, who is attached to Rossi's staff, enters. He sees the document which the confused Rossi hurriedly places in his pocket but attaches no importance to the incident at the time. Rossi passes the document to an insurrecto spy who, in the guise of a blind beggar, is stationed in front of a church and in exchange receives his pay. The beggar then gropes his way to the outskirts of the city. He is recognized by a Federal lieutenant and a file of soldiers and arrested. Searched at the prison the plans of the arsenal are found in his shirt. Next morning Rossi's command having been moved to the outskirts of the city to meet the attack of the advancing insurrectos, the general receives a letter from the president of Mexico. Rossi, very busy writing, tells Calvo to open and read the communication. The letter states that the enclosed plans of the arsenal were found on a captured insurrecto spy, that but two keys have been issued to the arsenal's strong box, and instructs that Rossi arrest the man responsible for the sale of the plans. Calvo, seeing the document, knows at once that Rossi is guilty. The general, seeing that Calvo knows, and fearing him, determines upon a bold stroke. He arrests Calvo and sends him to prison. Calvo's young bride, Anita, is warned of his arrest and hurries to the courtroom just in time to hear the military judge sentence her husband to be shot. She determines to take desperate measures, mounts her horse, goes to the arsenal, secures a revolver and then, going to camp calls Gen. Rossi out and pleads with him to save Calvo's life. Rossi refuses. Anita then draws the revolver and holding it against Rossi's side compels him to write an order for her husband's release. She snatches the order and starts on her horse for the prison. Rossi, recovering his nerve, calls for his guard and hurriedly writes a countermand of his order for Calvo's release. He is about to hand the order to a messenger when he is shot dead by an insurrecto sharpshooter stationed in a tree some distance away. In falling forward across the table, the order still in his hand. Rossi's other hand knocks over the ink bottle and the ink flows over the fatal order blotting it out. Anita reaches the prison wall with her release just in time to save Calvo from execution.
- He is a millionaire, young and a bachelor, with all the treasures of the earth, but is unhappy. One cold night after a brilliant reception at his home, he decides to walk about the city. After a long stroll he found himself near the waterfront and a child crying. He questioned her and found she had been sent out to sell papers and as the rough street boys had driven her away her day had been a failure and no papers had been sold. He brought her to her wretched room and left her. The next day he told his servants he was going away to another country and speedily made his way to the little waif's house, where he engaged a room and made friends with her father, a wretched derelict, broken in health and ambition. The world-weary man has found the world still attractive, for with the child as his companion he becomes interested in the amusements of the poor. One day the wretched father suddenly died. This was the turning point in the lives of the waif and the millionaire. He sent for his automobile, and going to her wretched room, where he found her asleep, he put her rag doll in her arms and brought her to his mansion and ever after was a father to her.
- An employee wants a raise to afford marriage, but his boss refuses to give to him the extra pay. So, with the help of a pretty young maid, he concocts a scam to force his boss' hand.
- Frances Dean, though without much fortune, is a peach of a girl, and at the summer camp a number of most eligible young men are bitter rivals for her favor. She is an ardent angler, and her suitors pretend much enthusiasm for this sport, and suffer much inconvenience. The other and wealthier girls of the camp are thrown into a flutter of excitement by the news that the young Earl of Durham is to visit the place, and his failure to appear causes intense disappointment. Jack Deering appears on the lake. He is a modest, unassuming young fellow, and attracts the attention of no one except Frances. Jack and Frances soon form a warm friendship, based on their mutual delight in fishing. Observing this friendship, the original suitors jealously increase the ardor of their attentions to Frances, who at length intimates that she will give her hand to the suitor catching the largest fish of the season. In her heart she has no doubt that this will be the expert Jack, but luck is against him, and up to the last day of the fishing season each of the other men has a larger fish to his credit. Jack is in despair, and, in secret, so is Frances. Then Frances proves that she is no true sport; she resorts to a mean little trick, though no one ever finds her out. She goes and buys the biggest fish she can find in the market and while she decoys Jack away from his rod, she employs a boy to attach it to his hook. Jack wins with the largest fish on record in that region. Not until their engagement is formally announced does Frances and the bitterly disappointed crowd know that Jack Deering is in reality John Deering Stanley-Rockbridge, Earl of Durham.
- There were misery and poverty in those homes of the strikers, there were sickness and death. Happiness was not the issue of the strike, it was bread; not contentment, but life. It was the ancient struggle of the weak many, against the mighty few, the inefficient millions against the invincible one. It is true that they had committed the unpardonable error of being born poor, but life was strong in them and sweet to them, though it was only existence. Their mouths were hungry, their hearts were red with rage and wrong, and their hands might have become that hue, too, but for a girl. A girl who knew sorrow's misery and pain's distress, a girl who knew the meaning of love of life and fear of death, and the torture of the destitution that exaggerates the one and aggravates the other. Like a Daniel of another sex, she championed their cause. She cautioned, encouraged, guided and guarded them. She taught them patience, forbearance and fortitude. She fought with a fierce, fiery devotion. She organized meeting after meeting, and from the platform she cried their truth to the world, and emphasized the neglected fact that they had as much right to live as he who took the work of their hands and gave them hunger for reward. But the mill-owner was obdurate. It did not occur to him that these were human beings asking only the right to avoid death. At last she went to him, with the pathetic human evidence of the wrong, and pleaded for redress. The mill-owner's son saw and heard her, and something in the passionate, pleading, pleasing voice, and something in the sympathetic face, and something in the tender, thoughtful eyes arrested and interested him. He dressed in the clothes of the workman and attended the meetings. He listened to her, he was carried away by the bitter truth of her eloquence, and he saw the light and the right. He enlisted in the fight, and she learned to depend upon him as an able lieutenant and a devoted sympathizer. You know, she thought he was one of the men. The gods have a mill of their own; "they grind slow, but they grind exceeding fine." And it was decreed that the master of men meet the Master of Men. The thing that conquers conquerors, the enemy that vanquishes kings, that respects the mansion no more than the manger, entered the chamber of velvet and gilt, and summoned the mill-owner to a tribune greater than all the millions who had judged him. His son inherited the millions and their power, and he told and offered the girl all. She had almost learned to love him, but his justice and generosity completed the teaching. She gave herself to him, and he gave the millions to the millions.
- Patricia Jordan loves Leonard Craig, who hasn't proposed because he is poor. Her family has been on the ragged edge for years. Her mother and younger brother Cyril rebel against their poverty and constantly remind Patricia that wealthy, middle-aged Judge March needs only a little encouragement to ask her to be his wife. Patricia thinks that married to the judge, she can aid her family and give her brother an education. The judge proposes and Patricia later becomes his wife. Leonard's firm sends him to South America and he arranges with the judge's gardener's daughter Hazel to look after his mother. While the young wife is fairly happy, her hopes are not realized. The judge sees to reason to allow her an income when he supports her well. Patricia's family is not benefited, and Cyril has plunged into debt. Town moneylender Joel Martin, money lender of the town, encourages the boy in his helplessness, and when the first I.O.U.comes due, Cyril goes to his sister for money. Patricia pays his bills and when Cyril's demands become greater she turns to the stock market rather than have Martin go to the judge. She loses money and finds herself at a crisis. Cyril has quarreled with Martin and the brokers have wired Patricia for immediate remittance. The gardener, Hazel's father, is also in Martin's power, and when Hazel meets Martin, he openly encourages the attentions of the sinister old man. Patricia writes to Leonard, who has arrived on his first visit home, appealing for aid. The gardener delivers the note. Leonard responds, lends her money and warns her to stop speculating. The gardener returns to his cottage and finds Hazel struggling against the moneylender's embrace, and the gardener shoots Martin and gains possession of the note Patricia sent to Leonard. Suspicion points to Cyril as the murderer. He is arrested. His sister is astounded, but when Leonard, who saw the murder as he left the house, tells her the truth her only thought is to clear her brother. Leonard confronts Welsh and threatens to have him arrested. Welsh defies him and threatens to expose Leonard and the judge's wife. As the day of the trial approaches he fears arrest and takes a daring chance. He mails the note to the judge, knowing that at all costs the judge will shield his wife. The judge is shocked, but Patricia tells Leonard to tell the truth at all costs. Leonard tells the judge everything and when Patricia enters, instead of casting her off, the judge declares he believes in her. Welsh is arrested. Leonard realizes that Hazel is no longer a child and that he loves her, but Hazel will not give him an answer while the cloud hangs over them. The police enter to take her into custody. She faints in Leonard's arms. In his cell Welsh is found dead next morning. Hazel tells the truth and Cyril is freed.
- Ben Bolt on his way to school one day comes across little Alice, the little waif. He takes her to his home and the little orphan is taken to the hearts of Ben's kind father and mother. The years pass and the two young people grow fonder and fonder of each other, until at last Ben proposes and is accepted. That same day, he is impressed upon a British man-of-war by the notorious press gang and Alice waits for him to return. She goes in search of him, and while in a boat is struck by its jib boom and knocked senseless. She is picked up by a French man-of-war, but when she recovers consciousness, the Captain finds her memory has gone. He takes her ashore to some friends of his, and leaves her in their care. Meanwhile war has been declared and Ben has become more used to his surroundings. Off the coast of France, the British captain orders Ben and some sailors ashore for water and while returning to the ship they are attacked by a French skirmishing party. Ben is injured and drags himself by chance to the house in which Alice is being befriended. She fails to recognize him, but after a great deal of persuasion, the old people consent to Ben taking his former sweetheart back to England. When they arrive there, Ben shows Alice the places she knew so well in her childhood days, and the sight of the old mill, where they were betrothed, brings back memory to Alice.
- The children of a rich family are out walking with their mother, when they pass the home of a poor little shepherdess, who has a large quantity of violets around her. They wish to get some violets and the little shepherdess leads them to the place where the violets grow. Christmas time comes and the two children are having a joyous time, but the poor little shepherdess is sick. When spring returns the children go again to pick violets and then think of the little shepherdess, whom they go to visit. They enter the house and find her dying.
- Fred Lester, a young farmer, has been married to Rose for about three years. Rose is some years younger than Fred, and is still a child in many respects. Her entire idea of life is to be tender and loving to Fred. Fred, fairly well educated, and a reader of books, loves Rose, but is dissatisfied with his life not finding in Rose the bright, mental companionship he thinks he desires above all else. There comes to the neighborhood for a rest, Florie, a butterfly of the city, pretty, a wearer of good clothes, with a smattering of knowledge of many things, enough to greatly impress one so inexperienced in real life as Fred. Florie meets Fred by chance, and to pass the time away draws him into what to her is an idle flirtation, but to him a serious affair. He is completely infatuated. Rose has from the first been aware of the affair between Fred and Florie, and her heart has almost broken in secret. She is bewildered and helpless. Her only clear thought is that, no matter what the cost to herself, she desires Fred to be happy, and determines that if that happiness is found with Florie and not with herself, Fred shall have it. Florie suddenly announces that she must return to the city. Fred is staggered by the idea. Up to this time he has given no serious thought to the matter, simply accepting daily the intoxicating delight of Florie's companionship without thought of the future. Now, the idea of life on the farm, alone with Rose, seems intolerable to him. He proposes to Florie that he go away with her. Florie readily agrees. Rose has overheard the arrangement, but keeps silent. Fred secretly packs and conceals a suitcase. Rose discovers it and examines the contents with fond solicitude, finding, as she feared, that Fred's choice of clothing has been boyishly impractical. She repacks the suitcase, adding his winter underwear, placing with the garments a little note cautioning him to put on the wool if the weather grows damp or cold. That night she silently watches from a place of concealment when Fred steals away. Fred meets Florie at the railway station and together they discover the note. Fred is simply astonished and dazed. Florie instantly comprehends the whole situation, the sacrifice Rose has made, and how vital a passion must be the love which could conceive and execute it. Florie's real spirit, a kindly heart, of which she had never dreamed herself possessed, suddenly flares up in a fierce anger against Fred. In cold contempt she tells him to go back to beg forgiveness, and all his life thank God for the gift of so great a love. Humbled and repentant, Fred goes to find, with his now larger understanding, happiness.
- The chief decides that it is about time the city has a police force that is more on the lines of a regular city. He has pretty poor material to deal with and discipline is at a discount, but for a starter he posts a sign that any policeman caught drinking on duty will lose his job with suddenness. In spite of the rigid ruling the call of the glass is too strong to be resisted, and Pat Casey takes a chance and slips into his regular port for a morning nip. But the chief is on his trail and shows up just as Pat is finishing his bottle. He lands one good punch on Pat's eye, but Pat knocks him down and makes his escape. The chief did not get a chance to read Pat's number, but he is certain he will know that black eye. Pat comes back to the saloon and learns from the barkeeper that the chief has him marked. He laments his bad luck to Mrs. Casey, but that resourceful lady is not a bit worried. She spends a pleasant hour blackening the eyes of other policemen and when they come to the station the chief is all at sea. Outside Mrs. Casey waits for her spouse. The policemen spot the cause of their discolored optics and charge upon her, but when she explains that it was to save Pat's shield all is forgiven.
- Alice Brady writes her brother Will that she is going to visit him. The letter is lost. Will writes his friend Jack Wilson to come over. Alice arrives while Will is away from the house and goes to her room to sleep. Jack, who has looked upon the wine when it was much too red, comes to the house and tries to get into Alice's room. She chases him out and Will comes home to find his friend shivering in the hallway. Jack explains that some woman threw him out of the room. Not knowing of Alice's presence, Will is very much wrought up. He knocks on the door of her room. Alice, thinking the inebriate, Jack, has returned, opens the door and throws a pitcher of water all over Will. Confusion reigns, until matters are straightened out by proper introductions and regrets.
- Vinnie, Colonel Beggs' daughter, complains to her father that Lieutenant Sterling is paying her unwelcome attentions. The Colonel assures his daughter that she has no cause for fear. He immediately forgets the incident, as important military developments occupy his time. But soon Vinnie has a more serious complaint, and the Colonel is forced to act. While on a short canter through the woods, Vinnie was again insulted by the forced attentions of Sterling. Fortunately, Sergeant Karr was nearby and he saved Vinnie from a disagreeable situation. The Colonel orders Sterling's arrest and later this untrustworthy officer is dismissed from service. Captain Sterling is now out for revenge. Not being satisfied with having broken his oath to Uncle Sam, "not to commit any act that is unbecoming of a gentleman and a soldier," he plans to immerse himself further in crime. In line with his plans for revenge, he engages a number of drunken Mexicans to aid him in kidnapping Vinnie and also to help him teach Sergeant Karr a lesson for interfering with the actions of a "superior officer." The degenerate soldier is temporarily successful in his plans, but Karr is fearless and, with indomitable courage, protects the girl he has begun to love.