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- A father who is looking for a suitable candidate for his daughter ends up having a mistress, and tigers prowling all around him.
- A spy from a foreign country charms upper-class girl Ebba to infiltrate circle of powerful people.
- Count Frederick, while hunting, meets Lucy, the daughter of Masone, a gamekeeper on his father's estate and a tender romance unfolds. Later. Lucy is tenderly rocking the cradle of her baby, dreaming of her lover's return and her approaching wedding, Frederick has confessed to his father and has asked his permission to marry, but the proud old nobleman refuses to let his son marry beneath his station in life and sends him off to France, dismissing Lucy's father from his estate. Lucy and her father journey to Polain where the former game-keeper gets a position in the stable, and after eight years loses it through old age. Starvation stares them in the face and little Tony, the son of Count Frederick and Lucy, is apprenticed to Gaspard, a chimney-sweep, who is buying poor little boys for his work in Turin. In the meantime, Frederick has returned from France and traced Lucy and the boy to Polain, but cannot marry her because of his father's opposition. By chance, Gaspard and his boys pass the house of Count Frederick. Tony, the youngest of the crew, becomes sick and sits down at the door of his father's house. Gaspard finds him and compels the youngster to undertake a job, but Charles, his little friend, meets Tony and offers to do the job for him, arranging to meet him where he was resting. Poor Charles is suffocated in the chimney which Tony was supposed to clean. Meantime the Count has found Tony and discovers that he is his son; he takes him to his father and declares his intention to renounce his title and marry Lucy. The old Count's heart is changed by the noble little fellow and he consents. Lucy and her father, unable to stand the loneliness without Tony, come to Turin to beg Tony from Gaspard, but are greeted with the news that Tony has just been killed. Crazed with grief, Lucy is continually appealing to the chimney in her home to give her back her boy. Count Frederick goes to Polain with Tony, but Lucy does not recognize either. Her poor old father has thought of the novel idea of dressing Tony up as a chimney-sweep. She at last recognizes him and her reason is restored. Lucy and the Count are united and we leave them in the midst of happiness.
- Several Moldavians ("plaiesi") defend the Neamt Citadel against the whole army of Sobieski, the King of Poland.
- Lieutenant Fritz Lobheimer is in a relationship with a married woman when he meets Christine and both fall in love.
- Count Von Teyn is a young officer in a cavalry regiment, and after a romantic courtship and marriage he unwittingly subscribes to a fund for the benefit of Miss Phoebe, a professional equestrienne. The latter thanks the Count by letter and asks that she be permitted to thank him in person. The letter falls into the hands of his wife, Lydia, and she witnesses the meeting and returns to her parents in a jealous rage. The Count later begs for forgiveness and a reconciliation follows. In a race for the King's cup, Count Von Teyn is one of the principal riders and Lydia, in company with her millionaire father, Peter Romford, and many other notables, occupy box seats in the grandstand. During the steeplechase, Count Von Teyn is thrown from his mount and injured. The family physician calls in consultation two eminent specialists and they agree that the young nobleman has suffered injuries which will cause him to be a cripple for life. Lydia bears this news with fortitude, and resolves to devote the remainder of her life to the care of her husband. The latter suffers intense agony and on one occasion attempts to gain possession of a revolver belonging to a brother officer, who is paying him a visit. Failing in this attempt to end his life, the Count implores his wife to furnish him with the means of self-destruction. As well as his helpless state will permit, he pictures the agonies which foe must suffer until death brings relief and Lydia finally succumbs to his pleading and furnishes the medium. It is now her turn to bear the unspeakable suffering which possesses her at the mere thought of her act. The authorities charge her with the murder of her husband and she is placed on trial. She pleads her innocence after a scathing denunciation at the hands of the public prosecutor. The summing up of the judges is prolonged, but in the end, Lydia is acquitted and leaves the courtroom surrounded by her parents and friends.
- An old poor man steals some wood and gets sentenced to 1 1/2 years of hard labor.
- Prince Ludwig, of Gravania, is very wild and indulges himself in many dissipations which reflect no credit on the good name of the reigning family. He has a double in his servant Enrico whom he dresses in his uniform when he leaves the palace so that his absence will not be noticed. Enrico is in love with a pretty peasant girl, Valerie, who in turn is faithful to him. On one of the rides through the royal parks Prince Ludwig sees the girl and falls desperately in love with her. True to Enrico, however, she repulses the Prince. He not being used to have his wishes frustrated has the girl kidnapped and brought to his room in the palace. Before the Prince returns Enrico accidentally enters. Valerie tells him of her plight and he helps her escape through a secret passage. Valerie has no sooner disappeared from the room than the Prince enters and a quarrel starts between him and his servant in which the Prince is killed. News comes almost simultaneously that the king is dead, and Enrico dressing himself in the prince's uniform goes out and passes himself off as the prince. Later the body of the supposed servant, but in reality the prince is found, and the blame is laid upon the newly made servant-king. The cabinet decides to make way with the king because of his scoundrelly action in killing his servant. When Enrico goes to the home of Valerie to declare himself truly the trap is laid by the chief of police. Valerie recognizes her true lover and tries to aid him to escape, but the paths are too well guarded and the false Enrico falls a victim to his own ambition.
- A propaganda re-enactment, co-financed by the Woodrow Wilson government, of the 1890 massacre of 300 Lakota residents of South Dakota, which was portrayed as American military heroism and justified as part of the assimilation effort.
- The picture opens with an introductory scene in which we first meet Clavering Maunsel, only son of Colonel Maunsel, at their home, "Ovingdean Grange." He is bidding his father good-bye, and riding forth to fight for the king. He takes a last farewell of his sweetheart. Dulcia Beard, the chaplain's daughter, and rides away. The preparations of the rival troops are then shown. Cromwell and the Roundheads take every precaution on the field, while in contrast we have a following scene, showing the Royalists toasting the king. Next follow a number of realistic scenes depicting the final sortie of the Battle of Worcester, in which the Royalists are defeated by the Roundheads, and King Charles is obliged to flee for his life. Clavering Maunsel is wounded and carried home to "Ovingdean Grange" by his faithful servant, John Habergeon. At the Grange an attempt is made by Captain Stelfax, at the head of the Roundhead troops, to make him prisoner. He escapes and succeeds in shooting both of the Roundhead riders. His horse is shot under him at the top of a sixty-foot embankment, and they roll, horse and man, from the top to the bottom. Clavering is now able to make off on foot. He has not gone far when he meets with a party of horsemen whom he recognizes as the king and his friends, Colonel Gunter and Lord Wilmot. The king is on his way to the coast, and readily agrees to Clavering's offer to take shelter at the Grange. They ride over the ancient bridge at Shoreham, and soon arrive at Ovingdean. Here the merry monarch, feeling secure from capture, charms the company with his joviality. Captain Stelfax has been on the watch, however, and having procured troops surrounds the house, and makes a sudden and unexpected entrance to the dining hall. He captures the king, and takes the entire company prisoners. We picture the famous escape from Ovingdean church, and how Clavering and the king succeeded in locking the church door with Stelfax and his men inside. Later we see the dramatic escape from the top of the cliff, when good Nick Tattersal lent his aid, and the king was safely rowed out to the schooner in waiting. A fine picture is presented of the schooner sailing to the friendly shores of France, while from the cliff top Stelfax gazes on the prize he has lost. We come to the restoration of the king in the year 1660. Clavering is still languishing in prison when Charles makes his triumphant procession from Dover to London. Colonel Maunsel and Dulcia join the cheering throng. The girl remembers the king's kindly manner in the days at Ovingdean, and implores him to release her lover, at which the throng cheers and cheers. A well-earned reward. In the palace at Whitehall, surrounded by his magnificent court, the king, in royal fashion, acknowledges his gratitude and unites the lovely Dulcia to her lover, now Sir Clavering Maunsel.
- Falsely accused of the theft of a million dollars in securities from the safe of his wealthy employer, an honest young private secretary finds himself powerless to prove his innocence because of the perjury of an unprincipled butler who has been bribed to testify against him. The daughter of his employer is the innocent cause of the activity of his powerful enemy, who is an influential banker and the rival of the secretary for the hand of the girl. One of the secretary's cufflinks found near the looted safe suggests to the banker the possibility of fixing the crime upon him. The butler accepts a large sum of money from the banker in return for bearing witness, but is suspected of dishonesty by the maid because of his sudden show of wealth. Detectives are put upon his track, but he learns of his danger and succeeds in effecting his escape, thus making it appear that he himself is guilty of the theft. As a hunted criminal with the police instructed to arrest him on sight he becomes a desperate character and selects the banker as a likely subject for a successful scheme to obtain money. By a clever ruse be obtains an audience with the banker, leaving him bound and gagged several thousand dollars poorer. But his bold move leads to his discovery by the police, who follow him successfully in spite of a spectacular flight in which Broadway, the Bowery, the Brooklyn Bridge and Flushing, Long Island play an important part. The opening of a large cantilever bridge at the psychological moment places the butler in the clutches of the law, but the banker is afraid to identify him as his assailant and there is no direct proof of his connection with the million dollar robbery. Experts find only the safe owner's fingerprints upon the combination of the safe, and a famous detective becomes interested in the peculiar case. He looks up the life history of the victim of the robbery and finds that the old capitalist suffers from a common but little understood affliction. By substituting a hypnotist for the old gentleman's barber he succeeds in obtaining a statement which proves that the capitalist removed the money box from the safe with his own hands and hid it in a fireplace while walking in his sleep. The butler is immediately accused of perjury, but fights desperately against arrest and when finally cornered leaps from the top of a high building to his death. The capitalist carefully follows the instructions given by himself while hypnotized and finding his lost wealth intact, begs the forgiveness of his falsely accused secretary and welcomes him as the husband of his daughter.
- When a banker is threatened by extortionists, and his son is kidnapped, woman detective miss Clever goes undercover.
- Paolina is the illegitimate daughter of the Duke of Vallenza, and lives as a beggar. She meets with Nunzio, a blind man who plays violin, exploited by his stepfather, and the two fall in love. The old Duke, remorsing, tries to find his daughter but he doesn't manage and leaves everything to his latest concubine, Livia, while Nunzio and Paolina will live in misery.
- A wealthy retired farmer and his wife deeply regret that they have no child to cheer them in their old age. They are attracted by the sounds of happy children playing in the snow outside and go to the window to watch them. The children are building a snowman and the old farmer proposes to his wife that they too shall go out in the snow and build a snow child. They select a spot in the front yard and build a child out of snow. The neighbors think they have gone crazy, but the man and his wife continue their childish amusement until they have finished a beautiful snow child. They then return to the house and resuming their former places in front of the fire fall asleep and dream that their snow child has come to life. The snow child fades away and a real live child is there in place of it. It dances about for joy and dances its way into the house. The farmer and his wife awake to find their dream come true. They are astonished and amazed, and cannot believe that it is a real live child. The child tells them that she is the daughter of the North Wind that her name is Snow White. The farmer and his wife falls on their knees and give thanks to God for sending them such a beautiful child. Snow White cheers and comforts them until Spring comes. As the winter fades away she gets weaker and weaker. One day the children come for her to go out in the woods and look for the first spring flowers. Arrived at the woods the children build a large fire. One of the little girls finds the first flower of spring and the children dance around the fire in celebration. Snow White stands at one side disconsolate, though urged to join the fun by the other children. At last the children tiring of their dancer wander off in search of other flowers. The fire has a wonderful attraction for Snow White. Gradually and reluctantly she approaches it and is transformed from a living child back into a snow child, which rapidly melts before the intense heat of the fire until it is nothing but a shapeless mass of snow.
- A blind Orthodox Jew is saved by a gentile doctor but disowns his eldest daughter for loving that man.Since she was the family breadwinner, the result of the father's stubbornness is that he and the younger daughter sink into poverty.
- In order to avoid exposure attendant upon the birth of Harold Gage, the fatherless son of Constance, he, through arrangements made by Lady Staunton, the haughty sister of Constance, is placed under the care of Mr. and Mrs. Marshall, who are paid to rear the boy as their own, cautioned against revealing to him or the outside world his true identity. Mrs. Marshall's real son, in the early years of his life, acquainted with the doubtful parentage of Harold, taunts him. The two engage in a boys' fight, Harold being severely cut on his left arm by a scythe in the hands of his young foster brother, the wound leaving an ugly scar. The lad, sensitive of the treatment of his foster brother, finally migrates to Australia as a stowaway, where, by reason of forced circumstances and his near starvation to death, become a bush-ranger. Because of the rapidity of his operations, and his ability to escape detection and arrest, he, as the unknown bushranger, received the sobriquet of "Capt. Swift." He attempts to hold up a traveler, George Gardner, who is willing to suffer death rather than part with his gold. "Capt. Swift," hesitating to take a human life, compels him to alight and rides away with the wayfarer's mount. Swift, after having robbed the Queensland bank, suffers remorse, and determines to reform. Under the name of William Wilding, being the name of his companion in Australia, who died of starvation and thirst on the desert, he returns to London, where, at an opportune moment, he saves James Seabrook. whose life is in jeopardy by reason of a runaway horse. "Capt. Swift," invited by Seabrook to his home, there meets Mrs. Seabrook, their daughter Mabel and their niece Stella Darbisher. Harry Seabrook. brother of Mabel, a whole-hearted but impetuous young man, takes immediate dislike to Swift, whereas Stella Darbisher, a girl of romantic disposition, admiring the brave spirit inherent in Swift, becomes strongly attached to him. Marshall, the foster brother of Swift, is now employed as butler in the home of the Seabrooks. At a gathering the conversation is directed toward the escapades of one, "Capt. Swift," in Australia, whose name had become almost a household word throughout England. In the course of conversation, George Gardner, who is a friend of the Seabrooks, having returned from Australia, calls at their home, and there identifies Wilding as the notorious "Capt. Swift," and is in turn recognized by Swift, but his identity is not revealed to the others. Mrs. Seabrook recognizes a strong similarity between the man Swift and her boy, given away in adoption to the Marshalls. Her fears are later justified, when, at a dramatic and tense moment, she proves the fact to him. Swift, however, in order not to stigmatize his mother, determines to leave the household of the Seabrooks. Stella Darbisher's infatuation for Swift has progressed to such a point as to cause a strong reciprocal feeling on his part for the girl. The rivalry of Harry Seabrook for the hand of Stella causes a violent quarrel between him and Swift, the consequences of which are avoided by the timely intervention of Gardner. Marshall, eavesdropping during a conversation between Swift and his mother, Mrs. Seabrook, learns of the identity of Swift, and further proves it by a scar on Swift's arm, the result of the wound inflicted by Marshall when the two were boys. With this knowledge Marshall attempts to blackmail Swift, and being repulsed, acquaints the police with his whereabouts. A detective from Australia has arrived in London to apprehend Swift, having traced his movements to that place. Gardner, strongly admiring the manhood of Swift, determining if possible to save him, warns him. Swift, cornered in the home of his mother, rather than suffer arrest, together with the attendant exposure, and the possible revelation of his real identity, and to save the girl he loves and his mother the disgrace that would necessarily follow, jumps out of a window, knowing that the possibility of escape is meager. Marshall, working in league with the detective, is hidden in the shrubbery, and seeing Swift, fires, mortally wounding him, at the same moment that the detective from a window above shoots, the cross shot which strikes Marshall, puts an end to him. The denouement ends without the identity of "Capt. Swift" being revealed to the others.
- When he is ruined by speculating in the stock market by bogus tips given to him by Charles Wainwright, George Garrison commits suicide, but before his death he begs his son Henry to avenge him. Henry goes West and makes a fortune prospecting, then returns to New York and assumes the name of Henry Thompson. He becomes Wainwright's protege and falls in love with his daughter Dallas, then is elected mayor of New York, backed by Wainwright's friend, political boss Richard Horrigan. In return for Wainwright's support, he is supposed to sign a franchise binding the city to the financier's railway. Henry refuses, so Wainwright and his flunkies attempt to discredit him by dredging up an old murder charge, but the charge is proved false when the supposed victim, Henry's partner Joe Standing shows up. Finally, Henry confronts Wainwright, accuses him of causing his father's death and of attempting to defraud the city. Despite his denunciation of her father, Dallas proclaims her love for Henry. In an epilogue, the hands of the victims of political boss Horrigan clutch at him from the grave.
- The Moorish general Othello is manipulated into thinking that his new wife Desdemona has been carrying on an affair with his lieutenant Michael Cassio when in reality it is all part of the scheme of a bitter ensign named Iago.
- The young man, Roberts, loses his father to a watery death following business failure owing to the treachery of a banker animated by a stated but unexplained grudge. Roberts drops out of sight entirely for the whole of the second part, as the ship on which he is sailing to South Africa is lost, and as reported with all on board, it is fair to assume he has met death until we recognize him in the group at the Cape. The wife back home reads of the disaster and the shock kills her; the baby is adopted by a neighbor. The beginning of the second reel marks the introduction of new characters by reason of a lapse of twenty years. The Roberts infant is now a grown girl, and employed as a dancer. The son of the unscrupulous banker falls in love with the dancer, but owing to the objection by the older Martin the girl decides to refuse a bribe to leave town; she goes anyway. Singularly enough, she sails for the very part of the world where her father is. On the same steamer is a woman, a sort of adventuress, commissioned by Martin to report on the situation at the new gold fields. There are many adventures before Roberts, who for some reason has changed his name to Treberson, now rehabilitated in fortune, goes back to Europe to get his revenge on the man who ruined him. .As a matter of fact, he does no such thing, as the requited love of his daughter for the son of the banker intervenes and all ends happily.
- Natural-born mimic Glory Quayle leaves her country home, reaches London, goes on the stage, and gains fame and affluence. Her country sweetheart John Storm, believing he has lost Glory forever, enters a monastery, tries to forget her, cannot kill his love, returns to the world, and becomes a famous slum worker and friend of the poor. Social vampire Lord Robert Ure, a beast in human form, betrays Glory's chum Polly Love. Glory tells John of Lord Robert's wicked treatment of poor Polly. John demands that Lord Robert marry Polly to save her from dishonor. Lord Robert refuses, as he intends to marry a rich American heiress, and a terrific clash erupts between the Right of John and the Might of Lord Robert. John exposes Lord Robert, who swears revenge. Polly dies of shame and a broken heart. Lord Robert plans fiendish revenge on John. He broadcasts the report that John predicts the end of the world on Derby Day, the greatest day of sport in England. John becomes an object of hatred. All Britain wrought up by John's alleged prediction. His former friends become bitter foes. The uneducated and weak are in mortal fear. Thousands and thousands incite riots against John Widespread and awful panics in the slums. Derby Day becomes a day of terror. (Wonderful scenes of the world-famous Derby Race, with its great horses and its terrific crowds, taken in England especially for these scenes.) John is a target for the vengeance of everyone, both rich and poor. He stands alone, with all the world against him. Glory rushes to his aid, quells the angry hordes and saves him from them. Through persecution, John's mind becomes unbalanced. That night, fearful for Glory, John goes to her home, tries to kill her to save her from a fate like the one which befell poor Polly. Glory rises supreme makes a magnificent defense, recalls John to his senses, helps establish his innocence, proves Lord Robert's guilt, accepts John's love, joins him for life, be it better or worse and in spite of the terror, the deep disappointment, the tribulations, the misunderstandings, in spite of all, Glory and John find happiness in each other's love.
- Mr. Starry, a banker, has been successfully selling stock in a company to work a gold mine in Mexico. The editor of the "Daily Truth" has received information which warrants him to expose the scheme of Mr. Starry, who has become enormously wealthy by the sale of this fraudulent stock. George Ferguson, a war correspondent on the "Daily Truth," while returning 4from the Balkan service, forms the acquaintance of the banker's daughter, Margaret, and falls in love with her. On his arrival his editor informs him of this stock jobbing scheme and tells him that he must proceed with all haste to Mexico and make a thorough investigation. Banker Starry has been informed of the "Daily Truth's" activeness, and his prospective son-in-law, James Park, makes a very attractive proposition to Ferguson to induce him to give up his trip, which results in a duel. Park is slightly wounded and then and there decides to precede Ferguson to Mexico to prevent him at all hazards from sending anything but a good report of the mine proposition. He visits all the dives and makes the acquaintance of many bandits and lion tamers who will serve his purpose. On the arrival of Ferguson, Park arranges to have him directed to the lion tamer's camp where Ferguson is taken prisoner and placed in a cage divided in two parts, one part is occupied by ten lions. Park has provided a table, pen, ink and paper and has lighted a candle, informs his prisoner that he must make up his mind before the candle burns out to write up a glowing account of the mines to be sent to the "Daily Truth," or he will pull the chain that will lift the door allowing the lions in to devour him. Ferguson's guides have located him by this time and have determined that the only way to save him is to set fire to the building. This they do and amid the roar of the lions and the licking of the flames he makes a miraculous escape and arrives back in London to the office of the "Daily Truth," which denounces the fraudulent gold mine proposition in glowing headlines. Banker Starry and his beautiful daughter, Margaret, make a sudden departure for Switzerland. James Park lost his life amid the lions and fire. Ferguson resigns from the staff of the "Daily Truth" and leaves for Switzerland, where he finds the banker and his daughter, who has refunded every cent to the stockholders of the gold mine scheme through the "Daily Truth." The banker's daughter is now Mrs. Ferguson.
- Champney Carter, a writer, late one night receives a telegram from his publishers stating that he must deliver on the following morning the manuscript of the novel he has contracted to write for them. Not one word of the story has been written yet. Putting a piece of paper in his typewriter, he begins his tale, "The Man Who Could Not Lose." Through the long hours of the night he writes with frenzied haste. The Story: Jackson Carter, an elderly man, through gambling on the races, finds himself penniless and in debt to Sol Burbank, a bookmaker, for a large amount. The bookmaker makes repeated demands for the money and at last, after a stormy interview, threatens Carter with exposure. From the shock the unfortunate man is stricken with heart failure and falls dead at Burbank's feet. Champney Carter, the gambler's son, leaves college and makes a vow to sooner or later wreak vengeance upon the man who caused his father's death. Young Carter becomes a writer and earns a precarious livelihood as an author. His first novel, the "Dead Heat," is a failure. At this time he meets Dolly Ingram, the daughter of a wealthy banker, falls in love with her, but his attentions meet with the objection of her father, who wishes her to marry a nobleman. Carter elopes with Dolly and for a while they live near poverty, when, in a dream, he sees a horse named Dromedary win the Suburban handicap. The next day he places all his money upon the horse and wins at 40 to 1. Time and time he picks the winning horse, and finally drives Sol Burbank from the track, a bankrupt. Owing to his marvelous luck he is called "The Man Who Could Not Lose." When his winnings total half a million dollars he stops gambling. A reconciliation is affected between his wife and her father and all ends happily. End of story. The next morning bright and early the girl from the publishers comes for the story. He is amazed to find that she is the exact counterpart of the heroine of the story, which is a great success. Six months later he wins her heart and she becomes Mrs. Champney Carter.
- The romantic attachment which the humbly born William Shakespeare had for the beautiful and gentle Charlotte Clopton, of Clopton Hall, is authenticated by the letters of many people of the period, and as it is one of the most potent factors in the development of the genius of Shakespeare, it is very appropriate that the film should open with the first meeting of the future playwright and the beautiful young girl. This acquaintance always remained a romantic one, on the part of young Shakespeare, but Charlotte felt the attraction more seriously. Meanwhile, Sir Hugh Clopton, Charlotte's father, who is an ardent Catholic, shelters in his house a man named Carry, who is a traitor to the Queen; he does this at the command of Pope Gregory XIII, not knowing the character of the man he is harboring. Shakespeare, pursuing the apparently gay and thoughtless tenor of his career, but in reality training the great qualities of mind which were afterwards to make him famous, displeases a lawyer in whose employ he has been, and while he is trying to explain this to his mother, a tragic scene takes place, in the assassination of the traitor Parry. Too late. Sir Hugh Clopton learns of Parry's treachery, through Shakespeare's lawyer employer, who informs Sir Thomas Lucy of the plot, and also accuses Sir Hugh of being in it. Sir Hugh's celebration of his daughter's birthday is rudely interrupted by the arrival of soldiers, who are come to arrest him for complicity in the treasonous design. The Queen pardons Sir Hugh, but his lovely daughter falls ill of a mysterious malady, which is wrongly diagnosed as The Plague, but which is a fatal one, nevertheless despite the great danger of infection. Shakespeare bids her a passionate farewell before she dies. Some months later Shakespeare, now beginning to be the great man of his village, champions pretty, shy Anne Hathaway at the Twelfth Night Revels. Their acquaintance ripens, and their courtship is played out in the beautiful environs of Stratford and about the Anne Hathaway cottage. In sharp contrast to the idyllic Anne Hathaway of the courtship, the wedded wife of Shakespeare is undoubtedly the shrew, whose sharp tongue drives her husband to the distraction of the "Lucy Arms." This condition of things, added to the fact that Shakespeare has incurred the displeasure of Sir Thomas Lucy by his poaching exploits, drives the young man to leave home. He decides to try his fortunes in London, so takes leave of Anne and his child and starts away. In London, Shakespeare views the great crowds of richly dressed people with astonishment, but he soon wins friends. The theater, of course, draws him, and outside the historic old Globe Theater he looks upon the scene of his future triumphs. The genius of the young dramatist is soon discovered by the great Lord Southampton, who becomes his generous patron and introduces him to the court of Queen Elizabeth, where he meets Raleigh, Drake, the Earl of Essex, and all the famous political and social figures of the time. The command performance of "Romeo and Juliet" in the Blackfriars Theater which is attended by the Queen and all the Court, marks the beginning of that triumph which was, through the following year, to be the great crescendo of English literature. The final stages of the film show Shakespeare in the glow of middle age. He is dreaming of his past successes, scenes from his great plays visioning themselves before him. The film closes with the fading in and fading out of the bust of Shakespeare, which is in the Parish Church of Stratford-on-Avon.
- The superintendent of the Knowlton Iron Works is in love with his employer's daughter, who has been reared in luxury, and is the idol of her father. To save this woman from the knowledge that her father is a thief, the loyal superintendent takes upon his own shoulders the guilt of her father's crime. After all the stress which the story develops, his sacrifice is learned and rewarded by the woman he loves, who decides to stand with him on the side of the oppressed workmen, to whose cause the superintendent has devoted his life's labor.
- Cardinal Richelieu, for political reasons an enemy of the Queen, desires her downfall. He decoys Buckingham, of whom the King is jealous, to Paris by means of a forged letter. D'Artagnan leaves for Paris to enter the King's service. His father gives him a letter to De Treville and bids him "Honor the King, obey Capt. De Treville and never refuse to fight." Poorly dressed, and riding on an old spavined white horse, D'Artagnan arrives at the Black Raven Inn, near Calais. He is insulted and jeered at, resenting which, he is beaten insensible and robbed of his letter by De Rochefort. Regaining consciousness he learns of his loss and starts in pursuit of the thief. The Cardinal issues an edict prohibiting dueling and gambling in public places. Boniface finds six Musketeers gambling in his tavern. He notifies the Guards, who surprise the Musketeers, kill three, wound Athos, and arrest Aramis and Porthos. Reaching the street, Porthos overpowers his captors and rescues Aramis. The Queen learning that Buckingham is in Paris, consents to see him secretly for the last time. Constance delivers the message. Boniface, her husband, observes this and reports the matter to Richelieu, who sets Lady De Winter to watch the Queen. D'Artagnan's first day in Paris is eventful. He manages to offend Athos. Aramis and Porthos and has three duels on his hands. The Three Musketeers are surprised to find they are all to fight the same man. D'Artagnan and Athos start to fight, but are interrupted by Capt. Jassac and four other Cardinal's Guards, who demand that all surrender their swords. The Three Musketeers cry: "Come and take them." D'Artagnan sides with the Musketeers, quickly disposes of his adversary and saves Athos from being run through by Jussac, whom he disarms. Astounded by D'Artagnan's courage and swordsmanship, the victorious Musketeers welcome him as a comrade and with swords crossed pledge themselves: "One for all land all for one." The King has quarreled with the Queen. Desiring a reconciliation, he presents her with twelve diamond studs. Buckingham is admitted to the Queen's presence by means of a secret passage. Lady DeWinter, unobserved, witnesses the clandestine meeting. She informs the Cardinal and he in triumph tells the King that Buckingham is with the Queen. The King proceeds to the Queen's apartment, but Constance warns her of his approach. Buckingham begs for a token and is given the first object at band, the diamond studs. The King arrives to find the bird has flown. Search is made without result and the King after threatening the Queen with the block, orders Richelieu to search the Queen's apartment and even her person if necessary. The search results in the Cardinal taking from the Queen's person an unaddressed letter. Richelieu hastens to the King and hands him the letter, but the King's rage is turned to laughter when he finds it is the Queen's brother, the Emperor of Germany, demanding Richelieu's dismissal. Defeated but not beaten, the Cardinal plots again, and dispatches Lady De Winter to London to steal two of the studs. The King, at Richelieu's suggestion, decides to give a state ball, and requests the Queen to wear the studs. The Queen, in despair, seeks Constance's aid, and she promises that her husband, Boniface, will take a message to Buckingham in London and bring back the jewels. Boniface not only refuses to be the Queen's messenger, but tells Constance that he is in the Cardinal's pay and suggests she give him the Queen's letter, so that he may obtain further reward. His request denied, he attempts force, but is frustrated by D'Artagnan. Boniface foiled, informs the Cardinal, who sends two of his guards to arrest Constance. D'Artagnan, not knowing Constance is Boniface's wife, is smitten by her charms, but Athos discourages him and tells him of his experience with women. Years before he had married Lady De Winter, then under another name, and by chance discovered she was a branded felon and hung her for deceiving him. Unknown to him, she had been rescued. The Cardinal's Guards attempt to arrest Constance, but D'Artagnan and Athos rescue her. Boniface being killed in the fight. D'Artagnan and Constance seek De Treville's advice, and he dispatches D'Artagnan to England with the Queen's message, ordering the Three Musketeers to accompany him and see to his safety. At parting Constance gives D'Artagnan a cross she has worn since an infant. Richelieu, learning of the plans, sends De Rochefort to Calais with orders to prevent D'Artagnan leaving England. On the road to the coast. D'Artagnan and the Three Musketeers are waylaid by a large force of armed men, who overcome the Musketeers, but D'Artagnan makes his escape. De Rochefort reaches Calais shortly after Buckingham has gone on board his ship, and the Port Warden, obeying the Cardinal's orders, has the portcullis lowered. Lady De Winter, provided with the Cardinal's passport, is aided to board Buckingham's ship. The Duke recognizes her as his divorced wife. D'Artagnan arrives, and is refused passage by the Port Warden, but binds and gags him and makes his escape in an open boat. He is fired upon and wounded by the Guards, led by the Port Warden, who has been released by De Rochefort. D'Artagnan reaches Buckingham's ship, and while the Duke is on deck interviewing D'Artagnan, Lady De Winter steals two of the studs. Returning to the cabin with D'Artagnan, Buckingham becomes suspicious and accuses him of being Milady's accomplice, and orders her put ashore. D'Artagnan produces the Queen's letter and swears by the cross Constance had given him that he is a friend. Buckingham recognizing the cross exclaims, "The woman who gave you that cross is my daughter." Giving D'Artagnan the diamonds, the Duke discovers that two of the studs are missing, and decides Lady De Winter has taken them. To avoid capture, D'Artagnan decides to swim ashore. He dives through the porthole and eventually lands on a wild part of the coast. Seeking shelter at a tavern, D'Artagnan's gold arouses the cupidity of the landlord, who shoots and robs him and flings his body into the cellar. Lady De Winter returns to Paris sooner than expected and delivers the studs to the Cardinal. Believing D'Artagnan safe in England, the Cardinal influences the King to hold the ball two days earlier. The day of the ball arrives, with no news of D'Artagnan and the Queen is in despair. Endless crowds of courtiers and ladies are seen descending the grand staircase and a gavotte is in progress when the heralds announce the approach of the King and Queen. The stately procession enters and the King is about to lead the Queen to the dance, when the Cardinal calls attention to the fact that the Queen is not wearing the studs. The King insists that she wear them; the Queen returns to her apartment, where Constance offers to sacrifice herself by saying she had stolen the diamonds. D'Artagnan' s opportune return with the studs saves the day. The Queen returns to the ballroom, while D'Artagnan tells Constance that the Duke of Buckingham is her father and receives his greatest reward, herself. The King shows pleasure at the sight of the studs, but the wily Cardinal suggests he count them, and finding there are only ten, asks where the other two are. Lady De Winter produces them and tells the King how she obtained them. At this climax Athos recognizes Lady De Winter, and proclaiming her a thief, forces her to her knees, tears away her dress, exposing to the horror of all the brand of the felon. Her arrest is ordered despite her vain appeals to the Cardinal. The King realizing the conspiracy, banishes the Cardinal, and after asking her pardon, leads the Queen to the dance.
- A baron poses as a prince to elope with an anarchist's sister.