- Ralph Semple already has a wife, but marries rich Beatrice Raymond, and then deserts her after cheating her out of $10,000. Later, when Beatrice hears that Ralph has died, she marries Jerry Trainer, a widower, but keeps her past a secret. Ralph, who started the rumors of his own death, then returns to blackmail Beatrice, who is determined to keep Jerry from finding out about her first marriage. Meanwhile, Ralph makes plans to elope with Jerry's daughter Edith, but when Beatrice learns of the impending wedding, she decides to stop it, and so goes to see Ralph in his apartment. Jerry walks in on them, however, and assuming that they are secret lovers, he throws Ralph out and denounces Beatrice. When Edith arrives at Ralph's, however, Jerry realizes that his wife was only trying to save his daughter, and so he and Beatrice are reconciled immediately.—Pamela Short
- Beatrice Raymond, a young heiress, is attracted to the unprincipled Ralph Semple. He and his wife make their living by preying upon society. They see an easy victim in Beatrice and plan to get her money. Posing as a single man, Semple soon wins her love and a mock marriage ceremony is performed. In short order he shows his cards. Pretending his mail had miscarried, he easily persuades Beatrice to give him a check for a thousand dollars, which he skillfully raises to ten thousand, and with the proceeds and his victim's jewels, he goes with his real wife to South America, telling Beatrice in a short note how she has been duped. Beatrice, heartbroken and disillusioned, conceals her unhappy mistake from her friends, and with the passing of time she gradually recovers and begins to take interest in the life about her. Jerry Trainer, a widower and a strong, manly man, falls in love with her and she returns his affections, but her miserable secret makes her answer "no" to his pleadings that they marry. Semple and his wife in South America, in need of funds, plan to make further use of the mock marriage. A letter telling of Semple's death is faked up and sent to Beatrice. She is overjoyed to know that the obstacle which stood in the way of her happiness is now removed and that she is free to marry Jerry. She hesitates as to whether she should tell Jerry of her other marriage, but fearing that it might lessen his love for her, she decides to let "the dead past bury its dead." Passionately in love with her husband, there is only one cloud in the happiness of her early married life. Jerry's young daughter, Edith, is jealous of his new wife, and all of Beatrice's efforts to win her affections and confidence are fruitless. One day Beatrice is horror-stricken to see on the streets Ralph, whom she had had every reason to believe dead. His schemes had worked out well and he had come to make use of his hold over Beatrice. He forces her to take him to her home and introduce him to her husband and step-daughter, Beatrice watches Semple insinuate himself into the good graces of her husband and the love of Edith. She is forced through threats of exposure to induce her husband to back Semple's worthless schemes and to look on in silence at the growing love affairs between her step-daughter and the worthless cad. At last things reach a climax. Beatrice learns that Semple has persuaded the infatuated Edith to run away with him. She visions the innocent Edith going through the same ordeal that she herself had endured, for a time she struggles with herself, and then decides that Edith must be saved at all costs. Just before the hour set for the departure of the couple, Beatrice goes to Semple's apartment and by pretending love for him she arouses the man's feelings so that he forgets all about the waiting Edith and wants only the woman before him. At last, despite her efforts, he seizes her in his arms and showers her with kisses. The door is broken open and Jerry dashes in; he stands aghast at seeing his wife in Semple's arms. Furiously he springs upon Semple and after giving him a good beating orders him to go. He then turns to Beatrice, but before she can reply to his denunciation, Edith rushes in. Then Jerry learns that it was to save his daughter that Beatrice had sacrificed her own feelings and had risked losing his love and respect. Tenderly he takes her in his arms and begs her for forgiveness, which she gladly grants.—Moving Picture World synopsis
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