- His father had been far too lenient, especially with George, his younger brother; indeed, Ben suspected that it had been to pay his schooling that the old ranch had been mortgaged. But now all this would be radically changed; fortunately, Uncle Ben Leyland, for whom he had been named, had just died and left him, not only enough to buy back the ranch but gave him a comfortable bank account as well. There would be no more idleness or reading of books on his place! A resolution which he speedily put into execution by taking the lamp from his brother's room that very night when he found George not only burning the oil, but unfitting himself for the next day's work. The final clash came the next morning. As usual, his precious brother was late coming to work; this, too, must undergo a change! Here, however, George took a hand himself and after a violent quarrel, which might have resulted seriously for Ben had not their father interfered, he flatly informed his older brother that he would be bullied no longer and that he would leave that very day for the east. And so, despite the entreaties of both father and mother, George departed. It was shortly after this that Ben's business took him to the city, where Dora Ross, by playing upon his immense vanity, soon succeeded in having herself made Mrs. Ben Leyland. Nor did she stop there. First, as a bride, she needed jewels; their home newly furnished and her people supplied with various loans; after which, by using the same subtle flatteries that had worked so successfully in making her his wife, Ben unhesitatingly signed over the ranch to her. Then having accomplished her purpose, the adventuress proceeded to show her hand by heartlessly turning out Ben's father and mother. The woman wished to secretly dispose of the property and the old people were far too much in evidence. Once out of the way, however, Dora was not long in selling it, then, leaving a curt note for her husband, stating that he would be troubled with her no more, she departed for the city, where she considered her talents would be better appreciated. In the meanwhile, partly by luck and partly by steady application, George had prospered, so much so that although his letters had never been answered, Ben had managed that, the young man determined to return and visit his father and mother. But as George arrived at the ranch and opened the sitting room door he started back in surprise. Overturned furniture and wearing apparel were strewn over the floor, while huddled in a heap at one side of the room, he found Ben, almost too intoxicated to explain. A recent letter received from the old folks at Bill Burke's boarding house, where they had at last obtained work, and the crumpled note from Dora that lay nearby, gave George a key to the situation. Hurrying to the rig, he drove over to Burke's and brought his parents home, stopping on the way only long enough to arrange buying back the ranch. As they entered their dear old home, the trio were astonished at not finding Ben; his absence, however, was explained by a note; "When I've redeemed myself I'll come back."—Moving Picture World synopsis
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