A story on a farm that happened to be mortgaged. Taking part in it are the old farmer, his invalid wife, their light-haired, young daughter, two farm hands, and a girl of the neighborhood who appears only for a moment. The chief contrast comes between the two helpers. One, the slighter, is a Christian who believes in turning the other cheek, while the bigger man is somewhat brutal, also he has the courage of his evil desires, but lacks the wisdom to have good desires. There is also a subtle contrast between the two girls. The protected, yet not wholly protected, farmer's daughter, is happy and contented in her normal life, while the other girl, called "the victim of the renegade" is one of the most pathetic figures we remember seeing. She shows lack of direction (not artistic direction, let us quickly add it); even the awkward way of fixing her hair and the queer hat deeply stir our sympathies. Such little things tell us a volume of human heart- history that lies behind them. As best she can, and most piteously, she reaches out to the brute for a little love and sympathy, a little heaven- light in a dark world. This character is a very sincere piece of work. In this picture, the producer brings these characters forward with the sole aim of making us thoroughly acquainted with them. Thus he convinces us first of all that they are real people. They have lived before the picture opened and we feel that they are going to live after it closes. All he cares for, at first, is to make us feel the contrasts, which by the way is the only way we know one person from another. They are introduced in small groups. When he has succeeded, he brings forward something that will hold the attention of all his active characters. In this case, it is a sum of money, money for the mortgage. Around this all the characters suddenly begin to react together. First he mixes the powder, then he adds fire and we have the general explosion. The climax is a thriller. In the denouement there is humor and much pleasing humanity. It is a well photographed and very desirable picture. - The Moving Picture World, July 6, 1912
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