- Robert Worthing marries his sweetheart, Madeline Francis, but the wedding is ruined by his mother, who announces that because she and her parents are insane, he possesses tainted genes. Fearing that he will pass the disease on to his children, the bridegroom avoids his new wife and locks the door between their rooms. Deeply in love with Madeline, whom he is forced to love only as a sister, Robert considers suicide, but all ends well when the young man learns that he was adopted.
- Madeline Francis' wedding day has arrived. The last touches to the wedding dress are being made and the usual excitement pervades the house. Suddenly Robert Worthing, the bridegroom, arrives and with great perturbation depicted upon his face, demands a private interview with this wife-to-be. Alarmed, she rushes to his side, and all present are discharged from the room. Robert announces to Madeline that the wedding cannot take place. As his reason he gives the fact that he has just learned that inherent insanity for several generations has been the curse of his mother's people, and he feels it incumbent upon him to save the woman he loves from becoming the wife, possibly the mother, of those tainted with lunacy. Just then the first guests arrive. Madeline pleads with Worthing to spare her from the scandal and disgrace of a canceled wedding at the eleventh hour, and convinces Worthing that it is his duty to abide by the arrangements as made, yet recognizing the justice of Robert's view from the eugenic standpoint. They vow to live as brother and sister. The wedding takes place as scheduled. Little did they figure the tremendous struggle they engaged in. A great mutual love flaming in their hearts, a love sanctified in the eyes of God and man, yet, like a stern black wall, the terrible ogre of fear separates them. The situation grows unbearable and Robert Worthing considers suicide as the only solution of the problem. Just then Dr. West, a friend of the Worthing family, who has returned from an extended travel abroad, comes upon the scene. It does not take him long to sense the sinister trouble enveloping Madeline and her husband. He is in the position to shed light into the darkened souls. The curse resting upon the two loving hearts is lifted by the unraveling of an intense secret. The wall of separation crumbles into dust. The ogre of fear is vanquished, and at last Madeline and Robert are in each other's arms with no clouds upon the horizon to throw shadows on a blissful happiness.
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