- Kind old butler Ezra Greer has scrimped and saved to send his daughter Mary to college. While at school, Mary meets and falls in love with wealthy student John Denbeigh, who proposes to her. Before marrying, however, John must win his guardian's consent; his guardian refuses, so John forsakes Mary, who is now pregnant. Ashamed to return to her father, Mary supports herself by sewing. Meanwhile, Ezra leaves his employer to look for his daughter; in his wandering he takes a job as John's butler, unaware that John is Mary's betrayer and the father of his grandchild. After the baby is born, Mary reads that John is involved with vamp Amy Le Vere and deposits the infant on his father's doorstep. Ezra cares for the child, and instills in John a sense of responsibility to find the infant's mother. Gradually, John reforms, forsakes the vamp, and discovers that the foundling is his own child. When John proposes to Mary, the family is happily reunited with the addition of Grandpa Ezra.
- Ezra Greer worked hard ever since his boyhood days, and now in middle age had a well-paid position as valet, some money saved up, and a motherless daughter to whom he poured out all his love. Mary Greer was a student in a co-educational college. At the annual commencement, Ezra was unable to attend, but he purchased a beautiful bracelet and sent it to Mary. He waited for her arrival home, but was disappointed, as romance stepped into Mary's life, and she left college with Jack Denbeigh, with the expectations of being married. However, Denbeigh did not fulfill his promise. He would be wealthy when he was of age, but in the meantime was dependent for support upon the money doled out by his guardian. Ezra, not hearing from his daughter, made inquiries at the school, where he learned the truth. He resigned his position, and went to the city determined to find his child. In his wanderings, which were unsuccessful, Ezra found a poor, motherless child. His money exhausted, Ezra forced to seek employment. In his hunt for work, fate led him to Denbeigh, who was seeking a valet. Ezra called to see Denbeigh, accompanied by Marie, the child he befriended, and the old man and the child won the sympathy of Denbeigh. Some time later, Mary reads of the engagement of Denbeigh to some cabaret flyer known as "The Baby Vamp." She also read of Jack's wealth, which filled her heart with bitterness. The thought of her baby doomed to grow up a hungry dweller of the tenements, while his father lived in luxury, caused Mary to take the child to Jack's home during his absence. She leaves a note explaining her motive and demands that the child he taken care of. Jack found and concealed the note, but ordered Ezra to take the baby to a foundling asylum. Marie saw the baby and begged Ezra to keep him. Thus the kindly old man befriended his own grandchild. Continually seeing the child filled Jack's soul with remorse. Unable to bear it any longer, he confides in Ezra. Ezra freely gave Jack the advice he asked, not knowing he was pleading the case of his own daughter. Listening to Ezra, Jack devoted all his time searching for Mary, forgetting all about the Baby Vamp. Unable to understand his actions, she calls for an explanation. Instead of Jack, she met Ezra. Pleading with her, Ezra finally won the heart of the Baby Vamp, who promised him that she would relinquish all claims upon Jack. Later, Jack's son was injured in a street accident. Notified, Jack and Ezra rush to the hospital. Entering the room they found a nurse crying over the child. It was Mary. Ezra realized that it was his own daughter Jack wronged. He moved forward threateningly, but Mary stepped between them, and Jack said, "Remember you word." "Let me marry Mary, and after that you can kill me if you like." Realizing that Jack's repentance was sincere, Ezra yielded to the tears of Mary. Married, Ezra never regretted once that the ceremony was performed.
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By what name was The Heart of Ezra Greer (1917) officially released in Canada in English?
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