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- Abandoned by her maidservant in an isolated country house, a mother must protect herself and her baby from an invading tramp while her husband races home in a stolen car to save them.
- A magic spell has turned a handsome prince into a hideous and repulsive beast, and only the love of a beautiful woman can change him back. ]
- Aratus, a chemist, invents an acid that will petrify living things into inanimate stone. Outside of his laboratory he has a little pond into which he throws the victims of his experimentation, flowers, small animals and plants, in their petrified state. In his interest of science Aratus neglects and forgets everything, even his wife, and gives all his time to his labors, and once, when she and his life-long friend are in his laboratory, he seems disturbed and asks them to go for a walk and leave him to his study. His friend, who adores Aratus's wife, presses his suit and attempts to kiss her on the way, and in the struggle ensuing, she falls into the pond in which the chemical preparation of Aratus's had been poured and she is petrified. Aratus, attracted by the noise, comes out and sees the disaster. He accuses his friend as being responsible for the accident, but the latter swears innocent. Aratus, stunned by his loss, has the pond drained and rescues the body, and placing it upon a pedestal surrounds it with flowers and immediately sets his mind to work to invent a chemical that will bring her back to life, but his endeavors are in vain. Time elapses, and in a mysterious manner, one day, all come back to life, the flowers, the animals and the woman, and Aratus thanks the hidden force that accomplished what he had failed to do.
- Rosita and Emanuel, two lovers, returning from a ball, are overtaken by a storm. Emanuel leaves her in the shelter of an old castle, while he goes to seek better protection. The castle is the refuge of a notorious bandit, Ronaldo, to which he comes while Rosita is awaiting the return of Emanuel. He sees Rosita and advances upon her with his dagger to obtain her jewels. Rosita exerts all her wiles and coquetry to divert his mind until Emanuel should return. She flirts and dances, and her beauty and grace at last arouse Ronaldo's passion. Dagger and jewels are forgotten; it is now the woman that he desires. She dances and the exotic spell is on him. She dances, and the old drama of weak woman's power and strong man's weakness is again enacted. He tries to kiss her, but she dances off and around him, her great, gray eyes fastened upon him, tantalizing him to heated frenzy, while by clever maneuvers she strives to obtain possession on the dagger at his belt. At last she permits Ronaldo, who has almost lost his senses from the furious rage of his futile passion, to button her shoe, the tigress preparing for her prey. With a dexterous, swift down-sweep of her arm she grasps the dagger and is about to plunge it into his heart when a bolt of lightning strikes him and Divine murder accomplishes her purpose. As she stands, awed by the swift and final blow from the hand of Providence, Emanuel returns, and she leaves the castle and its memory behind.
- The factory owner's daughter, Pauline, is engaged to the young inspector of factories. At the opening of the story the factory owner is given notice that on the morrow his factory will be inspected as to safety appliances and compliance with the city fire laws. He, knowing that his factory is painfully deficient, endeavors that evening to bribe the young inspector when the latter calls on Pauline. The inspector very quietly refuses the bribe. The next morning when the inspector comes to the factory the owner tells him that unless a favorable report is made, the engagement of the inspector to Pauline will be broken. The young man is considerably tempted; but when comparing the safety of the lives of hundreds of girls and the happiness of two young people, himself and his fiancée, his conscience will not permit him to hand in any but a truthful report. The owner tenders the inspector the engagement ring, which he accepts, and leaves. The young foreman of the factory is an inveterate cigarette smoker, and, although he has been severely reprimanded on several occasions by his employer, persists in his habit, irrespective of orders. He is just about to light a cigarette when the factory owner, coming from his office, where he has just left Pauline in tears, interrupts him. The foreman drops the flaming match and hides his cigarette. The factory owner goes out on a short errand and in the meantime the match has started a flame of fire in the scraps and cuttings in one of the finishing rooms that the foreman is unable to put out, and, as the factory owner returns, he finds the factory in flames, most of his employees safe, but he realizes that his daughter is trapped in the office behind the wall of flame. In the meantime the foreman has run out and sent in an alarm to the fire department- He meets the inspector and the two return to the scene of the fire. The factory owner apprised them of Pauline's whereabouts in the burning building, and the foreman, realizing that he has been the cause of it, slinks away. The inspector attempts to go through the door, but is driven back by the flames, and at this point, looking up, sees Pauline silhouetted in the window against the roaring flames. At this window is only a coil of rope, the only means of escape. He climbs the rope, lifts Pauline on to his shoulders, and climbs down safely to the ground, where they are met by the frenzied father, who receives them with open arms, while the foreman, with grim determination, eschews the further use of cigarettes.
- Sergeant Bob Monroe is in love with the Colonel's daughter out on a post in the west. He has a rival in Lieutenant Embree. The lieutenant wrongfully accuses him of assault and he is committed to the guard house pending trial. Florence, his sweetheart, aids him to escape and he goes to an Indian camp to get a horse. At the camp of the Indians he finds that they are going on the warpath because one of the religious rites has been forbidden. They attack the fort and many of the soldiers are killed, among them Embree. But before dying he confesses that Bob is innocent of his offense. Bob masquerades as the dead chief of the Indians and succeeds in scaring them away. He is given a commission and the hand of the colonel's daughter as a reward.
- The story of a two jewel thieves whose lives intersect during the course of their crimes.
- Mrs. Burne-Smith and Mrs. Winthrop have determined to make a match between their respective children regardless of the fact that the two in question have never seen each other. Mrs. Burne-Smith thinks by making the brilliant match with wealthy Allen Winthrop she will be enabled to pay off some of her pressing debts. Enid Burne-Smith has a mind of her own, and has often had thoughts of a handsome lover who would carry her off despite her protests. Naturally she does not fall in with her mother's plans and it takes quite an argument before she is brought "in line." Allen Winthrop has just returned from abroad and views with amusement the efforts of his mother to try and win him to assent to the matchmakers' plans. He finally agrees to accompany his mother that night to the Burne-Smiths. Allen has received an anonymous letter stating that the agent who is in charge of one of his tenements is a crook. He decides to investigate the matter. Allen and his mother arrive at the Burne-Smiths and are delayed waiting for Enid She has flatly refused to meet Allen, and, after tying the maid up, makes her escape and finally ends up in a tenement house, where she gets rooms. The next day Allen disguises himself and secures rooms in his own tenement. This is the same place where Enid is staying, and she has become acquainted with Mabel and her sweetheart, George. Enid secures work and Mabel helps her. Every evening after work, the girls are met by their lovers and Enid sighs as she thinks she has no one to look after her. Enid notices that the landlord is familiar with Mabel and later finds that the girl has coaxed him to put off collecting the rent. With the rent money she has been buying clothes with which to get married. She and Allen meet several times and are mutually attracted. George has noticed Martin, the landlord, around Mabel, and has told her to "cut him off" her calling list. She tells of her indebtedness to him to Enid, and the latter pawns her last piece of jewelry to secure funds with which to release Mabel from the landlord's clutches. Martin comes to the girl's room and, while they are arguing, George and Allen come to the door demanding entrance. Mabel has refused to let Enid pay her rent and when she hears George at the door, she is frightened and persuades Martin to hide in the closet. George sees the money on the floor and is still suspicious. Martin then comes out of hiding, claims the money, and says that he bought the dresses for the girl. Enid, seeing that the love between George and Mabel is about to be broken up, takes all the blame and says the dresses are hers. George takes Mabel in his arms and tells her that she had better quit going with Enid. Allen is very much disappointed in the girl and leaves her. too. Enid then determines to return home and forget her little adventure. Allen places George in charge of his tenement, discharging Martin. Allen then tries in vain to find some trace of Enid. He and his mother are invited to the Burne-Smiths for dinner and he listlessly goes with her. The two mothers are delighted when Enid and Allen meet. The two stare at each other like long lost friends. The plans of the two matchmakers have been more than fulfilled, and as the story ends, Enid and Allen are planning their honeymoon.
- The Boob's country sweetheart goes to the city for employment and finds it as scullery maid in the house of a family of "would-be" society people. The Boob, in the meantime, has been left a large sum of money by a distant relative. He writes of his good fortune. The letter falls into the hands of the scheming mistress of the house, who is looking for a wealthy husband for her daughter. She decides to capture him if possible. The Boob arrives in the middle of an afternoon reception, causing considerable mirth. The mistress cleverly keeps him from seeing the scullery maid by entertaining him. The Boob appreciates the entertainment so much that he finally goes to sleep. A quarrel is started in the kitchen between the scullery maid and the house maid, which results in the scullery maid chasing the house maid up and down the stairs. The scullery maid finally trips and falls down stairs, landing in the Boob's arms with the result of a happy reunion.
- Old Ben Morrison and his daughter, Jen, an unsophisticated girl, live on an island not far from the mainland. Jasper Crane, middle-aged sensualist of the rougher type, bargains with Jen's father, in hopes of marrying and gaining possession of the girl. Morrison is willing, and explains that she is like her mother, who deserted her home and baby for a city man. Jen, hearing of her father's plan, makes her escape by swimming to the mainland, where she seeks protection from Mrs. Hilton and her daughter, Dorothy, members of a camping party. James Hilton, Dorothy's brother, falls in love with Jen. Kent, a refined sensualist of the party, covets the girl, but finds his plans checked at each turn by James. Knowledge of James' affection for Jen reaches his mother's ears, and she informs her daughter that things are going too far and the strange girl must go. Jen overhears the conversation between Mrs. Hilton and her daughter, and realizes that she is not wanted. Kent, noticing the girl's discomfiture, gives her a sum of money for expense and advises her to call at his office in the city, should she ever want for anything. Alice, Jen's mother, served for a time as the plaything of John Newton, the man with whom she ran away, but when he tired of her she drifted into a vulgar blasé set. Jen unable to secure work in the city, writes to Kent for aid. Kent is engaged to marry Dorothy Hilton and plans to celebrate the closing days of bachelorhood on board his palatial yacht. John Newton, who is just returning from an extended European trip, is also to be in the party. Kent and his cronies plan a surprise for Newton. Knowing his former relations with Alice Morison, they plan to have her as one of the party. At the party Alice is discovered by Newton and strange emotions surge in the breasts of the pair. At the height of the party Kent receives Jen's letter asking for aid and he plans to add to the zest of the party by showing them an unsophisticated girl. He accordingly sends for Jen. She arrives, and Alice recognizes her daughter, although she cannot reveal her true identity her child. Back in the offices of Kent and Hilton, who are partners, news comes of a financial crisis, and James Hilton leaves hurriedly to communicate with his partner aboard the yacht. When he finally arrives he is shocked to see Jen, plainly embarrassed, in the midst of the mad riot aboard the yacht. He takes her from the place, and Newton, seeing what Alice is undergoing, suffers a change of heart. He asks her for a chance to atone for the past, and begs her to lead a life worthy her of daughter, he to supply the means. Kent drops out of the party suddenly and hurries to the mainland. On the deck of the yacht alone, James and Jen plight their love anew. Alice, the result of her past sin apparent, sinks down overcome, while Newton endeavors to quiet her tumultuous emotions, realizing his own part in the tragedy so narrowly averted.
- A gypsy girl is brought to the sheriff by a ranchman with the demand that her people be forced to move off his land. The hot-blooded woman no sooner sees the sheriff when she falls in love with him. She displays her womanly charms and the animal instinct in him is aroused. Ella, the sheriff's sweetheart, is a simple sort of a country girl, yet the gypsy woman hates her and in turn, when the gypsy's name is connected with that of the sheriff by the town people, Ella also hates. She tells the sheriff that she will have nothing to do with him until the gypsy leaves town. Understanding, or believing he does, the sheriff goes to the gypsy girl, tells her that they are of a different race, that their places in life are widely separated and she consents to leave with her folks. After their departure the sheriff is notified that a notorious outlaw is in his territory. He rides into the mountains. The outlaw successfully seeks refuge with the gypsies, though the girl washes her hands of the affair. Later, the girl, though pursued and mortally wounded by the bad man, returns to where the sheriff had been left a captive by the gypsies, and releases him. She receives the knife meant for the sheriff and with the last spark of life, turns and stabs the outlaw to death. The sheriff carries the body of the girl to town. He is seen approaching with the body across his saddle by the sheriff's sweetheart. After disposing of it, he knocks at the door. It is opened, his sweetheart sees him and closes it in his face. The sheriff throws the locket containing her picture to the ground and tramples on it, disgusted with it all. It was the bad "good" woman who ruined the life the good "bad" woman had saved.
- Hazel and Jack are about to be married. At his death, Hazel's uncle, Howard Wild, has bequeathed to them as a wedding present a deed to the old Wild mansion. He leaves to each a key, believing in equal rights for man and woman. The gift recalls to Hazel and Jack the many happy hours they spent with the old man and how often he had acted as peacemaker in their childish quarrels. The wedding day approaches. A gossiping friend imparts to Hazel a bit of scandal, concerning Jack's name with that of another. They quarrel and Hazel, to avoid questions, decides to hide in the old Wild mansion till the scandal of the broken engagement at the eleventh hour blows over. Without Hazel's suspecting, Jack has followed her to Uncle Howard's country estate. Howard Wild, during his life, was not only famous as a collector of antiques, but also for his wine cellar. A couple of crooks seize their last chance to rob the place before the arrival of the bridal couple in a few days. Hazel arrives at the deserted house and makes herself comfortable, forlornly dwelling on her quarrel with Jack, when she is startled by the noise of the robbers. Overcome with fear, she watches them through the curtain helping themselves to her late uncle's treasures. They pause in their operations to see if any wine has been left in the cellar. Hazel takes this opportunity to escape, and as she runs out into the hall she encounters Jack, who has just entered with his latchkey. In the dark hall she mistakes him for another crook and, with a piercing scream, faints away. The burglars, hearing the scream, believe they are in a haunted house and beat a hasty retreat, leaving the booty behind. Jack revives Hazel, learns the reason of her fright and also that she does not intend to forgive him unless he humbles himself before her. Jack refuses to do this, knowing he is innocent. Uncle Howard's spirit comes to them and again acts as the peacemaker and the sweethearts start for home to be married on the morrow.
- A fishwife tells her young daughter a fairy story about a princess imprisoned by a hunchback in a seashell, a story that parallels her own life.
- Phil was hard; he separated from his wife when suspicion fell upon her and took his baby girl with him. Phil took a house in another town that he might not meet his wife and be forced to remembrance of the woman he still loved. Lois was a woman and a mother and her heart yearned for her child. She wrote Phil a letter telling him that she intended taking steps to see her child in spite of his precautions to the contrary. Phil refused to consider the letter, but instructed the housekeeper never to allow the child out her sight. Shortly afterward, the appearance of a veiled woman aroused the curiosity of the women of the neighborhood, but she conducted herself modestly and gossip died out. One day Phil's child wandered up the street and as she toddled along she heard her name called. She recognized the voice and ran into her mother's arms. Shortly after, Lois sent the child back home. That night, when Phil returned home, he left the front door open. Later that night, the child decided to return to her mother and in the darkness she groped down the dark stairs and out of the front door. Lois was interrupted in her bitter meditations by a gentle knock at the door. She opened the door and it was her baby girl. All the bitterness fled and she took the child in her arms and wept. Phil found her there with their child in her arms, weeping and his eyes dimmed and he forgot all past disagreements. After that there was no further use for the housekeeper.
- Ruth Braddon, the daughter of a wealthy factory owner, who is interested in improving social conditions, receives a letter, advising her to look at the state of affairs at her father's own factory. She visits her father and he refers her to his junior partner, Fred Howard, to whom Ruth is engaged. Accompanied by her fiancé, Ruth goes on a tour of inspection through the factory. In the hallway, she sees a crowd of workers gathered around a girl who has fainted in the poorly-ventilated workroom. As they approach the group, David Hale, a factory hand, asks Howard for better conditions. Howard orders David back. Ruth, admiring David's personality, interferes and tells him she will talk with her father. The next day David visits Bessie and tells her he is expecting a raise of wages soon and they will marry. Bessie's happiness over David's love is interrupted by a visit from Ruth. David takes her through the tenements, showing her poverty in its worst form. She asks him to assist her in lightening the burden of the poor. He consents. The close contact into which David and Ruth are thrown in their work, draws them together. Ruth awakens to the knowledge that she is in love with David. She breaks her engagement with Howard. He goes to her father. The father shows a letter he received from David in which he asked for an increase of wages so that he may marry Bessie Clay. Ruth comes to her father's office for money and her father places the check close to David's letter so Ruth will see it. She learns for the first time of David's engagement. She is overcome and on leaving her father's office meets David. She breaks down and weeps.
- Pauline's uncle is the proprietor of the only hotel Maplehurst boasts of. The girl is an orphan and has been adopted by her relative. Dick, the young hotel clerk, is one of those "best hearted fellows in the world." His only fault, in the girl's eyes, is his rusticity. He is a country boy. Pauline is a country girl, but with a love of romance and pleasure implanted deep in her impressionable nature. A stylish young snob from the east arrives at Maplehurst. Pauline sets her cap for him, and it is one of the greatest moments of her life when she strolls down the village street with the dandy. The little hotel clerk is hurt to the quick when Pauline disregards his homely love. Woman-like, Pauline makes the most of the Snob's visit to the village. At the little town's social gatherings she appears in a beautiful pink gown, while The Snob scorns the village beaux when they show up at the country dance hall in their "store clothes." The Snob wears evening clothes, and while the girls of the village are impressed by his appearance in contrast with their brothers and sweethearts, the boys themselves despise him for his attempt to lord it over them. The Snob cares little for local opinion, however, nor makes any attempt to accommodate himself to village customs. The town boys are able only to hire a "rig" on Sundays to take their "girls" out for a ride in the country. The Snob, however, once he has won the heart of the prettiest girl in town, orders his high horsepower racing car and takes Pauline out for perilous drives for long distances. On one of these long tours The Snob, with cruel cunning, takes Pauline to a wayside inn. Outside the inn is a terraced garden with grape arbors hiding the diners from the view of passersby. Suspecting nothing, Pauline is induced to partake of a heavy dinner, and then, when The Snob sneers at her "countrified temperance," she sips slowly at a stinging drink he orders. Pauline takes the drink merely to please her companion and little suspects the sinister ulterior purpose he has in view. One drink follows another, and soon Pauline has passed beyond the point where good judgment rules her actions. Late that night they return to Pauline's home town. The chill air brushes away the fumes of the liquor from Pauline's brain and the deceived girl weeps bitterly in a rear seat of the big racing car. The Snob, at the steering wheel ahead, sneers to himself as he helps her alight at her humble home. The inevitable happens. The Snob goes east, leaving an invitation for Pauline to visit him at his home. The moth flies into the flame. She runs away from home. A year afterward Pauline is cast aside by The Snob. In a big city boarding house, where the good, the bad and the indifferent live, she gives birth to a child. She is penniless, and The Snob's people will not recognize her. The Snob himself is sent away west. Here he begins life anew. Pauline's predicament is seemingly hopeless. A procurer of women who lives in the house, is touched, and he advises her to make a living on the street. Another neighbor calls and advises her to commit suicide. Either of these things might have happened had not an elderly childless couple taken an interest in the case. They told her it was the greatest thing in the world to be a mother. Pauline writes her uncle for help. Dick, the hotel clerk, reads the letter and sends her money. About this time the uncle dies. When Dick becomes the proprietor of the hotel his first act is to go after Pauline. In the meantime life in the west has made a man of The Snob. He returns east to Pauline, but she scorns him and refuses to let him see his child. This time the man "paid."
- The little cow-camp of Rawhide is slumbering under the desert stars. Suddenly the doors of one of the saloons bursts open and Fred and Jack back out of the saloon shooting. They leap upon their waiting horses and dash away, a body of citizens in pursuit. Out on the desert's edge stands the lonely little cabin of Pauline, "The Girl of the Desert." On the night in question, she has retired for the night when she becomes aware of a pounding on the door and a man's voice asking her to open it. She takes her revolver from under her pillow and waits. Slowly the door is forced open. Pauline draws herself back into the shadow and when one of the intruders lights a match, he finds himself looking into the muzzle of a revolver. Pauline orders them out. The two men are Fred and Jack, who have sought refuge from the pursuing cowboys. They leave the cabin good naturedly but camp nearby for the night. The pursuers, baffled and thrown off the track, divide into several small bands and start scouring the country for the fugitives. One of these stumbles upon Pauline's cabin and demands entry. Pauline, thinking that they are the two refugees who first broke into her cabin, warns they away and when they persist in trying to force an entry, opens fire and slightly wounds one of them. They return the fire through the door and when one of the bullets from their guns shatters a lamp chimney near Pauline's head, her feminine nature asserts itself and she dives under the covers. Frank and Jack, startled out of a sound sleep by the shots, investigate and find that their would-be captors have broken into the cabin and are subjecting the girl to insult. They immediately champion her cause and succeed in taking their pursuers captives. Out of gratitude, Pauline offers to show the two fugitives the trail across the desert to the border. They set out early next morning, leaving the three members of the posse tied up in the cabin. Owing to a wound which Fred has sustained in the encounter, he becomes delirious and they finally lose the trail. But after many hardships, the border is reached. Pauline says good-bye to the boys, sets out on the back trail across the desert to her little cabin and the incident closes.
- A southerner who is volunteering for the Union army is saved from assassination by a Negro girl who is in love with him. she dies in his place.
- Ambitious young architect Neilan graduates with honors and procures a position as assistance in the city architect's office. Although hearts are willing, his romance with Toddles seems hopeless, hampered by her sense of duty toward her invalid sister Pauline. Neilan calls upon Toddles and presses her for a definite answer to his proposal. Toddles refuses, telling him she cannot marry while her sister lives. Pauline suffers a relapse due to her mental agitation, and the doctor advises Toddles that the only hope of prolonging Pauline's life is the South American climate. In despair, Toddles appeals to her lawyer, who informs her that their inheritance is nearly exhausted. When Neilan calls she tells him of their difficulties and he generously offers all the money he possesses, but to her dismay she finds that the funds will not be sufficient to cover the expenses of such a trip. Neilan returns to the office, too despondent to work. When his clerk brings in two bids on a city contract for him to inspect, he sets them aside and broods over Pauline's illness. Kirkland, one of the contractors submitting a bid, calls upon Neilan and offers $5000 for an acceptance of his bid. Neilan indignantly orders him from the office, but later, thinking it over, sees a chance for sending Pauline to South America and making himself and Toddles happy. He runs after the contractor and tells him he agrees to accept the bribe. Kirkland immediately goes to his hotel and passing Reid, the other contractor, at the entrance, laughingly sneers at him. Reid is suspicious of Kirkland's attitude and follows him. He sees Kirkland seated at one of the hotel desks near the window, writing. Reid enters the hotel and comes up just as Kirkland is leaving. He sits down at the desk Kirkland has just vacated, still perplexed and suspicious, and finds the blotter which Kirkland had used. On it is an imprint of the cheek Kirkland had drawn, payable to Neilan. Reid takes the blotter and hurriedly leaves. Pauline, in the meantime, weighed down by her hopeless illness and feeling herself a barrier to Toddles, is sinking rapidly, and Toddles hurriedly sends for the doctor. Neilan, in his office, receives the check which Kirkland sent by messenger, but very shortly thereafter Reid calls and confronts Neilan with the evidence of the blotter and succeeds in convincing Neilan that he is doing wrong. Neilan tears up the check, whereupon Reid also tears the damaging evidence against him. Later, when Kirkland calls for the acceptance of his bid, Neilan hands him the torn check. When the doctor arrives at Toddles' urgent calls he finds Pauline dying and sends Toddles from the room. When Neilan comes to tell Toddles of his failure to raise the necessary money for Pauline's rip, he meets the doctor coming from the house, who informs him of Pauline's death.
- Francesca, known as the prettiest girl in Caliente, is much in love with the violinist, Campi, and the two are betrothed. There comes through the town one day Captain Guido and several of his men. As the captain is passing down a street he notices a couple of his men talking with a very pretty girl and determines to investigate. The two men leave and he makes love to the girl, who is none other than Francesca. But she resents it and slaps the When she tells Campi of the occurrence, he straightway seeks out the captain, intent upon avenging the insult. Campi is taken prisoner, and later when Francesca discovers his plight, she dons boys' clothes and acts as a servant to Guido, who with some of his men, is on the point of betraying the government. Finally through the efforts of the girl, Guido is made to suffer the penalty of his treason, together with his confederates, and the girl and her lover are once more happy.
- Stephen's wife fails to inspire him in his painting. While seated before his hearth stone the young artist dreams of a beautiful pastoral love scene between a faun and a wood-nymph that is interrupted by the daughter of Pan. She lures the faun from his own true love with the weird music of her father's flute. The artist awakens from his dream with the picture of the daughter of Pan lingering in his mind. It is the picture he would like to transfer to canvas. In searching for an ideal model, Stephen meets Caprice, a dancer who exemplifies the spirit of Pan's daughter. She is induced to pose for the coming masterpiece. Stephen becomes enamored of his model and sadly neglects his wife. When the wife is refused admittance to her husband's studio, she naturally becomes jealous and angry. As the days pass the wife becomes friendly with her husband's friend, Arthur Darrell. Darrell is in love with the wife and makes advances, but for the time these are spurned. The sinister influence of Caprice upon the artist is apparent, and even after the painting is finished he is too fascinated with her to let her go. In a passionate love scene he wins her. His wife, in the meantime, has come to an understanding with the friend, Darrell. However, she decides, in fairness to her husband, to inform him prior to her departure, of her intentions. She finds the studio empty; the fatal picture is there finished to mock her. In a rage she slashes it to ribbons and with the act of destruction, the influence under which Stephen has worked is broken. Deserting his sweetheart, he hurries home to find love and forgiveness in the hands of his repentant wife.
- Sister Ursula is a novice in a convent in Southern Spain. One day, while the peddler Perez comes to the convent to sell his wares, she sees Manuel, a handsome cavalier riding by and she cannot suppress her feelings of affection for him. Perez sells the Abbess a beautiful length of fabric for an altar cloth, but when Ursula is putting it away, she cannot resist the temptation to drape herself in the cloth and admire her own beauty. Coming to her senses, she runs to the Abbess to confess her sins. Her penance is to kneel in vigil before the altar all night, but during the night she falls into a deep sleep. She dreams that Perez tempts her to leave with him by saying he will make her Manuel's lover. She is traveling with Perez, disguised as a boy, when they come upon a group of thieves, who proceed to attack Manuel when he passes near their camp. With the help of Perez, Ursula drugs the guards, and they help Manuel escape. The trio comes upon a troupe of dancing girls, who tease Ursula for "his" shyness. Carmela, one of the dancers, attempts to win Manuel's favor, and when she does not succeed she attacks him with a knife. Ursula steps in her path and is stabbed in the arm. While tending to Ursula's wound, Manuel discovers her true identity. The girls plan a feast for Ursula, but Carmela denounces her as a fallen nun. The crowd attack her and beat her for her sins. Ursula wakes up on the altar with the Abbess beside her, and they pray together for her forgiveness. Motion Picture News.
- Isaac and his faithful wife Rachel deplore that in America their children are forced to work on the Jewish Sabbath. Leah and Sam are not so strict as their parents and the old customs pall about their more American spirits. Sam is employed in a cloak house and secretly loves his employer's daughter, but she refuses to recognize him. Leah is loved by the handsome gentile floorwalker, and despite her father's objections, she marries him. Isaac orders Leah from the house. Later, the daughter of the cloak manufacturer marries an admirer and Sam is invited to the wedding. He drinks and disgraces himself; returning home, is turned out by the heartbroken rabbi. He leaves, telling the old man that he will return when the father celebrates the Christian Christmas. Two years pass. Leah presents herself at her father's door with a baby in her arms. The old Jew refuses to see, but the mother longs to take the girl to her bosom. Julian falls under a street car; his legs are severed at the knees. Leah visits him at the hospital and is grief-stricken. Ten years later the rabbi and his wife are in poor circumstances, though he is as rigid as ever. Leah and Julian have adopted flower-making as a means of livelihood. Without knowing, the family have taken rooms above those of the rabbi. One afternoon their little girl meets the old man in the yard and assists him. An attachment springs up between the child and the old man, and the latter is impressed many times by instances of the kindness of the gentiles towards the Jews in this country. It is this child, on a Christmas night, that finally brings about reconciliation between the girl and the old father.
- William Ralston, a rich unscrupulous contractor, has in his employ a young foreman by the name of Watson, whose wife, Edith, is a beautiful woman. For years Ralston has been given to wrecking homes, but his advances to Watson's wife have all been repulsed. Fearing that her husband might lose his position, Edith has told him nothing about the advances made to her by Ralston. Reassured by her silence in this respect, Ralston takes advantage of her husband's absence on business and with the help of Ned Murray, a political boss, frames up a criminal charge of stealing the firm's money against the husband, so as to railroad him to prison. This would enable him to win over the wife at his leisure. Watson is arrested and Murray is told by Ralston to fix the jury, so as to make sure of a conviction. Owing to the watchfulness of the "Reformers," none of Murray's trusted "heelers" will take a chance of tampering with the jury. Murray, at his wit's end, picks up a derelict, Jim Hunter, who, in spite of his appearance, strikes him as the man to carry out the dastardly scheme. Hunter agrees to do the dirty work for a sum of money. The day of Watson's trial arrives. The derelict is drawn on the jury, thanks to the betrayal of public trust by the clerk of the court, who is Murray's henchman. Hunter is told to convict Watson. and to influence the jury. He is number "7" of the jury. The government's case against Watson is so strong as to leave no doubts in the minds of the spectators as to the final verdict. Juror number "7" is listless all through the trial until Ralston is called to the stand. In Ralston he recognizes the wrecker of his former home, the betrayer of his wife. His mind is made up. The excitement makes him tremble like a leaf. Murray, who is sitting among the spectators, attributes it all to lack of "dope" and manages by the aid of a court attendant, another henchman, to get a package to Juror No. 7, who recognizes it as "dope." The jury is charged by the court. When they enter the jury room, Hunter, unobserved, takes the "dope" from the package. The jurors' minds are made up to convict the prisoner. The dope brings temporary strength to the derelict. He rises from his seat and asks the jurors to listen to him before they vote. They consent and in a faltering voice he narrates to them his story. The narration of the story saps his strength. He falls exhausted in the chair. The derelict, for a final appeal, staggers to his feet and implores his fellow jurymen to remember his wrecked life and save this innocent man from prison. Each of the jurors votes "not guilty." The jurymen file back into the courtroom. The judge asks for their verdict. The foreman answers "not guilty." Watson and his faithful wife embrace. The foreman demands the court to arrest Balaton and Murray. Great excitement ensues. The derelict's head drops on his breast. The foreman, fearing the worst, lifts up his head and discovers that juror number "7" is dead.
- Willard Wright is a rich broker who has a wife upon whom he lavishes much money and care. But one day she finds this life of idleness and luxury too slow and she runs away with a ne'er-do-well. This breaks Willard's heart. He pays no attention to business and travels the road to oblivion and disgrace. He finally becomes a tramp, begging for his food from the farm houses and inns that he passes along the route. One day he stops at the home of Jed Hawkins, a rich but miserly farmer. Mary, Hawkins' wife, feeds Wright. Her husband come home and tells Wright he must work for his food and orders him out to the wood pile. To please the woman and to make it easier for her, Willard agrees to do this. He hears Mary pleading with her husband to buy her a new dress at a sale they are having in town; he also hears Hawkins refuse, as he folds a heap of bills into his pocket. Seeing how miserable the woman is, Willard determines to get the dress for her. He follows Hawkins, holds him up, extracts twenty dollars from the roll, and going off to town, he buys the gown and gets back with it. Hawkins has been found by the constable and a posse starts out after the tramp. He is spotted, a bullet strikes his arm, but he keeps on until he reaches Hawkins' home. He deposits the dress on the steps and steals off. The posse, tracing the drops of blood, come up to the house. Hawkins sees the parcel, and as he picks it up angrily, the dress falls out. Mary comes from the house and sees her husband standing there with her much longed-for dress in his arms. She takes it from him and thanks him and calls him the best husband in the world. Dismissing the posse, Hawkins, who now understands why the tramp took the money, accepts Mary's thanks and says nothing. And Willard, watching this from the other side of the house, shakes his head and goes his way.
- Far from the maddened throngs of the city, far from the teeming, seething city streets, in a little fishing town, lives Tess and her half-witted brother, Sam. By clam digging they earn a simple living, but life is sweet in spite of its simplicity. Right near their hut lived a young fisherman, handsome, brave, and bold, who sympathized with the girl because she had to support her semi-demented brother, who took an interest in her, a friendly interest, and no more. But the maid, in the manner of woman misconstrues his attitude and takes his friendly interest and concern for the divine spark. So she learns to love him as a woman can only love once in her life, and he is ignorant of the romantic relations she has assumed this simple friendship to be. Often human hearts suffer, and this time the warm, young heart of Tess is to feel the pang and anguish of a love in vain, for there comes to the fishing bank a city girl, accompanied by her mother and father. They meet the young fisherman and the girl is impressed by his clean-cut form, his robust health, his winning ways. She asks him to take her about the place, which he obligingly consents to do, and as they are laughing, talking and smiling, Tess follows them. Once, to avoid detection, she slipped into the icehouse, leaving the door open, intending to stay there until the two got out of sight. But Jed, seeing the door open, closes it, locking it after him. When Tess realizes her predicament, she shouts, but her calls bring no response. However, her half-witted brother, with the intuition that is a gift of all mentally effected, feels a presentiment of danger to his sister, whom he idolizes, and going to look for her, hears her cries, and going to the icehouse makes a vain effort to unfasten the door. At last he runs to the beach, where some fishermen are talking, and tells them of his sister's dilemma, and they, thinking it merely some of the boy's wild talk, refuses to assist him. Then Jed, coming ashore, hears the story and goes with Sam to see how much truth there is in it. He opens the door, and into his arms falls the unconscious form of Tess, resting at last in the arms of him whom the god of hearts had destined for the task.
- Flavia Hill is the daughter of John Hill, a wealthy stockbroker. He is opposed to all forms of gambling. Charles Hill, his son, plays cards and is ordered out of the house. Flavia overhears the tirade against her brother and declares that if Charles is disowned she will leave home with him. So the brother and sister take a flat and begin life together. She secures work as a stenographer, while Charles gets a position as clerk with Garner &. Co., a stock brokerage firm. She rises rapidly in the favor of Frank Garner and soon becomes his private secretary. A swift courtship ensues and she marries him. Later her husband falls ill and she carries on the business. John Hill, through secret agents, has been trying to corner the copper market. He learns that Garner and Co. are his greatest rivals. A bitter financial war ensues in which Hill becomes deeply involved. There is but one way out, for him to appeal to Garner and Co. for assistance. He calls upon the firm and is shown into the private office, meeting his own daughter. She refuses him aid and he leaves crestfallen and angry. Flavia realizes that it will mean his financial ruin and his physical breakdown. She is torn between her duty as wife and her duty as daughter. The latter wins and she makes out a check for the amount her father has asked. John Hill has meantime returned to his office, completely broken down and resolved to commit suicide. He takes a revolver from his desk drawer and puts it at his temple. Flavia has rushed to his office and is waiting in the outer office. As he pulls the trigger there is a rap at the door and his hand slips as he turns his head. The bullet misses its mark. Flavia hears the report and rushes into the room just in time to prevent a second shot being fired. She gives her father the check. John Hill figures his profits and hurries back to Flavia with the check for the amount she loaned him with a large profit added. Flavia takes her father to her home, introduces the old man to her husband and there is a happy reconciliation between father, son and daughter.
- Carlotta, born of lowly parents, is adopted by the nobleman Don Valasquez and is raised to womanhood. She has grown up, and fallen in love, with Valasquez' son Don Manuel, but he is sent off to the court of the King. Six years later, the son returns with a wife and small child. Carlotta becomes obsessed with hatred and one day, she sees the child reaching for a rose on the window sill. The child begins to lose its balance and Carlotta, still filled with hatred, does nothing. The child falls and is killed. Later, Carlotta feels remorse and joins a nunnery, where from her window she can see the boy's grave. Thirteen years later she tells sister Agnes her story, and says that each year, on the anniversary of the boy's death, his spirit appears before her with a cross of blood on his forehead. That day is the anniversary, but this time the spirit appears and Carlotta recognizes in him the Christ child and knows she has been forgiven.
- At a big automobile race one of the winning drivers, Tony Jeanette, is given an invitation to a masked ball to take place that evening at the home of the wealthy Mrs. Montague. In haste, he drops the invitation, which is found by F.J. Francis, a society crook, and also read by Meg, another gentile crook. Knowing of the wonderful necklace of Mrs. Montague, they both decide to attend the ball in an effort to steal same, unknown to each other. At the ball Meg is seen masked, watching every chance to get the necklace, but Francis is more clever and gets away with it. The diamond is missed. Two society detectives at the ball follow Francis' cab, which he jumps out of while going at high speed, leaving his cane inside the cab. Meg follows Francis unknown to anyone, and succeeds in getting into his apartments. Francis discovers her and shows her the diamonds, which she tries to get. After she has gone, he misses his watch, which she has cleverly taken to yet even. In the meantime the detectives have gotten up with Francis' cab and discover it is empty, but find his cane with his monogram (F.J.H.) on. They find the jeweler who made the cane, and find from him the club to which Francis belongs. Going there they discover Francis, but are not sure of him, as they only saw him at the ball and he was masked. They ask for a light and cigarette, and see the same monogram on his ring and cigarette case, and arrest him as the thief. Meg hears of his arrest and attends his trial, when he is pronounced guilty. Going to his cell, she offers to help him if she can. He tells her where he has bidden them, and she goes to his apartment, gets the jewels from their hiding place in the wastebasket, and stealing into Mrs. Montague's boudoir, places the jewels where she finds them later, and phones the police of their discovery. Francis is released. He and Meg marry and give up all of their ill-gotten gain to the society of the orphans. The last scene shows them looking at the bank balance of $10.00, but happy in their love and promise of a better life.
- Far away in the wilderness nestles the sheepherder's cabin. Due to the depredations of wolves and other prowlers the herder is kept on the go all the time to preserve his flock. As a consequence of his absence all day, and sometimes far into the night, his wife is much alone. The wife wishes for someone to break the monotony of her loneliness, and so one day when a masked man comes into the house, she is more pleased than scared. The man tells her by means of a note that he is dumb. The wife is glad of company, even though it comes dumb and masked and the two have a pleasant visit. After dark comes, the man leaves, after promising to call again next day. The herder had previously noted the effects of loneliness upon his wife and notes that she is particularly happy that night. The next day the wife and her strange caller spend another happy day and as time passes the two become very friendly. Each night as the bandit leaves, he kisses the girl good-bye, and the husband notices her growing animation. At last one day the husband returns unexpectedly earlier than has been his custom. The wife sees the dog coming over the hill and his fear hurtles the dumb bandit into an adjoining room. So great is her haste that she fails to see the bandit's hat is still on the table. A few minutes later, the herder comes in. The wife, nervous and confused, tries to regain her composure. The husband notices the hat on the table and accuses his wife of having a lover in the house. The husband starts to the door of the other room. The wife bars his way and they have a scuffle, the wife being thrown aside. The husband enters the room. A few minutes later the wife sees the bandit, and going to him, pleads with him to hurry away, but the bandit pulls his gun, tells the wife in dumb he is going to kill her husband. This threat brings the wife to her senses and she begs for her husband's life, pleading that she still loves him. She tells the bandit she hates him, and springing on him, tries to wrest the gun from him. In the struggle the mask is torn from the bandit's face and the wife sees the face of her husband, who has been trying her love. She begs forgiveness and the husband takes her into his arms, promising that he will never leave her alone so long again.
- James Brandon owns the famous racing horse, Ladybird. He backs her heavily for the last race of the season. His son, Will, is in love with Peggy Baldwin, the daughter of his father's head groom. The Brandon family opposes the marriage on account of Peggy's low origin. One night, however, Will, finding his father in good spirits over the prospective winning of the race on the morrow, gives him a detailed account of Peggy's virtues. The story is interrupted by the entrance of a servant with a telegram for the father. "Ladybird in fine form. Looks sure winner." Brandon is so elated that he asks his son to make a wager staking his happiness on the outcome of the race. In the event of Ladybird's winning Will consents to give up the girl. Will finally consents to this believing his chances are as good as his father's. Later, however, he overhears Brandon tell his wife of the wager, and of the telegram, which makes his bet a sure one. Will becomes very angry at being tricked, and decides to turn the tables on the old folks. Will persuades Ted Baldwin, Ladybird's jockey to feign intoxication, knowing that with any other rider, Ladybird's chances are slim. He explains to Ted that his sister Peggy's happiness depends on Ladybird's losing, and as Ted idolizes his sister, he yields. It is within an hour of the race and Ladybird's owner is anxiously awaiting the coming of his jockey. Peggy has tried in vain to rouse Ted, and the situation is desperate. Peggy looks at Ted's new jockey suit, and decides to take his place. She has often ridden Ladybird and understands her. There is no time to lose, so Peggy hastily dresses, and gallops off to the racetrack. She arrives just in time to weigh in, mount Ladybird and ride up to the starting post. After an exciting race, Ladybird wins by a length and the crowd gathers around the winner and her jockey, but Peggy hastily dismounts and slips away. When out of sight, she sinks on a bench overcome by exhaustion. It is here that Brandon and his son, Will, find her. Brandon comes to congratulate the jockey and Will to demand an explanation of Ted's apparent betrayal. They are surprised to discover that Peggy was the rider. Explanations follow and the father is so tickled at his son's defeat in trying to foil him, and at Peggy's gameness in entering the race, that he consents to their marriage.
- As a child, Nance is rescued from drunken, abusive parents by Jerry, a kind-hearted thief. Although she grows to womanhood in the company of crooks, she remains virtuous. Famous attorney Arthur Langham has obtained enough evidence against the Riley Gang,, of which Jerry is a member, to send them all to the penitentiary. Langham's close attention to his profession causes him to neglect his wife Enid, who drifts into a flirtation with his best friend, Clyde Herndon. About this time, Jerry is arrested on a burglary charge and the gang fear that at Jerry's trial, Langham will produce the evidence he has accumulated. Nance visits Jerry in jail and he induces her to go to Langham's house to steal the evidence. Nance watches outside the Langham home and, seeing the Langhams depart in their limousine for the opera, believes the time has come to secure the papers. She manages to steal them and is about to depart as she came, through the library window, when the lights are suddenly turned on and she is confronted by Langham. He compels her to return the documents and then, becoming interested in her, asks for her history. She tells him her sad story, which arouses his sympathy. He makes a compact with her, agreeing to use his influence in Jerry's behalf if she and Jerry will lead better lives. The day of the trial approaches and the gang, becoming more fearful, plot to put Langham out of the way. Nance overhears their plans to wait for him on a lonely road during a contemplated auto trip. His wife and friend also decide to take advantage of this trip and arrange an elopement. Nance determines to warn Langham by placing a note on his desk, and she steals into his house. Hearing a noise, she hides, and is surprised to see Langham's wife about to depart with another man. Herndon sends the wife back for her jewels. As Mrs. Langham leaves the room, Nance confronts Herndon and accuses him of his perfidy in betraying his friend. Langham reads of Jerry's escape from jail and hastily changes his plans and returns home unexpectedly. Mrs. Langham on re-entering the library, questions Nance as to how she came there; she hears her husband's voice giving orders to a servant. She and Herndon are dumbfounded. Nance grasps the situation and takes the jewels from the wife's hands. She motions them to silence as Langham enters the room. He is surprised to see Nance and Herndon there so late at night, but before he can question his wife, Nance steps forward and tells him a plausible story which brands her as a thief, but clears Enid and Herndon. Langham is about to give Nance up to justice when his wife intercedes for her. He yields to her entreaties and leaves her alone with Nance. The wife begs Nance to accept recompense for her great service, but Nance at first refuses. When the wife urges her to take the money to start a new life, she consents, and upon her return home, she learns of Jerry's escape and that he is in waiting to see her. She goes to his hiding place, shows him the money, and tells him she earned it honestly and that they will use it for a new start on the straight road. Jerry acquiesces, and for the first time tells Nance of his love for her.
- Marion was a little crippled girl who lived with her grandmother. One day the old lady told her the story of a little lame boy who was healed by the fairies. Marion went out to look for the fairy queen to heal her. She peeped through a hedge and saw a girl whom she took for the fairy queen. She entered the garden and asked the girl if she was a fairy, telling her the story of the lame boy. The girl made a plan to help the little girl, telling her to return that night. When she came again there was a man with the girl, whom she took for a magician. He gave her a flower to smell, and presently she went to sleep. When she woke she found herself in a strange place, feeling very queer. But soon she was better, and after a time she found that she could walk. Then she returned to her grandmother, saying that the fairies had made her well. In reality, the magician was a famous doctor, who had cured her lameness.
- John Whalen is approached by the men in his mill, who endeavor to improve the conditions under which they have been working. His son Wally arrives home from college, hears of the mill troubles, and tries to persuade his father to grant their requests. His father refuses and suggests that he take a vacation. Wally leaves a note, stating that he has gone to the seashore. Instead, he applies at his father's factory for a position and is put to work. One day, Harry, who also works at the mill and with whom Wally is living, is badly hurt. In his working clothes Wally goes to his father and explains how dangerous working in the mill is for any man. He also explains how Harry was hurt and that it could be avoided. After a strenuous discussion. Wally tells his father if he will allow him to take charge of the factory, he will see that all this trouble is eliminated. The father consents to do and the employees are notified that things will be changed to benefit them as much as possible.
- Melissa is mistreated by her stepfather but loved by her sweet heart Lon. One day a new schoolteacher arrive in the mountains town and all women fawn over him. Lon becomes jealousy and plans with the other men to make an attempt on the Teacher. But having a change of mind Lon get himself injured, but winning the Love of Melissa again.
- The break between a husband and wife due to another woman is healed by the innocent meddling of a child.
- Tom Walsh, his daughter, Pauline, and his son, Pete, live in a tenement known to the police as a nest of crooks. Tom and Pete force Pauline to act as their "lookout" in various small robberies by means of which they make their living. Pauline, however, is good at heart and, although forced to meet crooks and ex-convicts in her father's squalid apartment, has little liking for the life. Tom and Pete plan a new "job" and appoint Pauline to keep watch for patrolmen and passersby. While acting as "lookout," Pauline becomes interested in a band of Salvation Army singers and enters into conversation with the captain of the band. The captain gives her a pamphlet to read, which greatly influences her life. Meanwhile Tom and Pete have been frightened away from the house they planned to rob. They find Pauline gone from the spot where they told her to stay. Angered by her desertion they go home to await her coming. When Pauline arrives she tells her father of her experience with the Salvation Army band and begs her father to lead an honest life. Enraged by her talk, Old Man Walsh starts after her with a large knife, intent on killing her. Pauline rushes from the room, pursued by her father. Walsh stumbles at the head of the stairs in his drunken anger, falls and is killed. Pete returns from the corner saloon and finds his father dead. In his intoxicated condition the sight interests him little. He inquires for Pauline and when he learns that she is gone he leaves the tenement intent upon bringing her back. Pauline obtains a cheap room in a better part of the city and in a few days secures a position as nurse in a wealthy family which is preparing to leave for the west. Her brother finds out where she is working, however, and when she leaves town follows on the brake beams of the same train. Pauline believes that she has left her old life behind, but one day while in the park with her little charge her brother confronts her. She refuses to go with him and asks him to leave her alone in peace. Pete is about to drag her away when Paul Reeves, a rich young mine owner, knocks Pete down. Reeves introduces himself to Pauline and sees her safely home. A strong friendship springs up between the young people. Peter, in an ugly mood after his beating, enters a cheap saloon, where he finds a crowd of loafers bullying an emaciated "dope" fiend. Pete knocks several of them down and thereby gains the deep devotion of the unfortunate. Meanwhile Paul Reeves and Pauline become increasingly fond of each other and after a short courtship are married. Reeves builds a beautiful home for his young wife and does his best to allay her fears of her brother's return. Pete, in the meantime, has become the leader of the gang which he soundly thrashed. After a successful raid he gets drunk. Shaking an unopened beer bottle the neck bursts from the gases within and blinds him for life. The dope fiend whom he has befriended nurses him back to health and waits upon his idol hand and foot. The "dope" reads for hours each day to Pete, who becomes the brains of the gang and engineers their operations. While the "dope" reads the papers for likely "prospects" Pete hears of his sister's wedding and orders the "dope fiend" to take down the address. That evening, led by his companion, Pete arrives at his sister's mansion. Pauline invites her brother in and commiserates with him on his misfortune. Pete, however, pays no attention to her sympathetic expressions, but bides his time to be revenged. Pauline leads him into a room and Pete, who has familiarized himself with the locations of the doors and windows in a hurried survey of the room during his sister's absence, locks the doors on her. He then demands a large amount of money. When Pauline refuses him he attempts to choke her. Pauline eludes him and fights desperately for her life. Finally she reaches the door and escapes down the stairs. Attempting to follow her, Pete falls down the steps and breaks his neck. He is still breathing when Pauline's husband enters. Pauline tells her husband of her narrow escape from death and the photoplay ends with husband and wife locked in each other's arms, the only bar to their happiness effectually removed.
- The story is staged in an imaginary German principality. While working in the fields the wife is taken ill and her husband in leading her home passes the palace of the Duke of Safoulrug, on the grounds of which she sees the fleur de lis, and is so attracted by the flower that she can think of nothing but it for months after. When her baby girl is born there is a birthmark of the flower on her shoulder. The mother dies, and fifteen years later, Lisette, the baby girl, who has grown to be a charming young lady, is endowed by prenatal influence with a strong fascination for her mother's favorite flower. Passing the Duke's palace, she demands that her lover, Antoine, pluck one for her. As he is about to do so, the gardener, who ordered her mother away from the palace, demands that they move on, but Lisette manages to get a flower. This is witnessed by the young Duke, who says that she may possess it, notwithstanding the fact that it is a flower worn only by persons of royal blood. Lisette's father reprimands his daughter for taking the flower, and tells her the story of her mother. Lisette eventually marries the Duke, and although he is deeply in love with her she cares little for him save that by her marriage she is in possession of the fleur de lis. During a reception by the King, His Majesty becomes infatuated with Lisette and while dancing with her he takes her in his arms just as the Duke enters. The King extends his hand for the Duke to kiss. He obeys and subsequently goes into the garden where he commits suicide. The announcement does not affect the Duchess, and she is later installed in the King's palace as his mistress. His Majesty is taken ill and Antoine, who has become a famous surgeon, is to operate on him. Lisette is at the bedside of the King the next morning when the doctor arrives. Antoine does not recognize her, and she, puzzled, goes to her suite where she paces up and down for hours while the doctor is working on the King. The operation is a success, and Antoine carries the glad news to Lisette, who says she does not care, and puts her arms around the doctor. He throws her aside with the remark that the fleur de lis is between them. This enrages Lisette to such an extent that she burns her birthmark out with a hot iron. After a lapse of time Lisette is back with her father, and Antoine, feeling the power of love, also returns to the principality where, over the grave of Lisette's mother, a reconciliation is effected between Antoine and his sweetheart.
- Dick Rance, forest ranger, incurs the everlasting hatred of Black Scotty, mountain renegade, when he arrests him for willful burning of forest land and game-killing out of season. Scotty vows vengeance. That same afternoon Rance rescues a girl whose canoe is overturned by her escort. To his surprise he discovers that the girl is Grace Milton, whom he was to have married, but whom he left when he found her in the arms of John Harding. Upon Grace's recovery she decides, still ignorant of the ranger's true identity, to reward her rescuer. Accordingly she goes on horseback to Rance's cabin. Harding follows her, fearful of a renewal of the engagement he so successfully severed. At the cabin the lovers meet. Grace finds Rance cold and unforgiving. Later Harding finds her and again presses his suit, but she denounces him and runs away. Harding meets Black Scotty, who, still determined to be revenged, is seeking an easy tool. It happens that the fires in Rance's district have been more frequent and dangerous than in any of the outlying districts, and he is warned that stricter vigilance must be exercised or a new man found for the post. Scotty steals and opens correspondence relating to this matter, in which he himself is accused of being the incendiary of these fires, and he sees a safe and sure way of removing his enemy and saving his skin. He lays the matter before Harding and they agree upon a plan. Grace writes to Rance, begging his forgiveness and asking him to meet her at Pine Cove. The letter written, her pride will not permit her sending it and it is thrown away. Harding recovers it and sees that it reaches Rance, who immediately rides to Pine Cove, where he is held up by Harding while Scotty lays the death trap and sets fire to the King Pine. Far across the lake, Rance sees the flames, and after a terrific struggle, escapes from Harding and reaches the fire in time to stop information reaching the next district in his absence. The fire is fought and conquered. Rance is rewarded for his bravery. Harding confesses to his deceit and the lovers are reunited.
- For fifty years the Dawsons and the Putnams have been engaged in a deadly family feud. Old Hen Dawson is now the patriarch of the Dawsons, and Jed Putnam is the leader of the Putnams. Dawson has an only daughter, June. There lives with him one, Wood Dawson, a nephew. In the rival family there is an only son, Joel. Joel and June were secret lovers. One day a gospel man comes into the territory and convinces the heads of the two families that their feud is ungodly. All their various henchmen are disarmed and peace and harmony is established. That is, until Wood learns that Joel Dawson is his successful rival for the hand of June. Then Wood becomes stiff-necked. He circulates the report that Joel and June have been carrying on improperly. He has words with Joel and in the general fight which follows Joel shoots and kills Wood. Both families reopen hostilities. Hen Dawson forgets his oath and sets out to kill Joel. However, when he finds Joel he finds June with him ready to elope. Tragedy is about to take place, when the gospel man forever puts an end to the long standing war of extermination. He marries Joel and June.
- Frank Marston is known to the world as a successful man. His daughter Helen is engaged to Tom Farrell, a young business man. One night the young couple go to a gay party at the studio of a famous artist. Helen and her father started a game of chess while waiting for Tom and the old man goes back to the library after seeing the young folks leave. As he sits in the flickering firelight toying absently with the chess pieces in front of him, memory takes a hand and moves the pieces into strange relationship. The white queen and her knight face the black knight. As he watches the three pieces slowly change into the figures of himself, as a young man. Standing in place of the black knight and in place of the white pieces, come the forms of his old pal, Marc Bailey, and the latter's pretty Mexican sweetheart, Anita, of the years of long ago. Slowly the chessboard fades away and the scenes from the past come up before him. Marc Bailey, living in the little Mexican town of Cocholento, located a good prospect the same day that he received a telegram from his old pal, Frank Marston, that the latter had been granted a zone by the Mexican government. (A zone is a sixty-day mining option on any large tract of land, giving the holder the sole right to file on any portion of that land during that period, even when other parties have located prospects in the district.) Anita forgets Bailey's faithful love for the handsome Marston and he pretends to care for her. They dally in the southern moonlight, unsuspected by Bailey. Trusting his friend as himself, Marc shows Marston the prospect. But the streak of greed in Marston overcomes his scruples and all the friendship of years. He alone has the right to file on the land, and unknown to Bailey, he does so. But Bailey discovers the fact and accuses Marston. The latter offers to pay him for the prospect but outraged friendship rebels at this insult, and Bailey pulls his gun to shoot Marston. Anita watched the scene afraid. Thinking to stop Bailey, she throws herself in front of Marston. Too late. The bullet drives its way into her fickle heart. Bailey is overcome, for his love for the girl is greater than his hatred of Marston. He rushes to her side, throwing his gun away as he goes. She turns away from him and calls for Marston, but the latter, afraid of Bailey's vengeance, has fled. The scene fades back to the library again. On the chessboard the black knight has disappeared and the white queen is prostrate. Marston agitated by memories, pours himself a drink. He is taking it when a face appears at the window, a face distorted with hate. The face is that of Bailey. Bailey, the failure, who has drifted lower and lower, until at last he has joined a band of crooks for the robbery of Marston's house. When Bailey recognizes Marston all the old enmity is aroused. He enters the library, gun in hand. Marston, the animal hate overcoming him, throws away his gun. He must kill this man with his bare hands. Grimly and silently the two gray-haired men struggle, Bailey's hands at Marston's throat. Meanwhile in the gay studio the grim messenger of death has been a guest. Pretty Helen, reveling with the others, goes up the stairs with her fiancé to the long gallery for refreshments. Drinking to her host, she stumbles back against the weakened balustrade. It gives way and the girl is hurled to the floor below. The guests and her horrified fiancé hurry down to her, but the little life is broken. Heartbroken, they take her body back to Marston's house. As they carry her into the library, Hailey is tightening his grip on Marston's throat. The men stagger apart. With a wild shriek Marston stumbles to the girl's side. Bailey stands for a moment watching the scene. He sees that the girl is dead. His vengeance is complete, for life will be worse than death now to the man who so wronged him in that long ago past. Bailey goes out again into the snow, a failure, leaving Marston, the success, sobbing his heart away in the beautiful library.
- John Tremain loves Violet Ellis, but she has given her heart to Dick Travers, a boy of twenty-two, who, despite his engagement to her, is throwing his money and his life away on an actress, Nina La Farge. John gets the whole story from Violet. He goes to the woman and offers to buy her off. She laughs at him at first but he offers such a large figure that she finally listens. She is growing tired of the boy anyway. John offers her a check. She sneers. She wants none of his checks to be tripped up on. He goes to the bank. Her real lover, a musician, arrives. Dick comes in on them. A quarrel ensues. Dick strikes the other man and he goes down just as John enters with the money. He takes in the situation at a glance and wonders what he will do. Making the boy realize how worthless the woman is by her eager acceptance of the bills, the man says he will shoulder the crime and let the boy go, for Violet's sake. The man sends him off to freedom. Then he forces the woman to agree to all he says. The police are called. The man is questioned. "I murdered him because I was jealous of him," he tells them. They turn to the woman. She nods, "It is all true." Tremain is arrested and held for trial. The boy returns to Violet. Always he is haunted by a vision of the man behind prison bars. Unable to stand life away from the woman the boy goes to her apartment and begs her to run away with him. She refuses and laughs at him. The man is still in jail. Time for the trial comes. The boy, seeking only a little rest, goes into the hop joints of his city and becomes addicted to the drug. The last day of the man's trial arrives. The boy is found and carried home, almost unconscious. Violet is sent for as his condition is alarming. When Violet comes to his bed he screams and tells her: "John is doing this for you because he loves you." Then he gives himself up and loudly confesses: "I did it. I killed him. He was Nina's lover." Violet gathers enough to realize the truth, goes to court, creates a big scene and saves John at the last moment. Nina is called and, frightful of the consequences, tells all the details. John is vindicated and all go to the boy's home. The detective wants to go in, but they explain he is very ill. Violet stands in the door with John. The boy begs her forgiveness and then dies. The detective is dismissed and Violet falls on her knees at the boy's side and weeps. Silently John steals away. But later, in the spring time, John comes to her, in the country, and she does not send him away.
- Phil Kelley, a well-known detective, makes the acquaintance of Cecil McLean during one of his raids and has been of assistance to the girl. Their acquaintance ripens and the two become very good to each other. The chief of police is very much disturbed at the operations of a gang of crooks known as the "Lumber Yard Gang," and after a particularly daring robbery, assigns Kelley to the case. Kelley examines the room where the robbery took place and finds a fingerprint of one of the crooks. By hard work he locates the crook's record and secures a photograph of him. Kelley takes a detail of police and starts on his mission. The gang hears that Kelley has discovered the identity of one of their members through the mysterious wireless system of crooks, and prepares to give the officers a warm reception. Kelley after placing his men in advantageous positions, goes alone to rout the crooks from cover and is met with a fierce resistance. A free-for-all battle takes place in which the officers join, and the crooks are finally routed. Phil picks out the leader and pursues him. Both pursuer and pursued exchange shots and both are wounded. The leader makes his way to a house and Phil closes with him. As he starts to handcuff his captive, the door opens and Cecil rushes out begging him not to take the man, as he is her brother. Kelley agrees to let the boy go if she will promise to make him leave town, and starts to return to his men. The chief of detectives has witnessed the chase, and when he sees Kelley return empty handed, upbraids him for cowardice and threatens to take his star away from him. Cecil sees them in an argument, and realizes that Kelley will suffer for his kindness to her. Determined to do the right thing she handcuffs her brother and goes out to summon Kelley. He and the chief meet the girl. She silently leads them inside the house and points to the handcuffed figure. The detective bends over the boy but finds that death has claimed him. The chief regrets his hasty words and leaves Kelley to comfort the girl, after telling him that he will hear more from the office for his successful handling of the case.
- John Sloan is sheriff of Long Butte. One day, while wandering about the countryside, he sees some bushes move. Thinking it is an animal, he fires and misses. Later he takes another shot and is more successful, knocking off the hat of a man in hiding. The man comes forth and tells the sheriff that he is called "Frenchy." The sheriff leaves him and starts to cross the stream nearby where he sinks up to his armpits in quicksand. He is saved by Frenchy, who tells the sheriff that he is a fugitive from justice and begs his protection. The sheriff realizes his debt to the criminal and takes him home, where he gives him the best in the house, telling him that he will give him shelter for the night and assist him out next morning. Years before the sheriff was in love with a French girl, but she was won over by the honeyed words of a Frenchman. Although he lost the girl, her likeness is always before him and he nightly dreams of what might have been. The Frenchman bunks in the next room of the sheriff's house, and on looking on a table nearby sees a picture of the girl of the sheriff's dreams. He recoils in superstitious horror for he sees the face of the wife he has murdered staring him in the face. The next morning the sheriff's deputies arrive, and tell him of the murder. Seeing "Frenchy," they recognize him as their man and capture him. The murderer pleads with the sheriff and so appeals to his honor that the sheriff, in order to pay his debt in full, allows him to escape, giving him five minutes' start.
- Bill weds the dance hall girl he has wronged.
- Mrs. Browne has three admirers. One is a poor man, one aspires to be a fortune hunter and the third is one of those bogus counts. She causes to be inserted in the newspapers that she has met with an accident that will disfigure her for life, and also that her financial standing is swept away by speculation. Then she writes her three admirers, informing them that they can consider her double misfortune as a release from their attentions. She receives three replies to her communications. The fortune hunter and the bogus count write of their regrets over her misfortune and thank her for her consideration of them. The poor man calls on her with the intention of doing his utmost to diminish her grief, but his mission is at once changed for he finds her hale and hearty with a bankroll as healthy as herself. Of course, the newspaper item at once takes a more romantic shade, that of the engagement notice of Mrs. Browne and the only man who wooed her and got her fortune.
- Mario Busoni, a young sculptor, is the ward of his uncle, Father Busoni, pastor of the Church of the Holy Name at Fiesole. The boy has shown wonderful skill in his chosen profession, so much so that he is selected to execute a life-sized statue of the Madonna for his uncle's church. This commission fills both uncle and nephew with great joy, and the lad's departure from the studio at Naples to fulfill his commission is made the occasion of much rejoicing among his fellow-workers. A discordant note is struck by Janice, a model. This girl passionately loves the young sculptor. She begs and entreats him to remain with her, and he is on the point of yielding to her blandishments when the timely arrival of his uncle puts Janice to flight. Uncle and nephew arrive at the scene of the boy's future labors and the work is commenced. A month later an important letter arrives at the studio for Mario, and Janice undertakes to deliver it to him. She arrives at the church, delivers the letter and attempts to ingratiate herself with Mario. She is again defeated by the watchful uncle, but determines to bide her time. Meanwhile Mario becomes dissatisfied with the conditions under which he is working, and finally induces his uncle to permit him to have a living model. It is found in the person of a beautiful young fisher girl, the widowed daughter of Pietro Ferrari, a fisherman. Later Mario heroically rescues the girl's father from the sea. Soon after the girl and her baby boy pose for the young artist. Tomasco, a hulking fisher lout, is in love with Mario's model. He offers marriage, and being refused, suspects Mario of being his rival. Meeting with Janice, her heart like his, aflame with jealous rage, the two plot the destruction of Mario's masterpiece, the almost completed statue of the Virgin and Child. Mario has proposed and been accepted by the fisher girl and the news of his betrothal determines Janice and her accomplice to put their plot into effect at once. Arriving at the church, the man carrying a heavy sledge, they are confronted by the finished work, a marvel of beauty of the statue. He throws down the hammer and refuses to perform the bidding of the jealous woman. She laughs at him for his sentiment and, seizing the hammer, swings it aloft. The destruction of the statue is imminent, but Divine intervention is at hand, and the eyes of the beautiful Madonna open. The poised hammer is dropped and both man and woman fall to their knees at the base of the statue, where they sob out their penitence in contrite prayers. The curtains hiding the statue are pulled aside and the bishop and his followers view the marvelous work of the young artist. Enthralled with admiration, the bishop extends his hand in blessing. The scene changes to a quiet nook near the seashore home of the fisher girl, where we find her and Mario in loving embrace, the patriarchal father holding aloft the baby boy, who is clapping his hands at the incoming rollers of the mighty sea.