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- Captain Roberts reports to Col. Sanders of the appearance of sudden threatening activities in the native secret society. Reaching home he discovers his daughter, Helen, has gone to a reception. He follows her, but en route receives a decoy note. While returning he is overpowered by natives and taken to their rendezvous. When Col. Sanders arrives at the place of reception he finds that Helen is not there. A disturbance outside attracts the attention of the party and when Col. Sanders returns to the reception room he finds a note informing him of the capture of Helen. The party immediately mount their horses and hasten to rescue her. Helen is obliged to assume native garb and mount an elephant. The natives see the approach of the rescue party and bind and gag their victim. The rescue party passes without discovering her identity. Helen is carried to far away Hindoo City and presented to the Rajah, who falls in love with her. He removes her from the power of the high priest and places her in the hands of his women. Having been educated in England, the Rajah has high respect for Christian women. The high priest insists on keeping her in his power. The Rajah objects and to secure Helen's freedom suggests that she go through the formality of marriage. The Rajah will then have the right to return her to her father. Helen consents and Captain Roberts is notified to come for her. The Rajah enters the room of a group of lions who attack and kill him. The high priest again makes Helen prisoner to be burned alive with the body of her husband, according to the custom of the country. Captain Roberts, upon receiving the Rajah's letter, becomes hysterical and takes a party of friends with him to free his daughter. Helen has been tied to a stake and the funeral pyre is fired. But the high priest, desiring Helen for himself, has constructed a trap door. While the fire burns she is lowered to a sacred chamber and is placed in charge of Jumba, keeper of the sacred animals, who is in love with the high priest. The high priest attempts liberties but is repulsed by Helen. Jumba endeavors to free Helen and passes her through the den of sacred animals and the secret chambers. Captain Roberts and the rescue party gain entrance to the chamber when the high priest enters the secret door with natives. They attack the rescuing party when suddenly Helen rises from the altar and the natives, thinking her a ghost, flee in terror. Helen recognizes and rushes to her father and the high priest, angered at Jumba, attacks her. In the fight Jumba kills the high priest in self-defense and then flees from the temple. Roberts, Helen and the rescue party make good their escape.
- Daisy Crane, the village good-for-nothin' and town charge, is farmed out for her keep to Mrs. Gray. Mischievous and eternally at war with the rest of the children, Daisy is a burden to the townspeople and particularly to the schoolmarm. After a stormy episode at school, the board decides to employ a male teacher and engages Robert Manning, a man of deep understanding. He is instructed not to spare the rod, and special attention is directed to Daisy, His handling of the good-for-nothin' seems to awaken a new spirit in the girl and soon she realizes that Manning is a friend. In his determination to develop what good there is in the girl, he gives her his undivided attention outside of school hours, all of which affords the busy-bodies of the community food for scandal. The gradual taming of Daisy becomes obvious and a deep friendship springs up between the child and the school master. One day Daisy sees Manning walking with two other girl pupils of the class and she becomes jealous. Her childish attitude at viewing the situation causes her to run away and brood. In the meantime, Mrs. Gray institutes a search for her and the scandal mongers of the town and the school board suggest that Daisy could be found at Manning's home. Unable to control her jealousy, Daisy at last decides that she will return a little book of poems that the schoolmaster gave her as a present. She goes to his home and as she is about to enter she sees the school board coming toward the house. Fearing them she secludes herself close by. Manning receives the members of the school board and invites them to enter his home. While they are inside, Daisy gains an entrance to the place and hides in a closet in another room. The board members tell of Daisy's disappearance and almost openly accuse the schoolmaster of having her in hiding in his place. He therefore invites them to make a search. This startles Daisy and she runs for the window to escape, but in doing so attracts attention by the noise she makes. Manning is astonished. The deductions are inevitable. Manning cannot explain and Daisy will not. Realizing he must act quickly, Manning announces Daisy as his future wife stating he will marry her on the morrow. The members of the board leave the house and stand gossiping outside, one urging that Manning be informed of the origin of the child. Manning escorts Daisy to her home and as he arrives he is confronted by Silas Hodges and others who tell him of the Brat's life. Daisy steals away and Manning finds only traces of her at the lake.
- Marion, who has kept house for her father since her mother's death, has two suitors, Rufus Strong, the village blacksmith, and Eph Little, the village beau brummel. She favors the latter and marries him. After their marriage Eph becomes a loafer, and Marion does the work, greatly to her father's disgust. One of the village boys has become a sailor and comes home with the wonderful tales of the sights he has seen, and Eph decides that that is the only thing that will make a man of him. He steals off with the family wealth. The father, hearing someone moving about in the living room, decides to investigate, and gets to the door in time to see Eph remove the money from the old sock, but doesn't stop him as he is glad to get rid of him. Months later the villagers learn that the ship on which Eph sailed was lost with every soul aboard, and immediately inform Marion. After a long period of mourning, Marion marries Rufus, but still worships her dead hero. Meanwhile Eph is tossed up on an unchartered island, and is rescued by the natives, and being the only white man on the island, is worshiped by all of the women, much to the displeasure of the natives. A ship being blown out of her course by a storm, sends ashore for water, and the captain offers to take Eph back to civilization, but he is too well pleased where he is, and refuses to go with them. As the crew starts back for the ship the natives beg them to take the bad man away, which they finally succeed in doing. Like the proverbial bad penny Eph turns up and walks right into the house, not knowing that his wife has re-married and has a child, but notwithstanding this fact she rushes into his arms like a happy child. Rufus tells Marion to choose between he and their child or Eph, and she decides to stick to the father of her child.
- John Carlton is a writer and genius. After superhuman effort against the obstacles of poverty, he finishes his play. Being too poor to copyright it, he submits it to a producer, and in the stress of the moment, accepts as payment $100. The play is the talk of the hour and Carlton, knowing of its immense drawing powers, and being discouraged by the return of his book from the publisher with the usual note of no commercial value, he goes to the play's producer and demands a royalty. The producer taunts him with the lack of copyright and considers the episode closed. Carlton grasps a roll of bills from the table and attacks the manager. He is arrested and sentenced to six months in jail. When he emerges from his imprisonment his genius has died within him and in its place is a hatred of mankind. He makes his way to remote wilds. Here he comes upon a tragedy, the death of a woman, far from a doctor's service, and the death of her husband, who has been going for a doctor and has encountered wild animals. Carlton finds that he cannot desert a little seven-year-old girl that is left, and taking her and the squaw who is her only companion, ,he presses on to be farther away from the haunts of men, but not alone. Ten years later, the girl has grown to womanhood. Carlton has built a hut and has brought from civilization many evidences of his taste and culture. With a sort of insanity he guards his paradise from the invasion of men and breaks the law of man ruthlessly. While away on one of his mysterious journeys a young aristocrat, who has been hunting big game, is wounded by a stray shot and saved from death by the young princess of the mountains who comes upon him just as a puma is about to attack him. With the squaw she gets him to retreat. The friends of the hunter give him up for dead and leave the district. Carlton has now to return and find in the girl a love for the youth which he himself has begun to covet. With the added hatred of mankind to the jealousy of love, he determines to shoot the man but comes upon a tryst, and in the face of the girl he reads the story of her heart. He discloses his career to the young man, who, finding himself unable to overcome his love for her, exacts a promise that he, Carlton, will never see the girl again after he, the young hunter, makes the girl his wife. The girl, horrified to find the man she has idolized as her father, a bandit and a thief, turns with relief to her lover to be taken away from his neighborhood. And so after seeing them married he turns back to the retreat and the light goes out of his life. There seems nothing but death left but the hidden law is working even for him, as it has exacted toll from him. He reads in an old newspaper the story of an unwritten genius, whose book has set the world aflame and the royalties of which await the author, should he ever be found. This strange trick of fate is due to the fact that his old landlady, of former years, has picked up the book he supposed that he had left burning, and has herself submitted it, not claiming to be the author. Thus through the years he has been in his proper status in society without knowing it. Love conquers the heart of the girl and she insists upon returning to bid her foster father a more loving farewell. So in his darkest hour he learns the lesson of truth and allows himself to be persuaded to go back to the world he has deserted.
- Dick Benton divides his existence between his young wife and his work. Tom Drake, a gambler, starts a flirtation with the young wife, who is spending a few days at the seashore. During their numerous clandestine meetings he fascinates her and at last pleading his love she falls an easy victim. He receives a letter from a pal in a small town out west who speaks glowingly of the ease with which a clever gambler can reap a harvest from the chance-loving townspeople, and urges Tom to consider the proposition. He decides to leave and persuades the wife to go with him. On the first anniversary of his wedding, Dick prepares a surprise for his wife. As he departs for his work that day be presents her with a beautiful bracelet and a personal bank account of twenty-five hundred dollars. Returning to his home that evening with more tokens of affection, Dick is stunned to find that his wife has gone. Dick renounces all women and giving up his substantial business and his home he goes west to spend the rest of his life in seclusion. Tom and the woman arrive in a western town and he establishes a cheap saloon and gambling resort. As time passes, Tom's sham love displays itself and the woman is subjected to ill-treatment. Jim Morris, a youthful tenderfoot, who has come west to make a fortune, becomes tangled up in the roulette wheel run by the gambler's mistress and urged on by his losses in an effort to win back his squanderings, he soon finds himself falling in love with the woman. Dick has a prosperous mine which he works alone. Returning from his mine one evening he sees his dog almost at the mercy of a wild puma. Dick fires at the animal but misses, however, saving his dog's life. Knowing that the dog is unable to guard the chicken coops from the beasts, Dick builds a trap. Jim has lost all of his money and he decides to start out fresh again. He is wandering through the hills when he is attracted by Dick's house. In making his way to the place, Jim steps in the trap and plunges below. His moaning brings Dick to the scene and he is rescued. His ankle sprained, Dick befriends him and nurses him back to health and induces the youth to remain and help work the mine. Jim goes to the village frequently for provisions but each time he is lured to the gambling resort when he thinks of the girl at the wheel. At last he asks her to elope with him. The woman accepts the youth's proposition and slips away to join him at Dick's cabin. Tom, discovering that his mistress has fled, directs his suspicion toward Jim, and he starts off for the cabin. While riding his horse at terrific speed down an embankment he is thrown from the saddle and hurled headlong to the bottom. Stunned and lame, he remounts, determined to have revenge on the woman. The woman arrives at the cabin and there is confronted by Dick. The sight of her causes Dick to become enraged and in a temper he attempts to strangle her, her fate being saved by the screams of a man outside the house. Tom reaches the cabin only to become a victim of the trap set for the beasts and in his downward plunge his neck is broken and skull fractured. Jim and Dick hurry to help the victim, but when his body is dragged from the trap it is lifeless. The sight of Tom's face brings a scream from the woman which reveals the fact that he is the one who lured her from her husband. Feeling that his wife has been punished for her wrongdoing but not inclined to forgive her and take her back, Dick rides with her to the stage station where he gives her money enough to take her to her home. He then returns to live the life of a hermit and to help the youth attain the end which brought him to the west.
- John David, a spender, promises marriage to the Worldly Woman. He suggests by letter that their engagement be announced at a big dinner he will give. The Worldly Woman is also admired by the Libertine, who calls at the Worldly Woman's apartment and is admitted by a Japanese butler whom he abuses, arousing a hatred which the Jap keeps well under control. The Libertine attempts to make love the Worldly Woman but she holds him off by flaunting David's offer of marriage in his face. When she leaves the room the libertine turns his attentions to a Japanese maid, the wife of Yamato, the Jap butler. His attempt to caress her frightens her and she screams, bringing Yamato into the room and between the two struggling people. The Libertine slaps Yamato across the face for what he terms insolence. The little Jap bows his way out but with suppressed anger in His heart. The night of the big dinner arrives and John announces his coming marriage. One of the suddenly discovers that there are but thirteen people at the table, and John leaves the party to go out and find the fourteenth. He chances to meet the Wanderer, an individual he once knew but who he does not recognize. John meets a pretty girl and grabs her by the arm and begs her to join his party. The Wanderer makes John let her go. John is furious but the soothing words of reproach of the Wanderer change his mind, whereupon he smilingly admits his wrong, gives him his hand and takes him to the banquet room. The newcomer is greeted with hilarity and is called upon to speak. After a toast he turns to John and quietly but forcibly berates him for his waste. He describes how this waste would give life to starving families and as he finishes a butler enters with a telegram which reads: "Cut expenses immediately. Your entire fortune swept away. Letter explains." The guests leave, and John is left alone with the Wanderer, and he asks the Wanderer's identity. The Wanderer answers: "I am your conscience." Thereafter the Wanderer is called Conscience. John and Conscience go to the home of the Worldly Woman, Conscience remaining at the door. John discovers her in the arms of the Libertine. She says that the Libertine is now her accepted lover. John attacks the Libertine and flinging him over a couch attempts to throttle him. From under the draperies of the couch a brown hand steals. It clutches a long needle which it plunges into the neck of the Libertine. The head of the Libertine falls back dead. John thinks he has strangled his adversary. He and Conscience leave for the west. Days pass. On the train he reads in a newspaper that evidence points to the Woman's guilt and that she has been indicted for murder. The presence of Conscience torments him and to escape he leaps from the train and boards a freight train going in the same direction. Conscience follows, however. They take refuge in an open coal car where they are held up by two tramps and forced to exchange their clothing and to give up their valuables. The town of Laurel Run is in the throes of excitement, a string of horses belonging to the sheriff having been stolen. The unknown criminal is the Gambler and he has sold the horse to two Mexicans. One of the horses, a pony, and the Sheriff's favorite mount, escapes the Mexicans and wanders into an open plain. John and Conscience, discovered by the train crew, are thrown from the car and wandering along come upon the pony. John mounts it and with Conscience at his side, goes to Laurel Run. The sight of two vagabonds entering the town, one of them riding the Sheriff's pony, is positive proof to the villagers that the strangers are the thieves; that is, all except the Sheriff's daughter, the postmistress of the village. Instinctively she feels they are innocent. The Gambler proclaims that they be punished, and incites a mob to wreak its vengeance. The Girl steps in, however, and at the point of a gun stays them off, pending the return of her father, who, with a posse, has gone after the thieves. Meanwhile the Sheriff returns with the stolen horses and the crowd's temper changing, it disperses. In time John becomes a popular citizen. He has fallen in love with the Girl, much to the chagrin of the Gambler. Through the Girl's efforts John gets a place as a rural free delivery letter carrier. Meanwhile the Gambler's antipathy for John has increased, and he attempts to find a way to discount him in the eyes of the Girl. One day he spies John intently reading a newspaper which carries a story to the effect that the Woman had been acquitted in the Libertine murder case and that a search has been instituted for John David, whom she has accused. John hurries away leaving the paper lying on the ground. The Gambler picks it up and divines through the story the cause of John's agitation, wires the New York police department of John's whereabouts. John proposes marriage to the Girl and is accepted. Some days elapse when a long legal-looking envelope addressed to the Sheriff arrives. John discovers it as he sorts the mail. Fearing the worst, he succumbs to temptation, opens it and finds an announcement of a reward for his capture. Resolving to keep his secret he places the envelope in his pocket. Later a stranger arrived in the city. His mission was unknown, though he posed as an automobile salesman. The Gambler, still alert for evidence, shadows John and one evening finds him alone in his cabin gazing meditatively at the reward sheet and the photo of the Girl laying on the table before him. The Gambler enters and at the point of a gun obtains the sheet. A fight follows, a lamp is knocked down, the house is set into flames and John, after overcoming the Gambler, escapes just before the house collapses. The next day John and the Girl are to be married. The Stranger enters the post-office, obtains his mail from John and leaves. At noon the wedding ceremony is held. In the midst of it John suddenly draws back in horror and shouts that the marriage cannot continue, that he is a murderer. At this point the Stranger introduces himself to the Sheriff as a detective, and taking from his pocket a letter from his chief reads an announcement of John's innocence; that the Libertine was killed by Yamato, who confesses on his death bed. So the Conscience of John David was satisfied and glorified. John turns to go out but the Girl holds out her arms to him and the Sheriff clasps his hand and gently moves him into the arms of the Girl.
- The husband, a middle-aged and prosperous businessman, is burdened and worried with the care of his enterprises and so deeply engrossed is he in his affairs that he does not show his wife the consideration she expects. Many dinners at home are not graced with his presence and the wife dines alone. As she does not understand business or appreciate its demands upon her husband's time, she attributes his seeming neglect to waning love. On a shopping expedition with a female friend, her companion suggests luncheon at a tango tea garden. Here the young wife is introduced to The Flirt and she enjoys her first sensation of being flattered by a strange man. The first experience leads to other visits to the garden by the young wife and she is soon on friendly terms with the flirt, but of course, without taking her husband into her confidence. A day arrives when the husband is unexpectedly called out of town and as he plans to leave that same night, he calls up his home and notifies his wife to have his bag packed and ready. They planned to attend the theater that evening and the wife reminds the husband of this fact, suggesting that he postpone his departure until the next day, arguing that the theater engagement is more important. The husband, worried, and his mind upon a possible big loss of business, is rather curt in his treatment of his wife's attitude, an act which she can only assume is a further demonstration of his neglect. Her association with The Flirt has been merely foolish up to this time. He made attempts to have the young wife permit him to visit her at her home during the absence of her husband, but without success. Piqued, the wife resolves that she will not miss the theater and decides to ask The Flirt to act as her escort. She does not phone the invitation on account of the servants in the house, but dispatched it in writing by a telegraph messenger. After an early dinner, the husband prepares to leave for his trip, but the young wife becomes conscience-stricken and pleads with him to take her along. He assures her that it is impossible under the circumstances. The husband is about to enter his auto on the way to the depot when he witnesses an auto accident only a short distance from the house and orders the chauffeur to drive to the assistance of the victim with all possible speed. Arriving at the scene they remove an unconscious, bleeding man, from under the wreck and take him to the husband's home. The wife, more determined than ever to accompany The Flirt to the theater, descends to the lower floor of her home to await his arrival. She reaches the reception hall just as her husband and the chauffeur carry in their burden and place the body upon a divan. The husband orders the butler to phone for an ambulance and he searches the unconscious man for papers which might lead to his identity, while the wife and maid try to do what they can for the victim. The wife bathes and washes the blood-smeared face and is horrified to recognize the features of The Flirt. Suppressing a wild scream, she falls fainting into the arms of her husband, who has witnessed her agitation. The husband carries his wife to her room, while the ambulance surgeon enters, examines the body of The Flirt and pronounces it lifeless. In the bedroom, while the maid is attending the wife, the husband again reads the letters he removed from the body of The Flirt, the letter written by his wife inviting a strange man to escort her to the theater. Looking pityingly at his wife; realizing why she wanted to accompany him on his trip at the last moment; and awakening to the fact that he has been leaving her too much along, he sets fire to the letter. When it is consumed by the flame, he gently takes his wife into his arms.
- Allan Dwight, sheriff, and Jean Belleau, a young French surveyor, live in Circle City. They bear such a striking resemblance that they can hardly be distinguished one from the other. Jean has a half-wit brother, Paul, whom Holden, a political crook, teases and bullies. Dwight catches him in the act, thrashes him, and incurs the enmity of the bully. That night Holden and Pascal, a Mexican, meet McFadden to get from him their share of money contributed by Senator Thurston tor certain nefarious undertakings. McFadden does not turn over what Holden and Pascal consider their rightful share and they vow vengeance. Their opportunity comes when Paul, the half-wit, in trying to enter McFadden's outhouse to get his runaway dog, is menaced by McFadden. Pascal fires at McFadden, killing him, and then throws the gun and Paul beside the dead man. When the crowd, which is attracted by the shot, gathers around, Holden accuses Paul of the murder, and incites the mob to lynch him. Bob Clayton, a friend of Jean's, attempts to stay them, but, being unsuccessful, he hurries to notify Jean and Dwight. Dwight arrives first and tries to circumvent the mob's fury. A struggle follows in the course of which Dwight is thrown against the barrel upon which Paul is standing and the boy is hung. Jean arrives and swears vengeance upon those responsible for his brother's death. Dwight is in love with Evelyn, the daughter of Senator Thurston, who is in control of the party known as the Thurston gang. Dwight makes his feelings known in the matter of the gang's activities, and Evelyn feels that her father is the brunt of his remarks. Dwight, however, continues his course of attempting to stamp out the work of the gang. A month or so rolls by and a mysterious bandit appears. After each successful robbery he leaves a note signed "The Devil." He becomes so daring that a vigilante committee is organized to capture him. In his mountain lair it is seen that "the devil" is none other than Jean Belleau. His lieutenants are Clayton and Holden, the latter having confessed to Jean that Pascal was his brother's murderer, causing Jean to end the Mexican's existence. Holden has grown jealous of Jean and makes known the bandit's identity to two detectives, advising them that he may be known by his horse, which is branded with the form of a pitchfork. When Jean goes to town he is pursued by the officers, but escapes capture by hiding in Dwight's automobile. Dwight learns that he is in his car, and desirous to save the good that is in him, Dwight permits the bandit to take his car to escape while he takes charge of Jean's horse. Jean returns the car the next morning and leaves with it a note saying that he has decided to give up his lawless life. Soon after Jean leaves after extracting a promise from his friend, Clayton, that he, too. will also abandon the lite of an outlaw. Holden assumes the leadership of the gang and plans a bold daylight robbery, proposing to assume the character of "The Devil." Clayton overhears the plot and determines to frustrate it for the sake of "The Devil's" name. In the attempt Clayton is shot by Holden, who, with his gang, escapes to the mountain retreat. When Dwight hears of the robbery and is told that "The Devil" is responsible, he determines to seek out Jean and either make a man of him or bring him back a prisoner. He starts out on Jean's horse. Meanwhile the vigilante committee is also bent upon entering the bandit mountain stronghold. Holden was badly wounded in the affray at the bank. Holden wounds Dwight, and noting the remarkable resemblance between the sheriff and Jean, he places evidences of the bank robbery upon the man he has wounded. So the posse finds Dwight, and of course, their natural assumption is that Dwight has been the bandit. Dwight is taken back to town and arraigned before the authorities. An account of the bandit's career is printed in the papers and attributed to Dwight. Jean, speeding eastward on a train, reads the story, and realizing the situation, wires back to the Circle City authorities to stop prosecution until he arrives. He does return and Dwight is released from custody. The police are anxious to run down Holden and offer Jean certain clemency if he will lead them to the mountain stronghold, where Holden and his men are hidden. Jean consents to avenge the death of his friend Clayton, at Holden's bands. When Jean and the posse arrive a pitched battle takes place. At last Jean and Holden meet. After a terrific fight Jean succeeds in rolling Holden over to the edge of a cliff. Holden falls over it, but Jean, with a firm grip upon his wrists, holds him suspended in midair as he himself lies at the edge of the cliff on his breast. One of the bandits takes aim and fires at Jean. As the bullet enters his body Jean, with a convulsive movement, loosens his hold on Holden's wrists and the latter is dashed on the rocks thousands of feet below. Jean struggles to his feet and tries to make his way back to the posse, but only succeeds in reaching his faithful horse and at her side he falls. Meanwhile Dwight has recovered from his wounds and found a happy resting place in the arms of Evelyn.
- David McCare, the love liar, is a musical genius, the idol of society, hated by men and worshiped by women. He casts off his mistress, Margie Gay, for a new love, Diana Strongwell, an heiress. Margie pleads with him to take her back, but McCare gets rid of her through the services of Ludwig, his valet, and a broken-down musician. Ludwig is also in love with Margie. McCare marries Diana, much to the chagrin of Edna Carewe, a friend of Diana's, who is also attracted by the musician. They live happily for a short tune until McCare becomes discontented and makes advances to Edna. Meanwhile Margie finds the narrow path a stony one. A woman of the streets suggests the easiest way. Margie shrinks but finally consents. The first man she accosts is Ludwig, who leads her to her home and offers marriage. She is reluctant at first, but eventually agrees, and they are married. At a dinner dance given by Diana, she catches McCare making love to Edna. Diana denounces Edna and demands that she leave her home. McCare answers that if Edna goes he, too, will leave. And so husband and wife are parted. In time Diana divorces the "love liar" and he marries Edna. Diana advises Edna later that McCare is an overgrown child, and that in order to keep his love he must be pampered. A year passes. Edna, with the aid of Diana's advice, has made the "love liar" happy. One night in a café he sees Arlene Allaire, a hall-room dancer. At home Edna has given birth to a baby and though it will live, it is evident that its birth will bring death to the mother. Diana, who is at the side of Edna, rushes out to find McCare, and locates him in the café, where he has assumed the leadership of the orchestra and is directing Arlene's dance music. At the news of his wife's illness McCare is stricken with dumb surprise and hurries home. Edna dies in his arms. For days McCare lived in an abstracted mood, watched over by Ludwig and Diana. One day as he plays his violin a vision of Arlene passes before his eyes. He throws off hid brooding mood and goes back to the café and to Arlene. Her bills have been paid by McCare's checks until one day a number of them come back stamped "No Funds," and from that moment on Van Allen, who had been previously paying for everything for the dancer, finds himself again welcome at her apartments. It is here that McCare finds him one evening. The men fight; the police are called and McCare is arrested, but Arlene refuses to make any charge and McCare is simply put out into the street. Ludwig takes McCare home, and there Margie and he care for the wrecked man. But McCare cannot blot the image of Arlene from his mind and he returns to the café where Arlene is dancing, securing employment as a musician. Here Diana finds him. She begs him to tell her his troubles. He breaks down and confesses his love for Arlene. In time drink claimed him, too, and McCare sank lower. Time passed and McCare became desperate with love and jealousy. One night while Arlene is dancing a madness overcomes him. He dashes his violin to the floor, takes Arlene up in his arms and starts with her up the grand stairway to the café. The attendants attempt to overpower him, but he throws them off, and drawing a revolver, compels Arlene, who has scurried away, to come to the foot of the stairs. Covering the startled crowd, he speaks to Arlene, "You've taken all my heart, my honor, my manhood. At your feet I fling the dregs." He shoots himself and falls down the stairway to Arlene's feet. Diana took him home and the "love liar" lived another day, forever calling upon the name of she who had shown him Hell. Diana, ever his friend, went to Arlene's apartment and pleaded with her to come to McCare's bedside. She refuses at first, so Diana poured the contents of her purse at her feet. Thus bribed, Arlene consented to go, and in her arms the soul of the "love liar" passed. When all are gone and Diana is left alone with her dead, she takes him in her arms, for at last he belongs to her, to her alone.
- Jim Carr is the owner of the water rights which irrigate a great number of ranches. He is an unscrupulous man and decides to confiscate all the ranches by ruining the ranchers. This he does by raising the already high rates to an impossible price per acre. Robert Wilton owns a ranch and is the accepted lover of rancher's daughter Mary Mills. This arouses Carr's jealousy. When Wilton, whose lands are already perishing for water, received the notice of the extortionate raise, he rides furiously to the dam and accosts Carr, whom he finds there. Carr laughs him to scorn. Wilton rides to the sheriff and hopes that he may invoke the law, but the sheriff is "fixed" and he finds himself helpless. Murder comes into his heart almost when he thinks of the ruin that is coming to himself and other ranchers, who have pioneered and have made the desert to blossom like a rose and now are threatened by ruin. Mary's father deeply fears Carr, because his land is mortgaged to him, and when the outraged ranchers form a mob to take the law into their own hands, he joins the faction that comes to Carr's defense. One of the poor ranchers who has toiled for years on his little piece of land is a Mexican. He joins the mob, and in the deadly battle that ensues, he and Mary's father are killed. Robert in the meantime has refused to join the mob, believing that the law can still be invoked. After the battle, the Mexican woman, Pedro's wife, goes mad with grief and despair. She swears vengeance over her husband's dead body. She goes to Carr's cabin and shoots him. In the morning Robert goes to plead with Carr. He, to be sure that his own passion of soul does not master him, empties his gun and leaves it near the house. This, with the many quarrels and his words to the rancher, "Do not do this, boys, there is a better way," forms a chain of circumstantial evidence that convicts him of killing. In the meantime, the Mexican woman has gone into the desert, but realizing that another life is coming, she returns. Mary finds and nurses her, and through this charity Robert is saved. Justice at last hands down a decision and peace and love at last reign in the valley.
- Katherine Mortimer, a rich and eccentric young woman, spending the summer at the seashore with Mrs. Cochran, her aunt and chaperone, learns she has been jilted by her fiancé, Horace Castlebury, who has eloped with Ethel Van Eltinge, a brewer's daughter. The headstrong Katherine vows to marry the first man she meets. She swims out beyond her depth and is rescued by Bill, a fisherman, who takes her to his cabin on the shore. He revives her and as he is the first man she has met she straightaway proposes to him. Bill is gifted with the talents of a great painter and aspires to become famous as such. Katherine persuades him to become her husband and he accepts her proposition in view of the fact that her money will further his ambitions. After the marriage ceremony, Katherine informs him that she is to be his wife in name only, but as the weeks pass by he finds himself falling in love with her. Castlebury and his bride come to the seashore, and there Katharine triumphs in her own mind as she introduces him to her "spite husband." Castlebury, however, sees through the ruse and immediately starts another affair with Katherine, whom he finds a willing victim. He neglects his pretty wife. This state of affairs is finally brought to Bill's attention by the neglected wife and Bill brings matters to an abrupt climax when he interrupts a secret meeting and soundly thrashes Castlebury. Bill renounces Katherine in a stormy scene and returns to his fisherman's on the shore. It is then that she discovers that she really loves her "spite husband," and the following morning she follows him to the cabin and pleads with him to take her hack. Bill at first will not listen to her, but when she takes possession of the place in her feminine way and starts to clean it up and wash his breakfast dishes he realizes that the girl has at last found her true woman's heart.
- In the year 1756, the slaves of a certain Rajah of India unearth a remarkable diamond, which, on account of its enormous size, is christened "The Star of India." The gem is handed down as an heirloom to the Rajah's descendants. In the year 1912 the gem is mysteriously stolen and the blame is shifted onto the shoulders of one Sir Lionel West, a wealthy collector of jewels. Previous to the theft, Lord Ashdown, an English nobleman, to escape the numerous traps of the many fond mothers who are desirous of marrying their daughters to him, takes up his residence in India, where he falls in love with Grace Radnor, a niece of Sir Lionel West. Arthur Fitzallen, Sir Lionel's nephew, desires to marry his cousin. Sir Lionel has observed the reckless and dissolute habits of Arthur, but does not openly show his displeasure until his nephew announces the fact that he seeks the hand of Grace. Sir Lionel states his objections frankly and to the point and to avoid any possibility of Grace being annoyed by his unwelcome attentions, drives Arthur from his home with a demand never to return. Thrown upon his own resources, Arthur subsequently accepts a proposition from a crafty and unscrupulous Indian Prince to secure for him the celebrated diamond, "The Star of India." Success in this and his mission accomplished, Arthur now plans to abduct Grace, so by means of a decoy letter she is lured to an unoccupied cabin which was formerly the headquarters of the conspirators who aided in the theft of the diamond. Con Magee, Lord Ashdown's valet, witnesses the abduction, hides on the trunk rack of the auto and rides off with the party to the cabin in the jungle. Arriving at the journey's end, Con appropriates the car and drives off to spread the alarm. At the cabin, Grace and Arthur are attacked by a lion. Grace flees to an adjoining room and Arthur, with a chair as his only weapon, attempts to defend himself. In the struggle with the beast the lamp is overturned, the cabin catches fire, and the sparks ignite the surrounding jungle. Lord Ashdown and his friends, guided by Con Magee, have considerable difficulty in reaching the burning hut. Grace has escaped from the cabin, only to be met with a wall of fire. As she turns back to escape the fire she is confronted by the lion, which has also escaped from the cabin. Lord Ashdown arrives in time to snatch the girl from the ferocious beast. Trapped by the fire, the conspirators flee for their lives, but are intercepted by the rescue party, who overpower them and recover "The Star of India."
- Young English engineer Richard Mann has been commissioned to make a preliminary survey for a new railroad in South Africa. At a farewell luncheon at his club, the charm of the ultra-fashionable young ladies of the metropolis is the topic of discussion. The subject does not interest young Mann, who assures his friends that his work will always be his bride. In the Transvaal, the Boer population is resentful towards all modern improvements and particularly against the proposed encroachment of their lands for railroad purposes. Jan Kruger, a prosperous farmer and leader among his neighbors, was particularly bitter against any and all changes in the general conditions of their country. His daughter, Hilda, a sweet and lovable young miss, quite naturally was a partisan to her father's views. These were the conditions that Richard was obliged to contend with upon his arrival at the field of his activities, in addition to the hardships of his work and the dangers of the wild beast-infested jungle through which he was to blaze the way. Hontas, a half-breed, was Kruger's foreman and had long cherished a wild desire to win Hilda's love. While the old Burgher was away from home one day, Hontas, after being repulsed by the girl, attempts to use force, for which he receives a beating from her father, and is summarily discharged. Kruger is a man of violent temper and given to beating any lazy blacks who worked for him and has thus earned their hatred, which fact the discharged foreman uses for his purpose later on. The surveying party pitch their camp near Kruger's land and in the course of events, Richard calls upon Kruger with his credentials, but is ordered away at the point of a rifle. Hilda joins her father in berating the intruders. A few days later Richard rescues Hilda from the violence of the half-breed and wins her gratitude and also the knowledge that she is a most adorable young lady, and proceeds to mentally compare her with the fashion plates of his country. The appearance of the surveying party causes the Burghers to hold a meeting at the trading post, and Richard plans to attend this meeting to plead his cause. Hontas learns of the proposed all night absence of Hilda's father and plans to seize this opportunity to carry her off, enlisting the help of several of Kruger's resentful blacks to accomplish his purpose. Richard proceeds alone upon his mission, but is beset by lions in the dense jungle and forced to return to camp and in doing so is obliged to pass through Kruger's land. Hilda hears the approach of the vengeful half-breed and his followers and makes a brave resistance, but outnumbered, she is surprised from behind by one of the crafty blacks. Richard arrives upon the scene in time to save the girl from her captors, whom he puts to flight. The cowardly half-breed, knowing that quick justice awaits him if caught, seeks the darkness of the jungle for safety. The lions which blocked Richard's path, have been driven from their haunts by hunger and have invaded the outskirts of the settlement, surprising Hontas in his flight. A short pursuit, a vain struggle and Hilda was avenged by lions.
- Captain Morey and Major Carr, at the English post Simla, India, are rivals for the affection of Marjorie Lansdown. The Major discovers that she loves Captain Morey, and being the superior officer, he sends Morey to a desolate outpost in the jungle district. Morey accepts his fate, but knows the reason of his transfer. He and Marjorie part sadly. On his way to the jungle district he comes across a ceremony of human sacrifice. He saves the young victim, a young native girl, and has her brought to the outpost to protect her in the name of the British Government. The fanatic priest, thus interfered with, and hating the English, follows the girl to the outpost later with the idea of killing the captain and regaining his victim. The girl, at the risk of her own life, stabs the priest, as she is now the young English captain's abject slave. He does not notice her love, being engrossed in his love for Marjorie, but, of course, is drawn to her in gratitude for her brave deed. The major, through his spy, carries out his plans to defeat the young captain. The letters that they write to each other are destroyed and never reach their destination. As the months go by, disappointment enters the heart of each. The fever mists of the jungle claim the heartsick captain as a victim. The adoring native girl nurses him tenderly back to life. She knows the herbs to give him and this, with her nursing, restores him to health. The first news that he gets of Marjorie is a notice through the newspaper of her engagement to the major. Being tied to the native girl through gratitude and loneliness, he now turns to her and accepts her love. In the meantime the major had poisoned Marjorie's mind by telling her that Morey has taken a morganatic wife. Fate now steps in and Marjorie and her father accept the major's invitation to witness a leopard hunt in the jungles. Nadje, to wean the captain of his growing love for native wines and to strengthen him, persuades him to go on a hunt with her into the forest. In the jungle hunt, Marjorie becomes separated from her party and is thrown from her horse and about to be killed by a leopard when Nadje saves her life. Marjorie is hurt and Nadje gets her to the camp, where Morey is resting, the girl, Nadje, witnesses the meeting of the lovers, hears their explanations, witnesses their despair at the unkindness of fate. Death enters her own soul. That night the two hunting parties camp together. The natives keep close watch, as they know death stalks in the jungle as a result of the day's killing. Nadje, too, knows this, and as she realizes that she is not the love of Morey and sees the struggle that goes on in the hearts of the two, she commends her soul to her idols, goes into the lair of the leopards, binds herself to a tree and embraces death. The natives find her after she has been almost killed, and carry her to the camp. There Morey and Marjorie read her sacrifice in her dying eyes and grief and repentance enters their soul. She tells them that her fate was hung about her neck. The young officer returns to Simla after six months and again the harp of love is struck, but the minor of memories lends a sadness to its consummation.
- Margaret Gilbert, a student at a seminary, is more devoted to love-story novels and clandestine meetings with Al Drake than to her studies. Her many capers at school bring protests from the president of the institute and the climax comes when Margaret is caught in the act of eloping with Al and expelled from school. Her older sister Nan is devoted to their father and engaged to William Clifton. Nan exerts herself greatly to develop the good in her sister, having taken the place of her mother who passed away when Margaret was little. Al is the son of a millionaire lawyer. His father's will is that the youth follow the same course in life as he and he showers his boy with every luxury, including unlimited finances and a racing automobile. His father's profession does not appeal to him and Al neglects the study of law, spending his time perfecting a new automobile device, it being his desire to pursue a mechanical career. The youth's habits become known to the father, who informs the youth that his income has been stopped until such time as he proposes to resume the study of law. Disregarding his father's wish, Al starts out to find employment for himself and applies for a position as a chauffeur. He is engaged by William Clifton. William arranges a weekend visit at the home of Nan, his fiancée, and is driven there by Al. It is then that Al sees Margaret again and they are later detected in a love scene by William and Nan. William discharges Al on the spot and the older sister rebukes Margaret for her conduct. William and Nan notice the change in Margaret and wonder at her brooding. William tries to console Margaret, who informs her prospective brother-in-law that she is the wife of Al and that it was a romance of several weeks previous. With pity for the girl, William folds her in his arms, assuring her that he will rectify matters. At this point Nan approaches the couple, and she gathers the impression that William and her younger sister are having a love scene. William's protests fall on deaf ears, but with a mission to perform he goes off satisfied that time will adjust matters. William goes to the city and seeks Al. He hears Al's story of having been cut off financially by his father and decides to go to the father and attempt to bring about a reconciliation. This proves unsuccessful. William is not defeated, however, for he telegraphs Margaret to come to the city at once, it being his plan to bring the girl face to face with her father-in-law. Margaret leaves her home rather mysteriously and later Nan finds the telegram from William, She is heartbroken and tells her father, who urges her to forget. Margaret goes to Al's father, and after much coaxing he finally accepts the girl as his daughter-in-law, forgives his son and there is a happy reunion. Margaret telegraphs her sister that she is coming home with her husband and asks forgiveness. When Nan reads the message she is horror-stricken, believing that William and Margaret have been married. Al and Margaret, with William and the millionaire, arrive at the Gilbert home. They are received by the father, who is wrought up over the whole affair until the correct circumstances are revealed and then he readily forgives. Nan has not made her appearance and she is sought by Margaret. With bowed head the older sister clasps hands with Al, feeling all the time that it is William. She finally raises her head and recognizes Al and realizes the folly of her thoughts. Asking forgiveness of her sister and William, Nan falls into William's embrace.
- Old Weatherby, a broken down tramp, finds a friend in a passerby. With money given him by the good Samaritan, Weatherby starts off to satisfy his hunger. He is attracted by some theater posters announcing the performance of the drama, "Youth." The pangs of hunger urge him to buy food, but the play of "Youth" calls him and he spends his money to witness the play. It is the story of his own youth, of the years he wasted. Harry and June were child sweethearts in an orphanage at Cedarville. They grow up together, Harry becoming a machinist in a village factory and June a milliner's apprentice. As they grew older they planned to marry, but the young man was summoned to a big city where he was informed that he had inherited a vast amount of money, left him by his uncle. The fortune is turned over to the young man and he lingers among the white lights. The village physician is also in love with June, but she does not encourage his attentions and openly makes known that she is betrothed to Harry. A desire to see a little of life takes a hold on Harry and be visits one of the roof gardens where Bohemians gather. "Billie," a woman of the world, and Robert Leslie, her friend, are attracted by the strange actions of the country boy. The woman plans to catch him in her net and Leslie helps to pave the way by bidding her a hasty good-night, to leave her to fascinate Harry. Her charms set Harry's brain in a whirl. One night at the roof garden, Leslie "dares" Harry to marry "Billie," for such is the trap set by the two schemers. Hypnotized by the woman and his brain dull from wine, Harry consents and the party hurries to a Justice of the Peace and the ceremony takes place. Not until the next day does Harry realize what he has done. In the meantime June's heart has wilted and she wonders for her lover. She goes to the city to seek him and there confronts Harry with the woman. June is heartbroken at the news of the wedding. June returns to the country and the young physician, still pleading his love for her, she marries him and they establish a happy home. Gradually "Billie" extracts the wealth of her husband and so great is his love for her that he is blind to her sham love for him. Suddenly his eyes are opened when he finds his wife and Leslie scheming against him in his own home. A scene follows, Harry ordering Leslie from the house with a demand never to return and the woman then betrays her real attitude toward Harry. As Harry broods, his wife gathers her belongings together and elopes with Leslie, although it is the eve of her motherhood. Through a detective agency Harry tries to trace his wife and her would-be lover. Four years have passed and Harry has used every means to find his wife and child without result. Leslie has sunken to the level of a common crook, deserted "Billie," who, heartbroken at her folly, passes to another world. The little daughter is left in a wretched condition in a dirty tenement room. The child goes out into the open in a drenching rain and looking for shelter climbs into an unoccupied automobile. Soon Harry enters the machine, discovers the child, and takes her home. That night, Leslie and some of his associates go out on a burglarizing expedition. Masked, Leslie climbs into the living room of Harry's apartment, a struggle follows and the mask is torn from his face. The little child is aroused by the noise and as she appears, Leslie makes known that it is Harry's own daughter. As the father clings to the child, Leslie steals away. The following day Harry resolves to return to Cedarville. As he and his little "Pal" near the town, Harry sees the scenes of his happy childhood. The swimming pool appeals to him and he attires himself in a bathing suit and plunges into the water. A gypsy and his family come across the automobile belonging to Harry and likewise the man's clothes. These the gypsy appropriates to his own use and leaving his wagon behind rides away with his family in style. When "Little Pal" and her father are ready to go they are forced to use the abandoned wagon and Harry attires himself in the clothes left by the gypsy. Reaching the town of Cedarville, the child has taken sick and Harry goes to the town doctor. He learns of the marriage of June and the physician and after getting medicine, starts off to lead the life of a gypsy. For months he and his daughter travel near the outskirts of the village until the child is suddenly taken very ill and dies. He takes the body back to the scene of his younger days and there makes a little grave. The play of "Youth" is ended. The crowd leaves the theater and "Old Weatherby" remains unmoved. An usher shakes him and then draws back, realizing that the old man has passed away.
- Wealthy Cape Town merchant John Wright has purchased a large sea-going gasoline yacht and has made preparations for an extensive cruise with his family, which consists of his wife Margaret and their young daughter Louise. As they're cruising along the coast, the supply pipe from the gasoline tanks to the motors springs a leak, an accident which is discovered only when live coals ignite the inflammable fluid. The entire vessel is soon ablaze and the panic-stricken crew appropriate the boats, gaining possession of them after they have killed the captain and disabled the owner. John manages to get a hatch overboard upon which he entrusts his wife and child, while he manages to get away from the burning vessel upon a light spar. He reaches the frail hatch upon which his family climb, only to find that it will not sustain his added weight. He tries to keep near his loved ones, but wind and tide intervene and the castaways drift apart as night comes on. Morning dawns and the frenzied man searches the sea for sight of his dear ones, only to see the smoke of an approaching steamer on the horizon. He is rescued and the captain institutes a search for the missing wife and daughter, but to no avail. The occupants of the little raft, unconscious from exposure and exhaustion, are cast upon the coast of South Africa. Here they are found by a semi-civilized tribe of Blacks and taken to their village in the interior. The tribe look upon Margaret as an omen of good fortune sent them by their gods and treat her with deference and consideration until an unfortunate incident occurs. Waji, a venerable member of the tribe, is stricken with an unknown illness, and in accordance with a tribal law, he is driven away from the village. The unfortunate old Black has been very kind to Margaret and little Louise. The mother intervenes in his behalf and puts her arms about the fellow to protect him from further abuse. This act is considered by the tribe to mark Margaret as a victim of the same illness, but to their superstitious minds, they cannot offend the gods by driving her out, so they desert the village in a body. Waji's illness is but slight and he soon recovers, and the three outcasts of the jungle live alone in the deserted village. One night, in a somnambulistic state, Margaret calls to her husband to come to her. Through the long months Wright has been haunted with the feeling that his wife and child still live. He hears the cry from the soul of Margaret and next day starts an expedition to search for her. While the tribe occupied the village it was protected from the lions which infested the surrounding forests by the hunters of the tribe, but since the village has been deserted, the wild beasts have become bolder and old Waji is fearful of the safety of his charges. He finally determines to solicit the tribe to return now that he is well, and sets off on his mission, cautioning Margaret to exercise great care. John and his expedition land upon the coast near where the wreck had occurred, rightly reasoning that had his loved ones been cast up on the shore they might have been succored by the natives. After many false clues they come upon a member of the tribe who rescued Margaret and who identifies the castaways from a photo shown him. The party hastens to the new village where Waji has arrived to make his plea. Meanwhile Margaret has spent a night of terror, for lions were hovering near her bamboo hut. When morning came the lions grew bolder and more determined. Margaret, with little Louise clasped in her arms, expecting every moment to be her last, hears the sound of firing and the rush of many feet, and then she knows Waji has managed to bring help. When they bring her forth and she sees her beloved, she thinks it but the dream of death, and when she is taken into his arms and feels the pressure of his trembling embrace, she realizes that little Louise and her mother are no longer Jungle Outcasts.
- William Carr, manager of an ostrich industry, receives a big order for feathers and boas from an heiress, who selects colors of the off-shade and pastel tints. The head dyer is ignorant of some of the necessary formulas, but insists that he can act on the order successfully. The tints are not according to order, and the heiress refuses to accept the feathers. Carr sends for the most expert dyer in the world, John Williams, severely reprimanding the head dyer. When John Williams arrives, he brings with him his daughter, Bessie. Judd Brown, the dyer, leads the other dyers in revolt. He is determined to get the formulas from the old man and when he adds an insult to the daughter he is discharged by the manager. Judd Brown then begins an active campaign of enmity and determines that he will get the formulas at any cost. He excites the other men to his way of thinking, and they go to the cottage of the old man one night to bully him into disclosing the formulas. The old man is teaching his daughter the formulas in cipher when the men enter. He quickly tears the formulas into ribbons. This infuriates the ruffians and they drag the old man and girl to the dyeing room. In the struggle along the path, Bessie's hat with a beautiful feather, which the manager presented her, is lost. In the dye rooms the villains torture one against the other, trying to coerce the secret from Williams. Failing to get the secret, they drag the girl off, telling the father they are going to cast her into the ostrich pen, stampede the ostriches and the girl will be kicked to death. Car has worked late that night and coming from his office he finds Bessie's hat. Knowing the insubordinate attitude of his men and the ruffian, Judd Brown, his suspicions are aroused and he goes to the dyeing rooms and sees evidence of a struggle. From a window he witnesses the outrage of Brown and the ruffians as they drag the father and daughter toward the pen. He makes all haste to the scene, rescues the girl and her father, and a struggle follows, the manager and the old man conquering Brown and his gang. The simple little English girl has wound herself around the manager's heart with her sweet way, and all ends happily.
- Margaret Lyle is the daughter of a retired soap manufacturer who is ambitious to shine socially. William Carlton, a wealthy young bachelor, has courted her persistently, but her father does not approve of his attentions. Margaret thinks she loves William and her mother is friendly. William proposes, is accepted, but the ambitious old man refuses permission. Karl Von Koenig, a German, is in destitute circumstances, and failing to receive a long-expected letter, has become despondent and in desperation decides to end his troubles. He leaves a note in his room to the effect that he is unable to get home to fight for his country and as the only employment he can obtain is in a munitions factory, he prefers death to making bullets to slay his own brothers, and proceeds upon his way. William leaves the Lyle home feeling that he has been insulted and humiliated. He is startled by the stopping of his car. He goes to the assistance of his victim, none other than Karl, painfully but not seriously injured. Karl improves rapidly, but he has forgotten his past. William takes him to his home when he is able to leave the hospital, feeling he is responsible for Karl's future. The soap manufacturer spends much of his time in his library and his wife discovers that his favorite book is "The Titled Families of Europe." When Margaret and William learn this they hit on a plan to hold the old man up to ridicule and thereby perhaps amenable to their determination to wed. Once decided on, the plot quickly develops and Karl, in gratitude for William's kindness, agrees to help. The plan is to introduce Karl as a German nobleman, have him court Margaret and propose marriage and then give the facts as to Karl's real identity to the newspapers, whereupon the plotters figure that Margaret's father will readily agree to a hasty marriage between Margaret and William and thereby attract the attention of the press away from the old gentleman and his bogus count. The plan works without a hitch. Count Karl is enthusiastically welcomed by Margaret's father and after a brief courtship is accepted as a prospective son-in-law without delay. As arranged between the conspirators, Karl is to leave town as soon as this result has been accomplished. Margaret and Karl realize the joke is really on them, for during the many meetings which occurred, while the bogus courtship lasted, they had become very fond of each other. Margaret's father next morning reads of the hoax perpetrated upon him and is furious with rage. Karl arrives at the station and is surprised to meet Margaret, who tells him she intends to go with him, as she considers she is his promised wife with her father's consent. Karl tries to remonstrate with her, but Margaret will not be denied and the young couple board the train and ride off together. Margaret's family and William are shocked when they receive a wire informing them of Margaret's marriage to Karl. The father now realizes that the joke is on William instead of himself and wires his forgiveness. Afterward it develops that Karl is none other than Count Von Koenig.
- Hope Hathaway, motherless and fatherless, has been afflicted with a spinal disease that has prevented the use of her limbs since childhood, confining her to an invalid's chair. On his deathbed Hope's father, a prosperous New England farmer, had left his daughter and her inheritance to the guardianship of his legal adviser, Rufus Flint, and had expressed a wish that she would one day marry Rufus' son, Abner. Thus he aroused the selfish ambitions of Rufus Flint and his son, who possessed the prosperous Hathaway farm. Hope is protected from their constant persecution and efforts to force her into a distasteful marriage with Abner by her faithful old colored nurse, Susie. In the nearby village a moving picture company is working, producing a romantic drama that is to feature the famous moving picture star, Neil Stuart. While the company is lunching, Neil goes for a canter over the country roads, attired in his King's costume and riding the beautiful white charger that he uses in the picture play, in search of water to quench his thirst, he comes upon Hope as she sits in a wooded grove near the Hathaway farm, dreaming over her latest romantic novel. The hero of her novel, as he is pictured in the book, is identical with the character of the King, for which Neil is costumed and to Hope it seems as if her hero lover had stepped in the flesh from the covers of her book to confront her. Discovering Neil's presence on the farm Rufus and Abner attempt to expel him, but they meet with unexpected resistance and are driven away themselves. The next afternoon the moving picture company start for the city and Neil decides to pay a farewell call to the little dreamer in the invalid chair. Finding a ready sympathizer in her hero, Hope tells him of Rufus and Abner Flint's persecution and he gives the old colored nurse his telephone number with instructions that she should call him in case of her mistress' need. Soon after, Rufus decides to bring matters to a speedy climax. He is a Justice of the Peace himself, so he plans to marry Hope to his son by force. They lock Susie in the barn by a clever ruse and after procuring a license proceed to perform the ceremony, but Susie escapes, phones Neil that Hope is in trouble, and he, true to his word, burns the road in his car to the Hathaway place. He arrives too late to prevent the ceremony and Susie tells him that Abner has already started off with Hope on their wedding journey. Incensed at the outrage, Neil gives chase in his car and overtakes Abner and his unwilling bride. Abner's horses run away and the coward jumps to save his own life, leaving the crippled girl to her fate. Entrusting the steering wheel to his chauffeur, Neil leaps to the running board of his car and succeeds in stopping the runaway horses. Abner's leap for life results fatally to him, for his father finds him dead at the edge of the road. Neil takes Hope to his mother's home and soon by the magic of love and science a wonderful change is wrought. A famous specialist restores to Hope the use of her limbs and in the arms of Neil she finds her Land of Heart's Desire.
- Mrs. Pensonby Smythe is the frivolous young wife of an elderly millionaire whom she does not love. Mrs. Smythe's younger sister, Grace, is a member of the family. Mrs. Smythe secretly accompanies "Billie" Carrington, a social adventurer, to "The House of the Mask," a notorious gambling palace where the rich play in secret with masked faces. Belmont Blair, a gentleman gambler, sees and recognizes Mrs. Smythe when her mask accidentally falls from her face. Later in the evening Blair comes to her defense when Carrington makes a drunken attack upon her in a private lounging room in the gambling house. In the ensuing struggle Carrington is accidentally killed. Blair gets Mrs. Smythe out of the house before the body is discovered and with his aid she reaches home without detection. Captain Radcliffe, a noted criminal investigator, takes the case and in a pocket of the dead man's coat he finds a curious fan, the property of Mrs. Smythe. When Mrs. Smythe misses the fan, she is distraught and again turns to Blair for help. A costume ball is given at the Smythe country home in honor of the "coming out" of Grace, the younger sister, and Radcliffe and Blair are both present. Beside the fan, Radcliffe has evidence in his possession which convinces him Blair is the guilty man. Blair meets Grace and the two fall in love. That night he cleverly steals the fan from Radcliffe's room but is seen by Radcliffe himself. To escape Radcliffe, Blair is forced to take refuge in a room which proves to be Grace's sleeping-room and rather than compromise the girl by being discovered there he leaps from a window to the ground many feet below. The next morning Radcliffe discovers Blair in the act of burning the fan in a fireplace grate. He attempts to rescue it from the fire but Blair holds him back until the sole evidence against Mrs. Smythe has been destroyed. Radcliffe then produces his evidence against Blair and accuses him of killing Carrington. Blair is forced to admit his guilt, and although it would save him to divulge the woman's name, he remains silent. His love for the woman's sister and his own heart prompt him to sacrifice himself for a woman's reputation.
- John Melbourne has carved out a fortune in South Africa. At the time the story opens he can look proudly over his magnificent ranch and estate and feel that he has toiled unremittingly to success. He hastens to write to the girl he left behind, as now he feels his fortune is sufficient to give her all that she deserves as a daughter of wealth and a society butterfly. He fails to consider that she'll need to live on the veldt, which he has grown to love, and that she might consider it a hardship. Margaret believes that she loves him enough to go to Africa and marry him and be happy. Her society friends who know her temperament laugh at the idea, especially Tom Dixon, a society parasite who is in love with her. Margaret finds the terrors of the jungle and the loneliness of the veldt maddening; it causes a breach between her and her husband, especially as he must give his whole attention to his land and cattle, a scourge attacking the latter. Meanwhile, Tom finds it necessary to adjust his resources and, thinking of the woman he loves, decides to go to Africa as a good field, as it will bring him in touch with her and there are as many chances for wealth there as any other place. The psychological moment is at hand for him to have influence over Margaret, coming as he does from her sphere. John also welcomes him into his home, hoping he will soothe Margaret's loneliness. In the meantime, Bill Harrison, a neighbor of Melbourne's, has discovered diamonds found on John's land and together with a band of crooks plans to change the boundary line between them. Tom Dixon is adding to the discontent of Margaret in subtle ways, but he is desperate on account of the state of his finances. Meanwhile Harrison and his band succeed in stealing considerable of Melbourne's diamonds and they make for the jungle to hide the stuff. Melbourne is called away to town on important business and in his absence Dixon approaches Margaret with a plan to elope. She hesitates and finds that she has a greater love for her husband and sees the folly of her actions with Dixon. This angers Tom and he finally abducts her when she is unconscious. The faithful Kaffir sees what is going on and hastens to find his master. As Dixon is guiding his victim through the jungle they come across the crooks who are headed by Harrison and are burying the stolen diamonds. The posse in search of the crooked gang come in on the scene and Tom, to save himself, opens fire on them with the result that he is shot from his mount and killed. The shooting attracts John and the Kaffir and they hurry to the scene. The dishonest neighbor, who has been the man higher up, is exposed. Margaret realizes her folly and truthfully promises John, "Your home shall be my home."
- Dr. Andrew Smiley, a brain specialist and a hypnotist, is the guardian of Wilfred and Marcie Redmond, brother and sister, and both rich in their own right. Smiley wishes to marry Marcia, as he is badly in need of money, but when he proposes she rejects him. Smiley has a secret mistress in Sarah Kayton, the head nurse of his sanitarium, and she has borne him a son, Paul Kayton, who is Smiley's secretary, without knowledge of the fact that his employer is his father. Wilfred Redmond, a musical genius, writes a musical composition which his sister Marcia calls "The Haunted Symphony." Wilfred incurs the enmity of Paul, who loves Marcia also. That same night Norman Brice, a student of mental science and a musician, is injured in his laboratory by a chemical explosion and on his way home he is overcome by temporary blindness. He is forced to appeal to a drunken passerby for assistance and the intoxicated man leads him to the wrong house, which proves to be Dr. Smiley's sanitarium. His key fits the door and he feels his way up the stairs to the second floor, thinking he is in his own home and intending to 'phone his physician. Dr. Barstow. At this instant Wilfred is murdered in a mysterious manner, and Marcia, coming upon his body, loses her reason and her memory. Brice, the blinded man, hears her screams and bursts into the room. He stumbles over the body of Wilfred and in groping about finds a photo on the table which he clutches in his hand as he rushes from the house in an agony of horror. When Brice recovers his sight and reason several days later he finds himself in a hospital under the care of his friend, Dr. Barstow, and in the papers he reads of the murder of Wilfred Redmond and the confession of his sister, Marcia, who seems to have lost her reason and memory. Comparing the newspaper cut of Marcia with the photo in his possession Brice knows that he was in the room just after the murder was committed and he realizes that this Marcia Redmond was the girl whose screams he heard. He falls in love with the photo, and feeling that she is innocent of the crime he determines to solve the mystery and clear her name. The coroner has adjudged Marcia insane and committed her to the care of her guardian in his sanitarium. Brice has Dr. Barstow commit him to the sanitarium as a patient suffering with melancholia. There he finds a copy of "The Haunted Symphony" and with the aid of the melody he recalls Marcia's memory and proves Dr. Smiley to be the real murderer.
- Schoolteacher Carey Graves is advised to take her semi-invalid mother to another climate for the benefit of her health. Accordingly she goes West, where she plans to homestead a government claim, build a shack on it, and develop it into her own ranch while she gives her mother the benefit of the climate and a chance for health. About the same time Shirley Wells, a wealthy young clubman from Boston, weary of conventional life, also goes West, accidentally selecting the same spot chosen by Carey. The place selected is in the region around Rock Crest, Nevada. Hamilton Osborne, a wealthy ranch owner and a domineering sort of man, rules over the region. He looks upon women as playthings, and immediately upon the arrival of Carey attempts to work his way into her good graces. His manner is so insulting that Wells steps in to protect the girl. The result is a spirit of enmity between the two men. Carey settles upon a parcel of land owned by the government, but used by Osborne for cattle-grazing. Osborne resents what he pleases to term an intrusion and orders Carey off. Carey drives him away with a rifle. In the meantime Wells has done everything in his power to make Carey and her mother comfortable and a bond of interest springs up between them. Osborne notes the turn of events with growing jealousy and decides to take drastic action to turn things in his favor. One day while strolling among the foothills Carey discovers a puma lair. She fondles the cubs playfully. Osborne, who had been following her, seizes this opportunity. Carey's screams attract the attention of Wells, who is out puma hunting. He hurries to the scene, but before he can intercept the puma, which he had been hunting, leaps towards the lair, lands upon and seriously injures Osborne. Wells raises his gun, fires and kills the puma before it can attack Carey. Carey and Wells take Osborne to a nearby hut and gradually nurse him back to health. He is so grateful to Carey for her assistance and so charmed by her treatment that he offers to marry her, but she tells him that she loves Wells. Osborne overcomes his natural jealousy, calls Wells, and repeats Carey's declaration. Wells proposes to Carey, is accepted, and as a wedding gift Osborne offers to set them up for life. Wells, however, refuses the kindness and then reveals his identity, adding that he is wealthy and needs no help. The story then fades out into a picture of happiness.
- A Breton fishing settlement on the French West African coast was the place selected by John Hilliard to find inspiration for his brush. He and his wife had just arrived when his artistic eye fell upon the beauty of Nannette, a pert little miss of the colony. Nannette was the village coquette, aware of her maidenly charms and led Jacques, who was madly in love with her, a miserable existence by her many flirtations. She really and sincerely returned Jacques' affection, but delighted in teasing him and seeing his outbursts of jealousy. The artist offered to pay her handsomely if she would consent to become his model, but fearing the effect it would have upon her lover, she refused and told her mother the circumstances. This thrifty dame saw a source of income escaping her hands and promptly ordered her daughter to accept the work. Hilliard spent more time than necessary in the company of his model which caused gossip among the villagers. As the weeks lengthened into months, Hilliard not only gave little time to his wife, but became almost brutal when she remonstrated with him, while Nannette, forced to continue her employment by the greed of her mother, went about with a heavy heart, shunned by her friends and neglected by her young lover. Hilliard surprised Nannette in such a mood one day and thinking to cheer her up, suggested that they seek the forest for a background for his canvas. On their way to the forest they were intercepted by old Gaspard who warned Hilliard not to go into the jungle unarmed, relating how his brother had forfeited his life thru the self-same foolhardiness. Unfamiliar with the danger from the proximity of wild beasts, Hilliard disregarded Gaston's warning and with Nannette proceeded on his way and in selecting a suitable spot for his picture they entered the forest further than was safe. That morning, Hilliard had been cruel to his wife and when she witnessed his departure to the forest and his loverlike attitude to his model, the broken-hearted woman decided to end matters by seeking peace in the sea. When at sunset, the fishing fleet returned, the village gossip lost no time in reporting Nannette's absence to Jacques and further inflamed his jealousy by suggesting that the trip to the forest was to screen Hilliard's lovemaking from prying eyes. Wild with rage, Jacques lost no time in securing his rifle determined to have the life of the man who had stolen his promised wife. Nannette had not spent a pleasant day; her thoughts were of Jacques away at sea and her mother's anger if she disobeyed. To make her discomfort the greater Hilliard attempted to force his attentions upon her, which resulted in his receiving a piece of her mind. As dusk came on, the jungle inhabitants approached nearer the settlement to prey upon the flocks of the villagers, which was the cause of Hilliard and Nannette encountering several lions on a foraging expedition. Hilliard made a noble fight with only his easel as a weapon, while the frightened girl fled, pursued by a savage beast not to be denied his prey, and only foiled by the accurate aim of Jacques, who was seeking a different victim for his weapon. The artist, now in mortal hand-to-hand combat with his lion, was rapidly giving way in the unequal battle and Nannette was unable to induce her vengeful lover to go to Hilliard's assistance, seized the rifle from Jacques' hand and dispatched the lion who now had the artist on the ground. They bore the badly lacerated man to his cottage and there left him while they went to seek a doctor. Hilliard's punishment was to be more complete. Calling for the wife he had driven insane with grief, he received no answer and eventually found the brief note she had left stating her purpose. The village gossip had seen the unhappy woman enter a small boat and drift out to sea. All night long the fisherfolk searched, while the husband stood upon the beach, a dazed and broken man. When day broke, he was led to meet the returning searchers, fully expecting to receive the lifeless body of his wife, but fate was kind; they had found her in time and John Hilliard had been taught his lesson.