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- Morin, an honest workingman, is addicted to liquor. Truly, his wife is the one who suffers. The latter has brought up their son Marcel, who very soon becomes an able engineer. His employer takes an interest in him, and gradually he advances himself to a responsible position in the manufacturing plant where he is employed. While testing out a new machine, Marcel Morin is congratulated by all the engineers and Suzanne, the employer's daughter, heartily congratulates him. Suzanne is fond of the young man, but her father does not favor a possible alliance between the two. To end their love affair, he decides to send the young man away. After a touching farewell between the young lovers. Marcel leaves for Chile, his father and mother accompanying him to the railroad station. On their way home, both very depressed, the elder Morin does not hesitate to drown his sorrows at the bar, while his good wife waits without. In an altercation over a game of cards, he is again seized by one of his fits and is sent to his home in an ambulance, where he slowly recovers after careful nursing. But gradually the old workingman falls back into his bad habits. In the meantime, the younger Morin has completed his task in Chile, and returns home after a lapse of three years, Marcel finally induces Suzanne's father to consent to their marriage. The very night of the nuptials, the old Morin is struck with an attack of apoplexy and is taken home. Owing to the good care given him, the wretched creature is saved from death, but is left a helpless paralytic. Nothing has yet intervened to mar the happiness of Marcel and his bride. But, alas, the terrible hereditary influence commences its work of destruction in the mind of Marcel. He is frequently seized with sudden attacks of anger without any treason. In his hallucinations he sees his young wife in the arms of another and is seized with jealous foreboding. One day, while a prey to these thoughts, he hurries home and finds his wife conversing quite innocently with his close friend. An insane desire to kill takes possession of him and, without hesitation, he takes out his revolver and shoots Suzanne, who lingers for weeks at the very door of death while Marcel languishes in prison until the day of his trial. Meanwhile Marcel's mother has engaged an attorney to defend her boy. The day of the trial arrives. Suzanne now recovered, goes to court to implore the pardon of her unfortunate husband whom she still loves. Seated in the prisoner's box, the accused is grief-stricken and sobs aloud while his lawyer points out the sins of the father, and pleads for the liberty of his unfortunate client. The jury retires for a debate. Acquittal seems certain, but the strain has been too much for the weakened Marcel who, crushed by his anguish, and between the arms of his despairing wife and heartbroken mother, dies an innocent victim to the fatal passion of his father who stupidly looks on and grins.
- A sensational detective story, founded on the romance of Leon Sazie. The noted criminal who terrorized all Europe is shown in these three Zigomar reels in a dramatic and intense struggle for supremacy with Paulin Broquet, the celebrated detective, who takes the two in the most varied and finest resorts. It is literally a chase through the entire continent, with Broquet now having the upper hand and again Zigomar in its possession. Zigomar is the leader of a band of men who persist in plundering rich and poor. They know Broquet is on their trail and set a trap for him. However, he escapes, and in the melee which follows, when he nearly captures Zigomar, the latter also flees. A wonderful feature of this production is the "Will o' the Wisp" dance which the noted dancer, Esmée, performs at a ball in the Moulin Rouge in Paris. The festival begins by a magnificent procession, in which the dancer is carried in a litter, bedecked with jewels. In the succeeding darkness, tiny flames light up and Esmée appears clad in white veils. She appears in the semi-darkness as a white apparition. Then the dance becomes gayer, the dancer turns faster, like a flower with changing colors, and finally sinks exhausted to the floor. There are effects of colored light in this picture that never have been seen before. Immediately following there is a scene of great contrast when Zigomar sets fire to the place and the scene ends in wild disorder.
- Jacques Collin, a convict at the penitentiary of La Rochelle, known to his associates as the King, succeeds, despite a strict watch, to escape. A boat, manned by his accomplices and hidden among the rocks, carried him to safety. Changing his costume and assuming the name of Vautrin, he puts up at a boarding house, inveigles himself into the good graces of the inmates and seeks among them creatures who are likely to help him. In one of his visits to a strange café he is recognized by a noted detective, one Corentin, who, going up to him, grasps his shoulder and bluntly shouts, "Good day, Jacques Collin." The latter, on his guard, does not move a muscle. Corentin leaves furious, but not convinced. He keeps on his trail and, through an indiscretion, Collin is thrown into his hands and as he is arrested, shouts, "In six months I shall be free, then beware." He is as good as his word, and escaping, assumes the name of Councillor Don Carlos Heriera and is once more in the whirl. One day he follows the handsome Lucien De Rubenpre, who, tired of life, contemplates suicide. Collin, arriving on the spot, fascinates him, makes a tool of him, and fills his head with a dream of the conquest of Paris. He and Esther, another tool in the hands of Collin, are thrown into one another's society constantly, and Esther falls in love with Lucien. Collin gets angry. Esther is not rich; she must have money. The banker, Baron De Nucingin, can give that to her. Collin arranges to have her seen in the box of a theater and the banker immediately falls into the trap. Corentin has not abandoned his quarry, but is still hot on his trail. Esther is now in the swim. Nucingin has presented her with a regal mansion, which she has accepted through sheer fear of the Master Criminal, who holds her in his power just as he holds Lucien. Maddened by grief, she seeks solace in death. Collin has been advised by his aunt, who is Esther's housekeeper, to come to her at once. On the way she is accosted by Corentin brandishing a warrant. As he approaches to serve it, Collin upsets him by a blow in the stomach and again makes his escape. Rushing into the house, he seeks refuge on the roof, the detectives in close pursuit. A struggle takes place, and Collin, who is as strong as an ox, takes hold of the detective and hurls him into the street below. Lucien in the meantime is arrested and as justice always triumphs, so Collin eventually is incarcerated. Lucien, fearing the penalty of his crime, ends his life, and when Collin is informed of the fact, he is thunder-struck and falls to the ground limp and powerless. The Master Criminal is brought before the magistrate, having in his possession valuable and incriminating letters against three of the first families of France and offers a compromise that he go free and be appointed Chief of Police, in exchange for the letters which he holds. The compromise is effected and Collin, turning over a new leaf, becomes Master Criminal Hunter instead of Master Criminal.
- Henri is surrounded by fawning courtiers, who hide behind their smiles a deadly intent to do away with him at the first opportunity in favor of his brother, Duc d'Anjou. There is but one man who is honestly Henri's friend. This man is Chicot the Jester, a huge, handsome, fearless fellow, true as steel, to those who called him friend, deadly as venom to those who dared betray him or his sovereign, and the only person who may speak the truth to the king. Chicot the Jester is given an order by the king for the arrest of the gallant Count De Bussy, whose deserved popularity with the ladies of the court irritates the petulant Henri constantly. Chicot the Jester had the courage of his convictions; he was a man who dared. Knowing his friend De Bussy to be guiltless, he tore the court order into shreds and ordered De Bussy into retirement at the peaceful castle of Baron de Meridor, whose beautiful daughter, Diana Chicot, knew to be the adored one of De Bussy's heart. How De Bussy complied; how he was waylaid by the king's men within Diana's gates; how Diana nursed him secretly; how the uncouth Count de Monsoreau had the beauty kidnapped upon De Bussy's return to court; how De Monsoreau married her before Chicot, who had overheard the plot could interfere.
- Charles Maucourt and Roger Joris, two mine workers, battle for the love of Claire Lenoir. Their rivalry will be put to the test when they find themselves buried alive in the mine after an explosion.
- Nick Carter, the famous detective, is ordered to prosecute the gang of Zigomar. Carter gets into various thorny situations but manages to escape every time, helped by Olga, a former girlfriend of Zigomar.
- This part of the narrative is based on the exploits of the contemporary Bonnot group, a gang of anarchists who relished breaking laws and used cars in their bank robberies to evade the police, in both France and Belgium.
- A French sea captain insults the honor of a young pirate's sweetheart. As you may expect, there will be repercussions.
- An adaptation of Our Mutual Friend, one of four Dickens features made at Nordisk in Copenhagen between 1921 and 1924.
- The strained expression on the face of one maid servant in a group of six, gives to the mind of Sherlock Holmes, the master of all detectives, the clue to the unraveling of this remarkable and unusual mystery. The maid and the butler planned and carried out a daring robbery in which they secured a mysterious ritual which told of a hidden treasure and gave directions for the finding of the money and jewels. Following the directions, the butler and the maid locate the hidden fortune, but coming suddenly in possession of such enormous riches, turned the head of this daring woman. The decision was reached in an instant, "I will have it all," and just as the butler handed out the treasure laden box, she allowed the heavy flag stone to crash down upon him. Imprisoning him in this death trap where the treasure had lain for years. When he arrived on the scene. Holmes wanted a clue. By clever grouping of the servants of the household, he flashed the old parchment hearing the ritual and watched their faces. Only the maid recognized the ritual and her startled look gave Holmes his entering wedge. The forcing of a confession from the woman is quickly brought about in most dramatic fashion.
- An adaptation of the Sherlock Holmes story about a father trying to gain control of his daughter's inheritance does not include Watson.
- A mother loses first her son and then her husband in the trenches of France during the First World War. She devotes herself to the French cause and to helping those wounded in the war.
- An ape, turned near human by Dr. Coriolis and given the name 'Balaoo', is smitten by the beauty of Coriolis' niece, Madeleine. Being inquisitive, though, he runs off, getting into mischief, and falls in with a poacher who saves his life. Acting now as his slave Balaoo kills a man for the poacher, but balks on his orders to kidnap Madeleine, deciding instead to set a trap for the poacher.
- Young Willy is a terrible boy. His nurse can hardly get him to dress. It is harder still to get him to school. Here, his exuberance causes disorder in class. He fights with his classmates, turns over desks and benches and runs away, along the road, where he continues his mischievous actions. The boys follow. To escape from them, Willy hides in a large laundry basket. The laundress, not knowing, carries it away and empties the contents into a tub in which she pours water. Willy finds the joke less amusing and gets out of the tub quickly, pulling an obstinate bedsheet behind him. He returns to his own home and hides under the table in shame. But he left a trail behind which was discovered by his father who gives him a whipping.
- At the death of the old banker, Curtis, his entire estate, including a gold mine, is willed to his niece, Lady Mabel. Count Skettitch, who has cleverly schemed for the hand of Mabel, arranges to have his spy employed by her as a butler. Under the terms of the will, the safe is not to be opened until a month has passed. Mabel, desiring to know its contents, calls on the great detective, Protea, who by the aid of the ultraviolet rays is able to read the document describing the location of the gold mine, but finds it incomplete with a note stating that the missing words will be found tattooed on the shoulder of Fred Sharp, the dead banker's valet. That evening Skettitch, by the aid of his spy, enters the house and blows the safe. Being in possession of the same knowledge as Protea, at once starts to seek Sharp. She, however, is of the same mind and has already started on her journey. Finding Sharp bathing, falls into the river. Sharp at once goes to the rescue, bringing Protea safely to shore. By this means she has an opportunity to view Sharp's shoulder only to find the tattoo marks have been removed. Skettitch arrives shortly after to find the same conditions. Protea then makes a search of Sharp's room, only finding a photo of him in his bathing suit. In her rage, throws it to the ground, breaking the frame, which reveals the marking on his shoulder. Skettitch hears this news through his spy and by the aid of narcotic balls, which he injects into Protea's room with a putty blower, succeeds in putting her in a deep sleep. Entering, he gets the information he seeks and politely leaves his card. Protea awakens and finding her document gone, lures Skettitch to her home at Redwood by a decoy letter. Once into the house, the staircase turns, throwing him in a walled chamber. Protea appears in a niche and demands the document. While surrendering it, Skettitch takes her ring. The walls close in on him until he finds it necessary to use dynamite, which blows up the house. His spy, Haligan, takes the ring to Mabel with the news that Protea has met with an accident. Mabel, going to her aid, is kidnapped, and taken to Skettitch's house and imprisoned. Protea, with her right hand man, Tommy, having escaped injury, traps Haligan and inject a deadly fluid into his arm. the antidote to which Protea alone knows. She promises to give this dose to him if he will show her the hiding place of Skettitch. She is led to his camp, where suddenly she is lassoed, bound and taken to an abyss and suspended from a tree, which is set on fire. Faithful Tommy, seeing this, stretches a fish net under, her and succeeds in saving her life. Skettitch now in possession of the mine, and as he thinks Protea dead and Mabel a prisoner, turns his attention to the entertainment of courtesans and sycophants. Wanting a sensational spectacle, Tommy responds to the advertisement. He arranges to have Protea appear as Electra, a dancing girl. Skettitch at once falls in love with her and forces his attentions and pleads to meet her at her home. To this she agrees providing he bring Mabel with him. Once in her house with his prisoner. Protea unmasks, has him handcuffed and restores the old banker's property to the rightful owner.
- The mutilated body of a man has been found near Durnkrut. Jules Brandt, the detective, is informed at the same time of a mysterious airship which comes and goes. He resolves to stay in the village on the border of the forest. The next time the airship appears he gives chase after telephoning M. Charles Illner, the Austrian aviator, who joins in and they fellow the airship to its shed. There Brandt learns of the sudden disappearance of a young American, James Stirner. He is shown a picture of Stirner which is that of the mutilated man. He visits Stirner's villa and finds a torn bit of paper containing these words: "I cannot bring myself to do it, and I beseech you not to disturb the peace and quiet of our home." The detective introduces himself to the aeronaut's wife, Marie Weyer, and gives her to understand the nature of his investigations. Terrified, she confesses to him that unwelcome attentions had been paid her by Stirner after her marriage to the aeronaut. Hoping that the wealthy young American would finance the building of the airship, she had written him that she would visit him to plead her cause. She did not go, but the American held the letter over her head after as a threat. When the airship was completed, Stirner jumped aboard with the aeronaut and his wife and later, when her husband was busy with the rudder, he rushed at Marie, whose screams were drowned by the sound of the machinery. The pair struggled, Stirner lost his balance and fell. Max saw nothing of the tragedy. At the completion of the story the detective expressed his sympathetic understanding by leaving the young woman and her husband undisturbed.
- Second part of this film based on the Bonnot group, a band of anarchists active at the time of the film in France and Belgium. Here we witness the end of the group and its arrest.
- With a US pulp magazine hero and episodes improvised outdoors in Paris's suburbs, Eclair director Jasset began the crime series cycle.The export success of the installments would bring the main star letters from admirers around the world.
- This film, enhanced by beautiful landscape where the action runs, is of a remarkable quality. It shows with perfection an emotional episode of the wars of the First Empire, showing what strict discipline was imposed upon the army by Napoleon I. He never pardoned a disobedience to his orders, also, whoever was caught in a state of intoxication or lacked respect for women in the enemy's country was shot instantly. The army has been going for a long while through Austrian country. The sun was hot, the soldiers tired. Grenadier Gridart is resting in the garden of an inn. The wine was cool and nice. He drinks more than necessary. Wine and sun have intoxicated the grenadier, who goes to his camp wobbling. Going through a field, Gridart meets a young peasant woman who was coming from the village. The wine makes him lose his head and forget his orders. He wants to embrace the woman. She defends herself. He is obstinate and brutal. The husband arrives and hits the grenadier a blow on the head which sends him to the ground. It is there that he was found by a canteen woman. She picks him up, and tries by supporting him to bring him to camp. The task is difficult. He can hardly stand on his feet. Arriving by a small bridge they stop. Unfortunately the Emperor passes there and sees the bleeding grenadier, whom he questions. The soldier says he was hit by a peasant, without cause. The Emperor commands that the peasant be caught and put to death. Gridart, brought to camp, is taken care of at the ambulance. He is sober. He reflects. A man is going to die unjustly by his fault. He has remorse for his cowardice. His conscience of an honest man revolts. He arises, has himself brought before the Emperor, avows that he disobeyed his orders, got intoxicated and that the peasant had hit him in defense of his wife. Discipline is inflexible. The grenadier is shot. In the woods in a green road the grenadier lays, his breast pierced by bullets. In a supreme moment of admiration for his heroic loyalty the Austrian peasant and his wife cover the unlucky grenadier's body with flowers.
- Baby is very unhappy, father is very sad; in fact, gloom hangs over all the family, for mother is very ill, and father is writing the sad news to grandma. The letter is interrupted by a visit from grandma herself, and baby learns that doctor says dear mother will die "When the leaves fall." Baby is frightened; she looks at the pretty green leaves; they must not, they shall not fall. With childish confidence she climbs upon the fence, and with her tiny fingers the little tot endeavors to tie the leaves upon the twigs, for mother must not die. Baby slips and falls, her injury is not too serious, and when baby is recovering she learns that mother will go to the sunny South where the leaves never fall, and she will not die. Baby's simple faith has its reward.
- A man behaves like a monkey after its stomach is transplanted into him.
- While excavating on the estate of the Count of Noyon, workmen unearth a huge box. The count, his friend Seville, and a Brahmin priest open the box, finding a glass coffin containing the body of a young Indian Princess.
- George Landal and his wife, Blanche, were newly wedded. He was a young physician with brilliant prospects and splendid social connections. Blanche was the only daughter of Mr. Ravenne, a man of great wealth. One evening, as George is leaving for the club, he takes Blanche in his arms to kiss her goodnight. Her eyes, rapt with love, look into his and he in mock seriousness tells her he can read her very thoughts. She makes no reply; he has hypnotized her. It was a power he had mastered in his medical student days and now as an experiment he leaves her there while he runs off for a few hours at his club. Later in the evening be returns and arouses her from her hypnotic state by a mere snap of his finger. She awakes as though naught had happened. Night after night he would repeat this, then go to his club. He was losing heavily these days at the club. Things were at a desperate pass; he must have money. Blanche's father had refused to help him out. Disgrace faced him that night at the club if he could not pay. Like those who are weak he determines on suicide. He gets his revolver. He wants to live, yet his next thought is of the disgrace to face if he does. Then comes the infernal inspiration; Blanche shall get the money he needs. He calls to her bedroom. She appears and it is but a look from him and the spell is on; her will is nil; his will is all. Now she is but a thing to command. He tells her to dress. She does. He tells her to go to her father's home and up to his bedroom. There she is to take the keys from under his pillow, then go down to the library and unlock the safe, take out a sum of money and return with it to him. She reaches her father's and the keys are soon secured. The safe is opened and most mechanically he is counting out the money he has told her to obtain. She has turned to go when her father appears, having heard her come down the stairs. The father attempts to bar her path and she, whom a mere schoolboy could otherwise have toyed with, thinks her powerful father aside with the ease which accrues to abnormal strength. As he falls he strikes the heavy carved table leg with his head and she passes out of the room. Landal receives her as she returns, takes the money and leads her to her room. When she is back in bed he revives her from her state of hypnotic coma and soon she is again in a state of natural sleep. Early in the morning there comes an urgent message from the doctor at her father's home. Her father is dead. She hurries over to the home and looks long and with only that love which grief can prove, on the face that she had loved so well. The doctors decided he had died during an apoplectic spell. Landal left her alone in her sorrow upon the pretense of attending a Medical Congress. Her health commenced to fail and she sent for the old doctor who had brought her into the world. He found her muttering incoherencies and her actions were strange. There is but one way to learn what caused her babble and that is to hypnotize her. He did and he heard her relate the horrible, terrifying truth. Landal returns and his actions toward Blanche spur the old doctor into a decision. All are attending an evening function when the old doctor proposes that Blanche consent to be a subject for a hypnotic test. Landal objects, though when pressed for his reason, dare not give it. Blanche is brought under the spell and recounts the incidents which caused her father's death. Landal attempts to escape, but the doctor has thoughtfully had a detective at hand and he is arrested.
- Aunt Luzanne, after her sister's death, has taken care of her little niece, a poor blind girl; in fact, she has become a second mother to the stricken child. Good-hearted Luzanne secretly loves her brother-in-law, the blind girl's father, and upon learning that he is about to take another wife, she decides to leave his home, as she cannot bear to see another in possession of his heart and hearth. She finally leaves the house, after a touching farewell to the dear child whom she has grown to love so well. After Luzanne's departure, so strange and sudden, the unfortunate child's father guesses the true reason for the step she has taken, but it is now too late, he has pledged his word to another. The bride-to-be tries hard to win the affection of the little blind girl, as she is anxious to take the place of Luzanne and become a good mother to the poor child, but the poor little thing cannot bear the thought of having a stranger in the house, and as she longs for her aunt, she decides to leave her father's house and join Luzanne. Luzanne accordingly agrees to meet the child at a certain railway station, and being there at the appointed time is terrorized to behold the blind girl crossing the tracks, just as an express train dashes around the curve; it seems the poor girl is lost! But Luzanne, all her love for the child welling up in her heart, rushes forward and succeeds in dragging the child to safety just as the flying monster crashes by. The father and his betrothed, having missed the child, have followed and have beheld the heroic rescue from a little distance, and the sight of so brave a deed brings out all the nobility of the young woman's nature. Luzanne endeavors to flee to escape their thanks, but the bride-soon-to-be will not have it; she takes Luzanne's hand, and placing it in that of her betrothed, she tells them that she has decided that she will be the one to depart as she cannot bring herself to stand between these three who love each other and their happiness, and that her reward will be the knowledge that it is she who has been able to render them happy in each other's love. Before either can offer any protest, she boards a departing train and is whisked out of sight. Surely the grateful tears of the little child are a tender tribute to her greatness of soul!
- Adapted from a one-act Grand Guignol play based on Edgar Allan Poe's short story 'The System of Dr. Tarr and Professor Fether', the film portrays a visitor to an insane asylum where it becomes clear that the inmates have taken control. Telling the visitor that a cure for insanity has been found by cutting out an eye of the patient and then slitting his throat, the "director" hurries into another room, reemerges with blood all over his hands and, as blood seeps from beneath the door, incites other inmates who now surround the visitor.
- Protea, the best spy of Messinia, is sent on a dangerous mission with The Eel, her partner in crime, to retrieve a secret document in a neighboring country.
- This picture tells the story of the life of two brothers, Henry and Robert Williams. Henry's early life has not been beyond reproach, he even stopping to forge a check to raise money and, as the picture opens, he is in receipt of a letter advising him that unless his forged check is paid the matter will be put into the hands of the police. Driven to desperation Henry breaks into his father's safe and takes out the banknotes, the quarter's rents from the numerous farm tenants which the overseer had brought in that day. Robert, hearing the noise, confronts his brother who breaks down and acknowledges his wrongdoing. Robert urges him to tell all to his father with the assurance that he will help him out of his dilemma. This he refuses to do and begs Robert not to tell. Overcome with remorse, Henry is taken ill and, in the morning, when the theft is discovered, Robert, in order to save his brother, confesses to being the culprit. He is ordered out of the house, but before leaving he confesses the truth of the whole affair to his mother. Four years elapse during which time the father of the boys dies, and Robert has become captain of a schooner about to arrive at the Isle of Peele, directly across from the mainland where his mother lives, to whom he has written informing her of the fact that he is now captain of the "Harland" and expects to run across and see her and his father, whom he hopes has forgiven him. Henry, while out horseback riding on his way to the quay, runs into Mary, the daughter of the lighthouse-keeper of the Isle of Peele, and, becoming enamored of her beauty, organizes a shooting party to the Isle of Peele in order to see her again. A terrible storm takes place, compelling them to accept the hospitality of the lighthouse-keeper to stay overnight. The storm is not confined to the Isle of Peele, but has broken with great fury out at sea, where the lighthouse-keeper discovers the "Harland," tossed by the great waves, completely helpless. Calling Mary to the lighthouse to keep the lantern lit, he runs to the shore, launches his boat and sets out for the work of rescue. Henry, finding Mary alone in the lamp house, endeavors to embrace her. She resents and, in the struggle which ensues, Henry is rendered unconscious. In falling he breaks the oil supply tube which feeds the lamp in the lighthouse. Robert, and Tompkins, the cook, the only survivors, fearing the boat, which is loaded with explosives, will blow up, decide to cast their fate in the turbulent waters and jump overboard. After swimming for a long time, they meet the lighthouse-keeper rowing toward them but. In attempting to get into his boat, it is overturned, and the three of them are thrown back into the sea. Shortly after Robert deserts his ship it is blown up. Mary, having escaped from the lighthouse, rushes to the beach in time to help her father and Tompkins brings Robert onto land. He is carried to the house and tenderly nursed back to health by Mary and her father. Falling in love with Mary, Robert tells these good people who he really is and asks for Mary's hand in marriage. The news of the blowing up of the "Harland" having reached his mother, she becomes seriously ill and, when he crosses to the mainland to see her, he is welcomed as one risen from the dead. Henry, still intent on winning Mary, plans with two others to abduct her. They set out in a motorboat to the island and, by throwing a misleading note into her room, she is decoyed to the cliff where, against overwhelming odds, she is overpowered. In the struggle Henry falls down the embankment. Tompkins, having followed Mary, returns for Robert who is just running to the scene of the fray as Henry makes his descent and, continuing the pursuit (not knowing to whom he is giving chase), he reaches Henry just in time to see him disappear into a bed of quicksand, powerless to help him. In the meantime the other two conspirators manage to bring Mary to the motorboat. Thinking they have her secure, they enter the cabin of the boat, whereupon she jumps up, fastens the cabin door, and turns the wheel about headed back toward shore, arriving just before Robert, who bursts in upon them with the terrible news regarding his brother. The next morning Robert takes his fiancée to his mother, who confers upon the happy pair her parental blessing.
- An aging palmist decides she should marry her next client, and persuades him to let her read the soles of his feet.
- The first part of this drama is enacted in Switzerland. Mr. and Mrs. de Larcey have just arrived to visit Suzanne Dubreuil, a young and free widow, and also Charles Vallier, a man of the world, very much charmed with Madame de Larcey. The character of Vallier incites him to use every possible means to secure his end. As soon as Mme. de Larcey arrived Vallier resumes his suit, already begun in Paris, and bends his wits towards inculcating jealousy in the heart of Madame de Larcey. It dawns upon her that her husband is very innocently flirting with Suzanne Dubreuil, but anyway, is she not positive of the fidelity of her husband? During a skating excursion, Jeanne de Larcey is the victim of an accident, and her friends run to get her husband, who has gone sleigh riding with Suzanne and a few friends. The doctor being called, declares that it will be necessary for her to remain absolutely quiet during four weeks. Everyone remains with Jeanne, but she does not wish to deprive her friends of the good hours or pleasure afforded by long promenades in the snow, racing and chasing on skates, etc., so she remains alone with Charles Vallier, who keeps her company. Naturally, he uses this tete-a-tete to advantage, and proceeds to excite the jealousy of the young woman. He forces her to look out of a window, over-looking an interior gallery of the hotel, and there he sees Mr. de Larcey and Suzanne closely seated on a sofa and engaged in conversation. It is enough; Jeanne still persists in doubting, but the serpent has accomplished his task. Jeanne instinctively abhors Charles Vallier and expels him, remaining crying with rage, and vowing vengeance. Her husband received a letter, calling him to Paris, on an urgent matter. Charles Vallier. not daring to present himself before the young woman, decides to return to Paris also. Jeanne de Larcey is left alone with Suzanne to meditate vengeance, and will put into execution her well-matured plan. She brings one, who was once her friend, sleigh riding and having arrived at a certain point, Jeanne dismisses the guide, telling him to return home, and briskly seizes Suzanne around the body, throws her on the sled and, after tying her and expressing her hate, and desire of revenge, saying, "You won my husband; do not expect mercy from me." She precipitates the sled from the height of the mountain. Jeanne de Larcey is then maddened by the crime she has just committed, an irreparable crime, as the mountains do not pardon. But there is a God for the innocent. Suzanne did not die in the overthrow. A hunter found her inanimate on her sled, frozen and chilled with the cold. She is carried to the hotel, and then brought back to her father's at Paris, where, with vigilant care, she revives, and regains her health, little by little. Jeanne de Larcey has returned to Paris, and her husband shows her the article in the Journal, relating the accident. Then she can no longer control her feelings, so she does not hesitate to tell her husband that she is the guilty one, and the avenger of her outraged honor. He has deceived her, and she had revenged herself. But, when her husband pleads his innocence, she realizes she has been mistaken, and already "remorse" invades her troubled soul. She wants to go and beg Suzanne's pardon, but the latter refuses to see her. Jeanne is asked to confess what prompted her to commit such a crime, and she does so only with the assurance of Suzanne's pardon, thus showing lack of friendship has not been the cause of this awful tragedy. When Charles Vallier will come to see the convalescent girl, he will find near her bed all the old friends, reunited, and before their reproaches for his conduct, he will retire, his head bowed under the heavy responsibility of his villainous act.
- We are introduced to Don Juan as he is returning from a sail on the placid lake of the park, with Dona Anna, Wife of the Commander. They separate after tender adieux. That night, the venturesome Don Juan serenades the lady, beneath her window, and is discovered by the Commander in the act of throwing a kiss to the latter's wife! A duel ensues, in which the Commander is killed by Don Juan. Then the victor retires, unheedful of the supplications of Dona Anna. Don Juan has married Elvira, and going into the church one day, he notices a statue which attracts his attention. Upon inquiry, his servant informs him that it is the statue of the Commander, whom he killed a few months ago. "Aha!" mocks Don Juan, "Ask him to dine with us tonight." Upon obeying, the servant is terrified to note that the statue is nodding acceptance of the invitation. Don Juan meets Zerline, the famous dancer, and invites her to join the reveries he has prepared for the coming evening. The evening approaches, and all are ready around the board, when the trembling servant announces the murdered Commander! Everyone blanches with fear, even the sturdy, mocking Don Juan himself! The specter pronounces the judgment of God upon the treacherous Don Juan, who is compelled by some unseen power, to place his hand in that of his awful visitor and submits to being led away. In a deep abyss, Charon's vessel is seen floating on the waters of the Styx, bearing Don Juan to his doom; on the shore in the distance may be seen in untold numbers, the victims of his infamy, eagerly waiting to gloat over the punishment now drawing nigh to the famous villain, the immoral Don Juan.
- As Lord Glenarvan and his wife, Lady Helena, are cruising in their yacht, "Duncan," off the coast of their native land, Scotland, the crew harpoons an immense whale which discloses when it is disemboweled a bottle with a message referring to Captain Grant, who had set out in quest of land to colonize and who had lost his ship, the "Britannia," in latitude 37 degrees off the coast of South America. The interpretation of the message is rather uncertain, as the writing had been nearly obliterated. An advertisement in a daily newspaper to the effect that data concerning Captain Grant has been found brings Robert and Mary Grant, children of the shipwrecked mariner, to the residence of the lord to entreat him and his wife to sail for Patagonia to see if their father cannot be found. Lord Glenarvan assents, and, when on the ocean a few days, a stranger, who had mistaken the "Duncan" for the good ship "Scotia," upon which he was to sail to India, makes himself the laughing stock of the crew by speaking of the "Scotia," of its captain and of India. The stranger is recognized by the lord and his wife as Panganel, a learned geographer. He consents to accompany the expedition, and forty-two days later the yacht arrives at Concepcion, in Chile. The party are unable to obtain any data from the British consul concerning the shipwrecked captain, and they are in despair. Their sorrow is allayed, however, by Panganel who, after trying to make a more correct translation of the message, says that Grant must have been taken prisoner in the interior of South America. While Lord Glenarvan starts to cross the continent, following the 37th parallel as the document indicates, Tom Austin, the mate of the "Duncan." will double Cape Horn and await the party in the Atlantic at the 37th parallel. Abandoned by the guides at the foot of the Alps due to their fear of recent earthquakes, the party is led by Panganel. Toward night they take refuge in a hut which stands upon a glacier which later starts moving down the precipitous mountainside. They all escape with their lives, but discover that Robert is missing. Suddenly a condor soars through the air and they perceive Robert in its talons. They do not shoot for fear of killing him, but a peasant, with unerring aim, brings the bird to the ground and thus saves Robert's life. The peasant is found to be a Patagonian chief and he offers to guide the party through the vast wastes of land. Thalcave, the Patagonian chief, assists them in purchasing horses and supplies. The water supply gives out as they are crossing the desert, and Thalcave, who knows where water can be obtained, leaves the party in company with the lord and Robert. They come to the stream, but find that it is impossible for them to get back to the camp before night comes on, so they repair to an abandoned hut, where they are not long afterward disturbed by a herd of wild cattle. Robert essays to go for help. Mounted on his fleet-footed horse he out-distances the mad cattle, which are in pursuit of him, and reaches the camp safely. Thalcave and the lord arrive a short while later with the water. Heavy rains follow the drought and the surrounding country becomes a veritable lake. The adventurers seek safety in a tree, which is uprooted by the hurricane that comes on with nightfall. The party still clings to the immense tree and are thankful when the wind, which has subsided considerably, blows it upon a hill. From the top of the hill they perceive the "Duncan" and it is not long before they are on board. The party has crossed South America, but no trace of Captain Grant has been found. The message is again interpreted and it is found that a mistake had been made; the party should have gone to Australia instead of to South America. Arriving in Australia, the lord is accosted by a person named Ayrton, who offers his services as guide. He shows the lord a paper which states that he was once the quartermaster on Captain Grant's ship, but had left before the shipwreck. As a matter of fact he was discharged for inciting mutiny. As Ayrton, he is known as a peaceful miller; as Ben Joyce, he is the leader of a band of pirates. The lord, unconscious of his true character, hires Ayrton, and the party sets out for Melbourne, the men on horseback, the women in wagons drawn by oxen, while the "Duncan" is to sail to Melbourne under the command of Tom Austin. When an opportunity presents itself, Ayrton begins to put into effect his malignant scheme and starts in by poisoning the horses and oxen. The lord escapes on horseback to the nearest railway station to go to Melbourne to bring the crew of the "Duncan" to the assistance of the party. Ayrton, fearing discovery, secretly leaves the camp, but is shadowed by Robert to the rendezvous of the convict band. There he learns that they are to wreck the train in which the lord will he traveling. He rushes back to the camp, takes a swift steed, and dashes after the train. He catches up with it, climbs from the saddle of his horse on to the platform of the train, uncouples the car in which the lord is riding from the rest of the train and saves the lord's life. The lord and his young rescuer go back to camp only to come face to face with Ayrton, who thought that he had killed the lord. There is a struggle, in which the lord is wounded. Ayrton escapes. The "Duncan" must be reached and the lord, unable to use his right arm, dictates a letter to Tom Austin instructing him to sail to the 37th parallel on the east coast of Australia, from where he is to send a relief column to succor the party. But Ayrton has been eavesdropping and has heard the contents of the letter, so when the messenger, Mulready, who is to deliver the letter is on his way, he is intercepted by the pirate and seriously wounded. The party sets out a little later than the messenger, and they come upon him just in time to hear his dying words: "Stolen, the letter, Ayrton." After several days of hard and tedious traveling the party reaches the east coast of Australia, but no trace of the "Duncan" can be found. The lord charters a ship to reach Melbourne, but as she is in the hands of a drunken crew she founders off the coast of New Zealand. The adventurers escape by swimming, but upon coming ashore are made prisoners by the Maoris. The lord kills one of the tribe and in the melee that follows Panganel and Robert manage to escape. The prisoners' day of doom arrives on the morrow, and as they are cheering one another so that they may take their fate calmly, Robert and Panganel effect their rescue. They seek shelter in the Temple of Tabou, but are pursued by the Maoris. The captives blow up the sanctuary and escape by a subterranean passage to the sea. In the distance they observe a ship and embarking in canoes make for it, with the natives in hot pursuit. Death seems to threaten the lord and his associates by land and by sea. As he approaches the "Duncan," it would seem as if the ship were in the hands of pirates, for they open fire. But they aim at the pursuing Maoris, who are annihilated. Ayrton is a prisoner aboard the yacht. No trace of Captain Grant can be found and there is nothing for Lord Glenarvan to do but to return to Scotland. In the evening as the yacht is lying at anchor, Robert, who is walking the decks with his sister, sees in the offing a light. A cry of "Help," is then heard. Robert tells the man at the helm, but he ascribes it to the imagination of the youth. Morning breaks with the children disconsolate. A rocky promontory heaves in sight through the morning mist. Boats are lowered and directed toward the shore. Suddenly there bursts from the lips of Robert and Mary a cry of triumph. Upon a rocky headland stands a pathetic figure stretching out his arms to the children. It is their father. Their hearts are ready to burst with joy. Ayrton is marooned on the desert isle. As the "Duncan" sails homeward, the bandit can be seen silhouetted against the sky. The foiled desperado cannot deny a parting salute to the victims of his baseness, and the cannons of the yacht vomit forth a parting salute in reply, and that is the last of Ayrton.
- An employer, a butler, and a dwarf all learn that, even in 1909, a girl will tolerate only so much unwanted attention.
- Arlette, the daughter of an old music master, possessed a wonderful voice. Although simple and untrained in the ways of the world, she was fortunate enough to secure a position with a famous Parisian Opera Company. Then she felt that indeed her dreams of a wonderful success had come true. But in this same organization was Gaby Dablys, who became extremely jealous of Arlette on account of her meteoric success. Her jealousy prompted thoughts of vengeance. One night, just before Arlette's first entrance, she induced her to partake of some wine, which she had previously drugged. Overcome by the powerful narcotic, Arlette made a miserable failure. The chagrin and disgrace of it all caused the poor girl to lose her reason. In this pitiful condition she was brought back to her father's house. The revenge of Gaby was short lived. Slowly but surely remorse overtook her. At last, unable to stand the lashings of her conscience, she went to the home of Arlette to endeavor to alleviate the suffering she had caused. For weeks and weeks she cared for her, watching and waiting for a flash of reason in those staring and vacant eyes, but to no avail. One day, while seated at the piano, Gaby unconsciously wandered into the old familiar role of Arlette, Slowly the haunting melody called hack her fleeting reason. Her first rational thought was one of revenge, but Gaby pleaded so hard for forgiveness, that Arlette was touched with pity. Extending her arms to the thoroughly repentant Gaby, all is forgotten.
- The owner of the good ship "Julia" was informed by the ship examiner that, although the boat was weak, he thought it could withstand another voyage. The conversation was heard by an old seaman, who told his friend, Paul, of the condition of the ship. But Paul, having sailed many times before on the "Julia," would neither listen to the old man's warnings nor to the pleadings of his sweetheart, Yvonne. A few days after the "Julia" had sailed, Yvonne dreamed that the boat was shipwrecked. This dream was true, for the "Julia" was shipwrecked and all were drowned, with the exception of Paul and a few sailors, who managed to get themselves and some provisions on the shore of a lonely island. Soon their provisions gave out and one by one they died, until Paul was the only one left. He made frantic efforts to attract the attention of passing ships, but each one failed to observe his waving. Parts of the wrecked vessel were brought into the little village and these confirmed the dream of Yvonne, now heartbroken. Mariet, the ship owner, did all in his power to make amends, and a friendship sprung up between the ship owner's son, Luke, and Yvonne. A few months later the wedding announcement of the young couple was made, and everything was being prepared for the wedding festivity, when there was a knock on the door. It was Paul, who at last was picked up by a passing vessel. The joy of Yvonne now knew no bounds, and the heartbroken Luke left with his father on a voyage to England to forget his loss.
- The story of the play opens in the studio, showing Arden feverishly at work on a large block of marble, still shapeless, whence, however, an adorable woman's head is discerned for which the master's daughter has sat. Now and then the artist halts in his work and gazes upon his handiwork with great emotion. Notwithstanding the joy he feels on beholding the gradual appearance from the chaos in the features of his beloved child, a strange feeling of impending danger passes over him. A mist passes before his eyes and he is compelled to stop work. After reassuring his daughter, who has become solicitous for his welfare, he again attacks the block of marble, but suddenly halts, experiencing the agonizing premonition of approaching blindness. The arrival of Robert, the favorite pupil of the master, brings the timely diversion. While the master's back is turned, Robert makes an avowal of love to Jane, and the two are discovered in a fond embrace. The father drives Robert out of the house and breaks his rough cast. Resuming work, a new attack seizes him and, tragically extending his arms, realizes that the light has gone out of his eyes. Jane, realizing the ambition of her father has been unfulfilled, sends for Robert and asks him to complete the work that has been begun by the master. He comes, and in the stillness of the night, carries on the work begun by the master. This goes on for several nights and the old man, lying in his bed, hears, as in a dream, the incessant chiseling. He grabs a knife to attack the marauder; lurching into the room, he lifts his arm to strike, but, in so doing, touches the polished marble and his hands tremulously wander over the harmonious form and he cries out with unmistakable joy. He grasps the statue with infinite tenderness, murmuring, "Take my Jane, Robert, let us exchange masterpieces and be happy."
- The story of "Jack" is well-known. It is a beautiful story of a natural child. His mother, Ida de Borancy, worships the dear little nameless and fatherless being whom she decides, as he is getting on in years, to place in a boarding school. The child's professor of literature is a certain Amaury D'Argenton, a failure of the faculty, and an uninspired poet. During one of her visits to the institution, Mme. de Borancy is attracted by D'Argenton, and falls in love with him. The "Ne'er-do-Well" soon gives up his starving position and makes his abode with her, exercising over her absolute control. He soon learns to hate little Jack and forces her to leave him permanently at school. The poor child, unaccustomed to the separation, runs away, only to find, when he arrives at his former home, that his mother has moved and is now living thirty miles away. He undertakes the journey on foot, and reaches his mother's house completely exhausted. Here he meets Dr. Rivals and his daughter, Cecil. One day Jack, while out for a stroll, meets a peddler on the road, a Mr. Belisaire, worn out with fatigue and privations. Greatly moved, the boy takes him home and is giving him food, when D'Argenton arrives, throws out the peddler and sends Jack away as an apprentice. A new life now opens to Jack, and for two years he labors diligently in the iron works of Indret, living with his foreman, Father Roudick. The latter's nephew, a gambler, steals a small fortune that was to constitute his cousin's dowry, and Jack is charged with the theft, cruelly beaten and dragged before the Magistrate. . Filled with remorse, the real culprit acknowledges his guilt and returns the money. The unpleasantness of that adventure, coupled with the insufficient wages he receives, impels Jack to seek another position. He makes for the seacoast, and ships aboard a trans-Atlantic steamer as a stoker. One night a collision takes place. The boat is struck below the water lines and every man makes a wild, frantic rush to save himself, every man for himself. As by a miracle Jack is saved and returns to his old home, irresistibly attracted by a desire to see his mother. Thanks to the devotion of good old Dr. Rivals, Jack, who has gone through a terrible illness, is restored to health. The two young people fall in love with one another, which is encouraged by the doctor, provided that Jack will study to take his place. Jack goes to Paris to take up his studies, rents a room, where his mother seeks refuge when maltreated by D'Argenton, D'Argenton discovers her retreat and begs her to come back to him. It is in vain that Jack drives him away, for, by means of a touching letter, he succeeds in inducing her to return. The hate he bears Jack is not yet gratified, and he writes to Cecil threatening to reveal her true identity to Jack. She, fearing the outcome of such a revelation, decides to break off the engagement. When Jack learns of this he starts for Paris. In despair he tramps the road all night, and finally drops to the ground, worn out by cold, fatigue and despair. He is carried to the home of Belisaire, and the doctor is hastily summoned, who diagnoses the case as an acute attack of consumption, and orders Jack taken to a hospital. Here a last vision recalls to him his past life, all the hardships and miseries he has endured. He yearns to press in his arms once more his mother, however guilty she may have been, and whom he heartily forgives, but the ravages of disease have sapped his strength and, just as she enters the room, Jack passes to the Great Beyond, his last wish denied him.
- Mr. Pousol, a blind old gentleman, promises his ward, Margaret, in marriage with his son, John. Margaret agrees to the union simply for the sake of her kind old guardian, as she does not love John, and besides, she knows him to be a gambler. One evening at his club John loses heavily and is forced to borrow a large sum of money, which he also loses. He is thereby placed in a very bad position. His creditor insists that he pay the 5,000 francs before the next day is over. John is very much dismayed, and in despair he contemplates tampering with his father's safe. A good friend of his, Phillip Rosay, notices John's agitation and quietly follows him. John proceeds straight to his father's study. John is surprised to see his friend come in after him; Phillip, having divined his friend's intention, sharply reproves him for his base conduct. John, having become extremely nervous, unconsciously touches the safe, and immediately the sound of bells is heard through the house. They flee to the door, but by an ingenious mechanical process the door swings to, and they are fast in a trap! The door opens suddenly and Margaret, revolver in hand, confronts them. Beside her is her blind guardian. Her arms drop to her side when she recognizes her fiancé and the man she secretly loves. She motions them not to move, and offering an explanation to her guardian which satisfies him that nothing is amiss, that it was a false alarm, she leads him back to his room. She soon returns and reproaches the two young men. In order to spare Margaret the shame of her fiancé's guilt, Phillip takes the blame himself. Margaret can hardly believe the man she has known ever to be a man of the strictest honor could have stooped so low, but she has the words from his own lips, and she sadly leaves the room. Next day John is obliged to confess to his father his gambling debt. In order to save his son's honor the father consents to pay the debt, but he orders his son to leave his house. Before leaving, John releases Margaret from her vow, recommending that she accept Phillip, who loves her, stating that she and Phillip will fill the place of children to his aged father far better than he could ever do. Overcome with sorrow and repentance, John departs, and the noble Phillip finds in the love of Margaret a full reward for his great sacrifice.