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- The uncle of Josephine employs gangsters to abduct her, and in fleeing from them she enters a motion picture theater, where she sees Maciste playing in the screen drama, "Cabiria." The story pictures Maciste escaping from prison by bending iron bars, and Josephine decides that a man of his strength can be of much assistance to her. She obtains his address, and going to him she relates her experience. At first he is inclined to doubt the truthfulness of her story, but later, when he sees half a dozen ruffians attacking her, he intercedes in the girl's behalf, and single handed subdues them. Maciste demonstrates his marvelous strength in many other thrilling incidents, and finally runs down the uncle and his gang, and turns them over to the authorities.
- Bernard, under the assumed name of Count DaMora, is a spy, who wins the love of Blanche, the daughter of General Alberti. The general is entrusted with the keeping of a new bomb and the plans for making it, and Bernard is endeavoring to steal them. He calls on Blanche, presses a bouquet of flowers saturated with chloroform to her nostrils, enters the general's room and accomplishes his purpose. Blanche revives and goes in pursuit. Bernard sails on a steamer. Blanche misses the boat, but overtakes it in an aeroplane, dropping into the water from the airship and being pulled abroad by the sailors. A thrilling encounter takes place when she confronts Bernard in his stateroom with a revolver in her hand, but a fire breaks out, diverting her attention for a moment and he leap» upon her and overpowers her. He binds her and rushes to the deck, where the frantic and panic-stricken passengers are trying to make their escape from the burning craft. An awe-inspiring scene of a blazing vessel is shown. A number of explosions take place, and the huge craft dives to the bottom of the sea. Blanche is saved by working herself free of the bonds and leaping into the water, where she clings to wreckage. She is picked up by Wilkinson, a wealthy man cruising in his yacht. He offers his aid, and the two go to Bernard's country. Blanche disguises herself sufficiently to carry out a plan she has formulated, and meets Bernard. He calls the police to arrest her as a spy, but she disclaims his acquaintance, and when Wilkinson insists that she is his wife, Bernard is forced to the conclusion that the resemblance is only a strange coincidence. Blanche makes Bernard fall in love with her and makes on appointment in his home. Wilkinson accompanies her as her chauffeur, and waits outside. Blanche drugs the wine of Bernard, and as he is lapsing into unconsciousness she makes known her identity. She recovers the bombs and plans, and, leaping from the window into the automobile, whirls away. The police pursue in another automobile and a running pistol fight takes place. Wilkinson and Blanche reach a waiting aeroplane and fly away just out of reach of the bullets of their pursuers. They restore the articles to the general, whose honor is thus saved, and who willingly gives his consent when Wilkinson asks for the hand of Blanche.
- Jack Russell is the owner of a travelling circus. Misfortune and hard times are added to by the drinking habits of Jack, who spends what little money he has in the tavern. Stella, his wife, reproves him, and in his anger he is about to strike her, when Anthony, a performer, interferes. Jack is incensed, but has a wholesome respect for Anthony's strength. In revenge, in the dead of night, he decamps, taking with him his little boy, Nello. He becomes intoxicated at an inn, while little Nello is asleep under the table, and goes away in a stupor, forgetting his son. The little chap is found when the innkeeper closes up, and goes forth into the night. He is found by a mean old woman, who takes him home, and who learns that he is an accomplished violinist. She makes him go out in the streets and play, and his charming personality brings much money into his hands. Meantime, Stella and Anthony have been searching for Nello, and have secured positions with a circus. Nello and the old woman pass the circus and Nello makes such a fuss to go in that she is persuaded to enter. Stella is performing on the trapeze and when her boy sees her he shouts out "Mama. Mama!" Stella leaps to the ground from the dizzy height, but the old woman gathers up Nello and runs out, jumping into a taxicab. Anthony races out after it and calls the police, but the woman eludes them and boards a train, Anthony just managing to catch the last car. The train catches fire and in endeavoring to throw the brake, the engineer cracks the lever. Anthony makes his way under the cars through the fire and smoke and throws on the brakes, stopping the train and rescuing Nello, as well as the frantic passengers, who have been facing death.
- Dr. Gardel is a man of peculiar ideas. His charity work has endeared him to the poor of the city, and their sufferings have preyed upon his mind to such an extent that he becomes a daring thief, taking from the rich to give to the destitute. Lydia Strand, the daughter of a wealthy banker, is present at a discussion of the recent robberies, and comment is made upon the coincidence that donations are made to charitable institutions by an anonymous person following each burglary. Lydia expresses her admiration of the clever thief, and takes delight in reading of his exploits. One night Gardel effects an entrance into the banker's home and is surprised by Lydia. He tells her of his ideas, though he refuses to reveal his face, which is hidden by a black handkerchief. He is fascinated by the charming girl, and as he leaves he grasps her in his strong arms and presses a kiss upon her lips. Gardel pays court to Lydia, and finally secures her parents' consent to wed her. She does not suspect that he was the burglar she entertained, and being of a highly romantic temperament she dreams of the man she has enshrined in her heart as a hero. Much against her own inclination she is persuaded to marry Gardel. She does not prove an affectionate wife, and Gardel is worried. Her parents go abroad, and the big house is unoccupied. She resolves to revisit the room where she conversed with the robber in the dead of the night. Gardel, starting on one of his marauding expeditions, sees her and follows. She sits down, and in a spirit of make-believe addressee a letter to her unknown hero, reading aloud as she writes. The doctor, listening, believes she is writing to a real lover, and with an agonized cry leaps from the high balcony to the court below. Lydia runs down and tears the covering from the dead man's face, and finds the unknown idol she has been worshiping is her own husband.
- The life of Detective Taris, one of the greatest criminal hunters in Italy, would have been prolonged if duty had not compelled him to be hated by the most noted gang of cut-throats that ever existed in the suburbs of Naples. Italy, under the leadership of Occhisbelli, the brains of the local Camora. Owing to heavy political activities, several large sums of money had been deposited in the Commercial Bank, Gerad, in order to meet the expenses of a general election. The bank had been victims of several small robberies lately, and the heavy deposits induced the director general to have a guard placed around the bank in order to safeguard the money entrusted in his care. The chief of the police, after consulting with the director, orders Detective Taris and a few trusted men, to keep watch on the bank. Occhisbelli, the Camorist, obtains reliable information as to the large amount of money deposited, but it is hard for him to break in. Some new way must be formed to enter the hank. The photograph of the head of the watchman is procured, and Occhisbelli disguises himself accordingly. He has no trouble in getting past the outside guards and the watchman. Entering the room where the safes are, he sees the detective. Without any hesitancy he goes for the detective. A terrible struggle starts, where one man fights for his life and honor, and the bandit to keep his neck from the gallows. The straggle ends and there is another murder added to the long list of crimes indicted to the Camora. Having killed the detective, he looks around, takes what he can easily carry in money, and leaves the building. Nobody attempts to stop him as the disguise is perfect. He is taken for the watchman. At the door he meets the guards placed there by the detective, Taris, but little did they suspect that their chief had lost his life in the course of duty. They don't recognize Occhisbelli disguised as the watchman. Next morning the real watchman opens the door of the bank and meets other night employees. Stunned for the moment, they cannot understand how he went out. In a few moments the terrible truth dawns on them and they rush to the strong room and find Detective Taris foully murdered. Ida Tarts, his daughter, is informed of the terrible sacrifice her father has made for duty and wants to bring the guilty to justice. She requests the chief of the secret police for a detective badge for only a temporary appointment. The chief, knowing that Ida being a clever young woman, who has often worked with her father in some of the great criminal cases, decides to give her a detective badge. No. 399. She starts out in search of Occhisbelli, whom she already suspects. Disguised as an old woman, she enters the Apaches' den, where the Camorista are in the habit of meeting, and there overhears a conversation between two of Occhisbelli's pals, in which they mention his name. After a while they leave the den. Ida follows them a long distance, in which she is several times nearly discovered, sees them enter an old building in which the Camora gang have their headquarters. She tries the door and finds it locked. There is only one way to gain admittance and that is through the open window. Perilously she scales the wall and overhears more conversing, pertaining to Occhisbelli not having shared the plunder from his recent murder with them. They write him a letter in which they demand an equal share of the money which he stole from the bank when be killed the detective, or they will get his life, in which she overhears his address. As Occhisbelli lives in one of the best sections, on the outskirts of Naples with his sweetheart and a leader of blackmailers. Ida goes for help. When she reaches the house, she finds Occhisbelli, through a clever ruse, by hiding himself in the trunk, has escaped, but Ma is not to be outdone. Later she follows up the trail and manages to enter his employ as a maid, and at the opportune time she signals the chief of police and his aides. After a severe struggle he is captured, in a company of the Camora that had come for their share of the robbery, which he refused to give them. Occhisbelli tells the police that they have no evidence against him. Ida removes her garb as a maid, and confronts him. He is stunned to think a young woman has tracked him and obtained the evidence that will send him later to the gallows. Ida, having fulfilled her vow, is congratulated by the chief of police for having brought to justice the most feared lender of the Camora and avenged the murder of her father.
- Lydia. daughter of the younger branch of the ancient family of Louzat, on her eighteenth birthday is in the garden. A man steps out of the bushes and hands her a message, telling mysteriously of a super-important secret hidden in an unnamed massive volume bearing her family's ancestral arms. Count Gerard, her uncle, feigns to pay no heed to the communication but secretly searches in the library. Failing, he decides that in the majestic castle of the senior branch of the family, with whom he is at enmity, he must seek. Using as an excuse for Gerard's call the introduction of his beautiful niece, Count Jules receives them courteously. The latter finds that his interest in his sweet kinswoman melts the rancor of the years. Returning from the garden with her, they confront Count Gerard in futile and furious quest. Gerard slinks away under Jules' fiery denunciation. Lydia evinces sympathy for Jules. To get her out of his way, Gerard sends her to convent confinement. Here fate blindly leads to the solving of the secret. She is apprehended and her guardians, informing Gerard, lock her in her room, unknowing that in the struggle Lydia had torn from the page the few lines whose knowledge would have saved Gerard his life, when, with masked accomplices, he attacks Jules in his castle and finds in the subterranean shrine a treasure enormous. How by deft trick and adroit scheming Lydia wins her way to liberty, arriving in time to revive her Jules from the unconsciousness of brutal blows; how they found Gerard and his man buried under the avalanche of jewels and gold; how love joined the rival families forms a motion picture of thrilling throbs and tender charm.
- Evariste Marny, a business rival of Andrew Vivanti, is threatened with ruin, and to eliminate competition hires a town vagabond, Tonio, to fire the factory of Vivanti. Changing his clothing after having fulfilled his part of the bargain, Tonio carefully preserves a card bearing Marny's handwriting, an agreement as to the time for the deed to be committed, etc., etc., believing that someday it might be of value. Several lives are lost, and suspicion of having set fire to his own establishment for the insurance benefit is cast upon Vivanti. He is tried, found guilty, and sentenced to prison for life. Marny prospers, and becoming conscious of the wrong he has done, adopts Vivanti's young daughter to make amends to his conscience. After thirteen years in prison, Vivanti makes his escape. Disguised as a rag picker, he begins a new life in search of his daughter and of information that will prove his innocence. He takes up his abode in an inn of low repute and begins his search. Amongst the crowd of assembled ruffians and drunkards is Tonio. Tonio has been living a carefree life since his crime, depending upon money extorted from Marny for his existence. Vivanti adopts the name "Old Andrew," that he may conceal his identity. Soon after his entrance to the inn, Old Andrew is set upon by Tonio, but the difference is patched up and they become fast friends. His money exhausted, Tonio visits Marny and makes demands for more. He is refused, but Marny yields when shown the telltale card. He barters with Tonio, and a price is put upon the card. The money is paid, and after a scuffle Tonio snatches the card away from Marny and departs with both money and card. Tonio returns to the inn intoxicated and exhibits the money to Old Andrew. He accidentally drops the card and falls into a drunken sleep. While picking over his rags, Old Andrew spies the card on the floor, and noting the writing, etc., it comes to him that Marny is the one guilty of the crime of which he has been charged. Vowing vengeance upon Marny, he hastens to his home. On his way to Marny's rooms he passes his daughter, Lydia, now grown to womanhood, and Marny's son. He does not recognize his daughter, and she shrinks from what she supposes to be an intruding ruffian. He finds Marny in his room, and by aid of the card convicts Marny. He is about to do violence to Marny when he is bade, "look from the window." Marny explains that the loving pair he observes is "your daughter and my son, now strike if you will" With supreme self-sacrifice Old Andrew withdraws, leaving his daughter to her happiness and ignorant of his existence. At the inn, Tonio has awakened from his drunken slumber, to find that the card has gone, and believing that it has been taken by the agents of Marny, hastens to his home in a frenzy. He gains admission to the house through the cellar grating, and demented with rage at having lost the blackmailing card, fires the house. Old Andrew, wending his way up a hill on the outskirts of the town, turns for a farewell look toward his daughter's home and sees the palace in flames. He hastens back to her rescue. In the mansion the scene has become terribly dramatic. Tonio, struggling in his own trap, perishes in the flames. Livid tongues of flame leap out through the mansion, and the occupants rush about frantically. Then through the flames and up the staircase comes Old Andrew, bent upon his daughter's rescue. He finds, however, that she has already been carried to safety by Marny's son and that Marny alone of the occupants has been left to his fate. Parts of the floor have fallen, the staircase is ablaze, and flames are licking the entire building when Old Andrew makes his way up the stairway to the rescue of his enemy. He wrenches a door from its hinges, bridges over part of the fallen floor, and finally comes upon Marny lying prostrate upon the drawing-room floor. He carries him out to the stairway, but finds that the flames have beaten him and part of the stairs have been burned away. Rescuer and rescued hang in a perilous position, supported only by Old Andrew's firm grip on a pillar, until the fire-fighters arrive, spread a life net, and catch the two men as they fall. Marny receives mortal injuries and is dying. Upon his deathbed he confesses his guilt and tells Lydia that she is the daughter of Old Andrew. Weeping over the bier of Marny, Lydia and her sweetheart find that although they have lost one father they have found another in the Palace of Flames.
- The blacksmith's daughter is loved by a Bernard, a worker at her father's forge, but she casts him aside in favor of Count Collalto.
- The young detective, Jack, was successful in his profession; but there was one thing needed to complete his happiness and that was the hand of the girl he loved. Fortune favored him in his suit. Juanna returned his affection and the lovers appeared to be on a fair way to a life of peace and sympathetic companionship. Trouble, however, came from an unexpected quarter. Juanna's mother was a woman of fashion who led a double life. At home she was all that a mother should be. Abroad she was a determined devotee of pleasure, associating with the wealthy and fashionable. At a well-known resort she made the acquaintance of a great financier, in whose handsome salons she was always an honored guest. The financier's house was entered one night by burglars and all the valuables stolen. The task of tracking down the criminals fell to the young detective, Jack, who, armed with a clue, succeeded in running them to earth in a secret cave where they were accustomed to meet and divide the spoils. And here a horrible discovery awaited the young man. This was nothing more nor less than the staggering fact that the mother of the girl he was in love with was the chief of the band of burglars. To think that this handsome refined woman who moved in the best circles was guilty of such depraved conduct was a great blow to the young detective. Nevertheless he resolved to do his duty. He confronted the woman in her house. She was amazed. She denied his accusation. He threatened her at pistol's point. But she outwitted him. Touching a concealed bell push, men servants entered the room and bound and secured the young detective while the woman wrested the revolver from his grasp. The fate of the young detective was horrible in the extreme. He was flung, bound and gagged into a subterranean stream from which after truly Herculean efforts he managed to escape, floating out into the open river and being rescued more dead than alive. His escape is the signal for the guilty woman to take alarm. She realizes now that her arrest and condemnation to prison life are certain. Frightened beyond description she takes to flight. She makes her way to a steamer setting out for a foreign port. But the young detective is in hot pursuit. He boards the ship and unmasks the woman. Determined to escape, the guilty woman leaps into the sea and is drowned. The young detective returns to the girl he loves and she in losing an erring mother finds a husband who will console her for her loss.
- A story which hinges upon the effect produced by the sudden accession to affluence of a comparatively poor man. A young engineer in a country town receives the good news of his appointment to an important position in a large city. His first impulse is to promise his young wife all sorts of luxuries in his new-found promotion. He becomes a rich and prosperous inventor and attracting the attentions of a young woman of fashion, neglects his young wife. This girl, however, is of a forgiving disposition and a reconciliation ensues. But the husband is disloyal and reverts to his fashionable enchantress. An explosion at his works blinds him. The wife in disguise engages herself as his nurse and the fashionable woman deserts him, not, however, before descending to the meanness of attempting to rob her blind victim of the remains of the money she had helped him dissipate. A fortunate restoration of his sight reunites him to his always forgiving wife.
- That mother and daughter should become rivals for the hand of a man is not so unusual when taking into account similar circumstances of this character in the past. However in this case the man most desired by these two women proved to be an adventurer and a villain of the worst type. He, pretending to love the daughter, engendered in the mother's heart a feeling of affection for him through which he hoped to gain intimate relations with her uncle, the secretary of state, with a view to procuring secret documents for a rival country. Strange to say the adventurer was introduced by a cousin of the younger girl and carried on his love affair for a time successfully. Fate ordained that the adventurer should accompany the mother and a party on a trip to the Alps and here mid snow-capped mountain peaks he worms his. way into her affections. Upon their return he succeeds in gaining an audience with the secretary of state and obtains his confidence. He is later brought face to face with the young girl whom he has deceived, and through the efforts of a life-long friend of the family his villainy is exposed. Realizing that his cleverly contrived plans failed, the cowardly villain seeks refuge in flight. Having access to the vaults where state documents are kept he secures a number of these and finally reaches the railroad station where, unfortunately for him, the hero of the story discovers him buying a ticket. Both men board the same train and a struggle ensues while going at great speed. The villain makes a wild leap from the fast-moving train and succeeds in reaching the hangar of the aerial club, where he bribes an official to loan him an aeroplane in which he endeavors to reach Germany. Our hero is hot on his trail, however, and by a clever ruse also succeeds in securing an aeroplane, and a mad race in midair follows. The hero overtakes the villain and reaching a height far above him finally swoops down on the criminal and he is precipitated to earth, where he is later found, mangled and bleeding, among the wreckage.
- Bretton, furnished with credentials to Balkan officers, obtains a personal letter from the Minister of War, charging his subordinates to give the young newspaper man every assistance. On the train Bretton meets Clark, correspondent of a rival newspaper. While passing through the Customs, Clark catches sight of Bretton's letters of recommendation. Not having any himself, he resolves to steal them. The story jumps to the scene of warfare, where Sonia and her father are tending their sheep. The old man is killed by a stray bullet and is buried by his mourning daughter. The two correspondents proceed on foot to headquarters, and notice from the edge of a precipice a skirmish between the contending forces. In order to more clearly observe the fight, Bretton throws down his knapsack. Approaching too near the edge, he makes a false step and falls. His cries are heard by Sonia, who in going to his rescue risks her life. Clark cuts open his rival's knapsack and steals the coveted papers. Bearing these, he goes to headquarters, where he is warmly received. Bretton recovers from his fall and is somewhat smitten by his rescuer. Found by the soldiers, without credentials, he is arrested as a spy. He escapes from the guard tent and gallops away on a horse, untouched by the sentry's pursuing bullets. The battle is in progress and both correspondents have their stories ready. Clark, tricked by Sonia, is detained in his attempt to reach the telegraph office, and so Bretton's telegram goes through. When Clark finally arrives the wires are congested. Disgruntled, he visits a neighboring theater, but the enemy are within range and a well-directed shell crashes through the building and sends the audience and performers fleeing for their lives. Clark, among others, is rendered unconscious. Bretton, hearing of an impending battle on the sea, journeys there, and by climbing a tree sees the demolition of a majestic war vessel by a hidden mine. Again the correspondents hasten to the telegraph office, and Sonia, aiding Bretton, again foils Clark. Bretton, to obtain a better view of a land conflict, goes aloft in an aeroplane. It is shattered by a shell and falls earthward with a sickening crash. Sonia, who has been captured by the Turks after being wounded, has escaped from a hospital mosque and is wandering around when she sees the aeroplane descend. She saves Bretton from being burned to death. Again Bretton is triumphant in getting his story over the wires ahead of Clark. He asks Sonia to return home with him as his wife. The young people, on the conclusion of hostilities, arrive in Bretton's home town and are congratulated warmly on their work by the newspaper's proprietor. They meet Clark, their former enemy, and all differences are ended in a warm handshake and the declaration that "all is fair in war and love."
- The story is of two engineers employed in an automobile factory. Both are in love with the daughter of the proprietor. To one, Rossi, is given for safe keeping plans of intended improvements. The other, Fleury, photographs the papers and sells them to a rival maker. Of course Rossi is blamed and discharged. He is compelled to go to another country to secure work. While arranging the correspondence of his new employer he comes across the photograph and a letter in the handwriting of Fleury. Immediately Rossi starts back to his native town, taking the incriminating papers with him. On his return he learns that Fleury and Beatrix, his former sweetheart, are to be married in twenty-four hours at the home of Fleury's uncle, on the other side of the mountains. He misses the conveyance that would enable him to reach the place on time. He determines to cross the mountain on foot. He struggles through the snow. He is arrested by a customs official. Being permitted to join the customs men in their sports he is seen excavating the snow from the trunk of a lay figure. Then we see the ball rolling down the slope, striking the water, and the man emerging. A mountaineer gives him dry clothing. When the officers reach the house Rossi jumps through the window, and on a cable with a pulley attachment swings rapidly to the valley below. As he takes a train out of the mountain hamlet there is shown the wedding party witnessing the legal formalities. Before these preliminaries are concluded Rossi enters and denounces Fleury. . The wedding does not take place and the guests depart.
- Countess Lilian, bored and wearied with the dull monotony of her empty society life, seeks relief and recreation in the saddle upon her famous mount, Phosphorus. To win a wager, she rides this temperamental steed along the parapet of a high bridge, before crowds, who, awe-struck, see her dally with death. A misstep by the horse and she would have crashed earthward several hundred feet below. Albert Mariam sees the daring deed, and struck by her daring, contrives to meet her. Falling in love with each other, they marry. Soon after, Mariam's mining stocks become worthless. Ruin confronts him. To save their honest name, the Countess becomes a circus rider, contracting to perform an act in which the previous rider had been killed. The act is a big success, her horse walking up a spiral construction and being suspended in mid-air upon a swinging bridge, with Lilian in the saddle. Inconstant Albert becomes enamored of Lottie, a pretty tight-rope walker, and Lilian is neglected. Although suffering keenly, she perforce is obliged to adhere to her contract. One night she is called, and mounting her horse, does clever equestrian tricks. A host of clowns tumble into the ring and "assist" in the erection of the apparatus for the big event. Amid thrilling suspense the horse traverses the narrow planking, and after the heavy spiral climb, reaches the bridge. Then follows the flare and flash of the fireworks, the horse unmoved in their midst. The daring rider is about to end the act when she sees her husband and her rival in a stage box. Unnerved, despairing, she and the horse, with a sickening crash, fall to the tanbark floor. A rush to help the unconscious woman is headed by Albert, who forgets his butterfly passion for Lottie. Lilian is not beyond recovery, and some months later is convalescent. Albert, now a devoted husband, brings a flush of happiness to the pale cheek of the injured woman when he rushes in to tell her that gold having been discovered in the so-thought worthless mines, that he and she will have wealth to grace their reunited love.
- Marinka is the queen of a Romany tribe. With her people she camps on the estate of the wealthy Count Paul, The latter is struck by her beauty. He asks for the flowers she wears, and is told that if he wants them he must come and get them. On horseback they race through the forest groves. When he overtakes her and reaches for the flowers she bites him severely on the hand. Piqued and enraged, the count demands of the gypsies that she he made to apologize or else they will be expelled from his grounds. Coerced by necessity, Marinka with several of her band comes to the count's castle and none too graciously apologizes. The count chaffs her upon being afraid to come alone, whereupon she defiantly says she will return unaccompanied when the count's companions have gone. This she does. The count's ingratiating manners win the gypsy's wild heart. He struggles for a kiss. She is about to yield to this wish when she remembers the prophecy concerning her, that "whom shall first kiss Marinka, the unkissed, shall die before sunset and that upon her people shall come malediction and desolation." Outside is watching Baschir, a gypsy admirer, who, madly jealous, runs away to the tribe and tells that Marinka has delivered them unto the penalty of the fateful kiss. When the queen comes from the count's mansion she is seized by the gypsies and hurried away to imprisonment. She is condemned to death by burning at the stake. In the morning from his tower the count and his companions about to go hunting see the gypsy caravan hurrying across the fields. Wondering at this sudden departure, the count upon them trains his powerful field glasses. As his eyes rove the distant fields he sees Marinka tied to a post, and Baschir, torch in hand, pressing his profane lips upon the fated ones of Marinka of the prophecy. Dashing to their horses the count and his party gallop to the scene in time to save Marinka from the cruel forks of flame which all about her are stabbing redly. Her lips freed from the awful curse, the queen yields them to Paul in gratitude and love. Meanwhile the gypsies, to cut off pursuit, are destroying the bridges behind them. As Baschir wields his axe on the last planking his foot slips, and with the debris of the wrecked bridge he slips into the water to his death.
- The Marquis of Sangallo leaves to try a new four-in-hand. Luisa, a pretty milliner, is engrossed in a book, and is knocked down. When Luisa is convalescent the Marquis becomes a constant visitor, and we see that they are deeply attached. Amerigo determines that nothing shall prevent his marrying Luisa. The Marchioness orders the family solicitor to notify Amerigo that he will be disinherited. The Marquis and Luisa are married, and soon find themselves in straightened circumstances. Amerigo goes in search for work. During his absence, the Marchioness calls, and makes Luisa an offer of money. Luisa refuses, her love being too strong. Amerigo is unsuccessful in his search, and is taken seriously ill. He grows worse, and Luisa writes to the Marchioness saying that if she will help them she will give up her husband. The Marchioness hastens to her son's bedside. There is an exceptionally dramatic scene as Luisa leaves her child and husband. Three years elapse, and the Marquis is to accompany his mother on a voyage. Reaching their destination, the Marchioness and her son put up at a hotel. By a coincidence Luisa has procured a situation at this hotel, and determines that she will not make herself known to him. One night a ball is in progress, and the Marquis' little son has gone to the bedroom window. Luisa becomes fired with a desire to take her child again in her arms. Climbing onto the window ledge, she performs a hazardous journey to the room where her child is. She embraces the child, and then commences to return. While she is on the parapet she is seen by one of the guests. The Marquis and guests hasten into the grounds, and see Luisa finishing her perilous journey. Luisa hears the voices, loses her balance, and crashes from the parapet into the grounds. She is carried into the hotel, where for some time she lies in a critical condition. By the time she has recovered the Marchioness has become reconciled to her, and a scene in which husband and wife are embraced by the Marchioness forms a fitting conclusion.
- Between Marney and the huge sum of money he coveted stood his niece, Ida. He resolved at all costs to obtain the money. It was essential to the gratification of his pleasure-loving tastes, to the maintenance of his position in society. Besides, he was ambitious; he yearned to enter politics and become noted. By her physician's advice Ida, for the benefit of her health, undertook a trip to Algeria. Her uncle, Marney, formed one of the party. There were agreeable times on shipboard, crossing the Mediterranean, until Marney began his villainy. He disguised himself, drugged his niece, placed her, as he thought, in an extemporized coffin and threw her body into the sea. But he threw the wrong box over shipboard, and the girl escaped. Undismayed, Marney made another attempt to remove his niece. He suspended a heavy weight in the rigging under which she sat on deck, calculating that when the weight dropped it would fall on her head and kill her. The weight dropped harmlessly on the deck, and again she escaped. Arrived in Algeria, Marney bribed a party of Arabs to abduct Ida and kill her. Death by strangulation seemed to be her fate. Her apparently lifeless body was flung over the cliffs. But once more she escaped. A friendly Arab came to her rescue, and in violation of his oath to his tribe, saved her life and escorted her to a place of safety. Meanwhile, the news of her reported death reached her parents at home. They were grief-stricken. Marney also returned home, and being the next heir made legal claim to Ida's money. He had his hand on the documents which placed him in possession of the long-coveted wealth, when in the nick of time Ida appeared to foil him and hand him over to justice.
- Revillat is mined by unwise speculations, and goes through bankruptcy. His creditors bring criminal action against him and he is sentenced to prison. After several years he is treated as a "trusty," and when John Lange, a wealthy planter, asks the prison officials for a secretary. Revillat is given the position. His gentlemanly deportment and ability win him the regard of Lange, who is a bachelor with no living relatives. One night a terrible fire breaks out in Lange's residence. The firemen fight the blaze, but it spreads fiercely. Lange, in his bedroom on the top floor, is overcome. Revillat dashes into the inferno and tries to carry Lange out. The planter realizes that he is dying and begs Revillat to save himself, "Change clothes with me quick and leave me. You will be able to escape, a free man." Revillat does so, but before he can get out the floors crash down and he is buried in the debris. When extricated he is horribly scarred. The body of Lange is found in the ruins and is identified as Revillat on account of the shreds of the convict suit clinging to him, and Revillat comes out of the hospital many weeks later and takes his place as Lange. In the meantime Revillat's daughter has grown up and is engaged to be married. He arranges to meet his wife and child, but dares not reveal his identity. One day he tenderly kisses his daughter, and her fiancé, fired with jealousy, breaks the engagement. Revillat goes to him, and in a dramatic scene assures the young man that he entertains only a fatherly feeling for the girl, and effects a reconciliation. Then, realizing that if his identity should be revealed it would bring sorrow and fear to his wife, who is mourning him as dead, he secretly arranges to pay off all his old debts and has his estate settled upon his wife, and deports into the world alone.
- The Queen's Jewel treats of a fanciful kingdom of the type that made "Graustark" a best seller. This film story has a prime minister (consummately acted by he who made the title role of "Tigris" famous) who tries to compromise the queen by preventing her from recovering the jewel miniature which she had given to the lover of other days. The "D'Artagnan" in this instance is the fiancé of the queen's lady-in-waiting. A resourceful fellow he proves to be to his efforts to return to the queen with the retrieved jewel in time to frustrate the malevolent designs of the minister. He is equally at home in an aeroplane, automobile, motorcycle or railroad train and, of course, like all proper and successful heroes, he thwarts the plotters, though only after many mishaps. This feature introduces dashes of comedy and the low lights have a brightening effect upon the somberly serious.