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- An old Indian legend tells of the supposed ability of persons who have been turned into wolves through magic power to assume human form at will for purposes of vengeance.
- With the opening of the story Richelieu pardons the Duke of Orleans and all his followers in the Languedoc revolt, save one. The exception is Adrien de Mauprat, because he seized a French town without his leader's orders. Richelieu advises him to lead his troops against the Spaniards and seek honorable death in battle. Julie, Richelieu's ward, loves de Mauprat, but notwithstanding her entreaties, the Cardinal is relentless; de Mauprat courts death on the battlefield. But now that he seeks death, it shuns him; instead of a soldier's grave, he wins glory. Julie has another admirer, Haradas, the King's favorite. Aware of de Mauprat's place in Julie's affections, he sets himself to bring discredit upon his rival. Later, Julie, at the King's request, attends court. She makes a deep impression upon the weak-minded, fickle monarch. A year after the departure of de Mauprat, Baradas and his followers conspire to murder Richelieu and seize the throne of France. At this critical time de Mauprat returns, famous in battle, sad of heart and loathing Richelieu. Thus he becomes a ready member of the conspirators. However, Richelieu hears of his arrival and of the conspiracy and has him arrested. In the meantime, Julie has returned from court and again appeals for de Mauprat's life. Thus, when de Mauprat is ushered into the Cardinal's presence, instead of hearing his death sentence, he is informed that he will marry Julie the following day. Hearing of this the King is violently angry: Julie is summoned to appear at court. Once there she is virtually held prisoner and her marriage is declared invalid. The false Barad is convinces de Mauprat that he has been tricked by Richelieu. De Mauprat swears vengeance and again joins the conspirators, all of whom sign a scroll addressed to the Spaniards offering to deliver France into their hands. From here the story develops with plot and counterplot. How de Mauprat discovers his tragic mistake in thinking the Cardinal has double-crossed him, how he manages, through a heroic effort, to save the old man's life, how de Mauprat falls into the hands of the King and is only saved by a master stroke of diplomacy on Richelieu's part, the death of the scheming Baradas and the final achievement of happiness for the young lovers, Julie and de Mauprat, makes up the essential points of the story.
- Francois Villon, vagabond, poet and philosopher, and his friend Colin, leave the vagabond camp and start for Paris. En route to that city, Villon's heart is touched at sight of the eviction of an elderly couple from their poor home. Whereupon he empties his own and Colin's purse, pays the Beadle, and then resume their journey. Overcome with the pangs of hunger, they "lift " the purses of a couple of corpulent monks. For this breach of law both Villon and Colin are arrested and thrown into prison. They succeed in overpowering the turnkey and, assisted by Colin, who insists that his friend don the clothes of the turnkey, Villon makes his escape. Colin is tried, convicted and hanged. At the foot of the gibbet, Villon's farewell to the swinging Colin is interrupted by the entrance of the Chevalier do Soissons. Villon resents the knight's tirade against the corpse of Colin. Fight ensues and the crafty vagabond slays the knight, using as a weapon a great stone. The rich purse, armor, etc., of de Soissons proves too strong a snare for the impoverished Villon, who quickly changes habiliments with the dead knight, props the body against the gallows and then continues on his way to Paris. Philippa de Annonnay, the fair ward of the Chevalier Bertrand de Pogne, is held prisoner in an inn. Villon chooses this inn wherein to satisfy the cravings of hunger. Here he meets de Pogne. From her window she sees the entrance of Villon and determines to appeal to the strange knight. An animated discussion between Villon and de Pogne is interrupted by a scream from Philips. Villon starts to climb the stairs to the gallery of the inn. De Pogne bars the way and a terrific battle with swords ensues. The fight continues up the stairs and toward Philippa's window, through which the girl reaches as the fight continues on the balcony and stabs de Pogne, who falls to the floor below, dead. Villon conducts Philippa safely to her castle, then resumes his journey to Paris. Having dissipated the proceeds of the de Soissons adventure, Villon hies himself to a garret, where he spends his time in courting the muses. Louis XI, the "Prowler," determines to test the loyalty of Villon. To this end, the king hies himself to a dungeon in the Bastille, causes the arrest of Villon, then offers that worthy his freedom if he will help overthrow the king. Villon indignantly refuses to purchase his freedom at such a price. Whereupon Louis reveals himself to the poet and presents Villon with a bound copy of his (Villon's) manuscript, which was the first book to be printed in France. Then Louis knights him, bestowing upon Villon the title Chevalier des Loges.
- The Lamb is one of these gentle young men who spend their lives looking after the affairs of others and in the meantime lose all the best that is the heritage of the young. This particular Lamb is devoting his life to his invalid mother and in his spare moment editing a weekly paper. The citizens of the small western town deride the editor and his paper. But there are two persons who have faith in him, and they are the Woman and his mother. He loves the Woman deeply, but would not propose marriage because he deems it would be unjust to saddle an invalid upon a young wife. After an absence of five years, the Wolf, a husky mountaineer, who is sure of himself and devoid of the finer instincts, visits his home town. He had an old love affair with the Woman. He again renews the suit for her hand. She is captivated by his masculine force of character and accepts his proposal of marriage. They are married and the Wolf takes the Woman to his hut in the mountains, where he is the agent between a stage line and a mining company. The monthly payroll money for the miners is delivered to him by the stage company and he turns it over to the mining company. The Woman learns of her mistake in marrying the Wolf. He is all the things she least suspected, a brute, an egotist without sentiment, or love for her. In the meantime the Lamb's mother dies. Nursing this sorrow and the hopeless love for the Woman, he goes into the mountains in search of solitude. He falls in with a band of outlaws and at first is a visitor among them. Word travels to the village that he has actually become an active member of the band. He becomes a marked man, shunned and ostracized. He then determines that he will afford the village people cause for their fear and hatred of him. He becomes an outlaw and grows as coarse and as hardened as he was previously gentle and refined. The Wolf decides that as he is now thoroughly tired of the Woman, he will steal the payroll money left in his keeping and leave her. On the night set for the theft the Woman is alone guarding the money. The Lamb also has decided to steal it and he arrives first and is admitted by the Woman. He recognizes her as his first and only love, but she does not recognize him. To quiet her suspicions he lays his revolver upon the table. Presently someone outside is heard tampering with the lock. Each thinks the intruder a confederate of the other. The Woman covers the door with the Lamb's revolver. A masked man enters and she shoots and kills him. It is her husband, the Wolf. She then recognizes the Lamb and with the new light that comes into her face and into his face, it can be seen that in the future a different, better life is in store for each.
- A deserting soldier encounters a wagon train of settlers. When they are faced with an Indian attack, he risks court martial to return to the Army post for help.
- The youthful monarch, Edward IV of England, is treacherously advised by Sir Stephen Fitz Allen, who is the King's boon companion, in favor of turning down the offer of Louis XI to cease the controversy that has been pending so long. The King, Edward IV, follows the advice of his companion and the French messenger meets with an insult, returning to the French court in a quandary. The old roue, remembering through a vision his scene with Villon in the dungeon, sends for the Poet Laureate to solve the riddle. Villon suggests that it might not be a bad idea to remove Sir Stephen, thereby causing the weakling, Edward IV, to fall into his hands. Louis XI considers the advice good and orders Villon to proceed to England and to move against Sir Stephen. Sir Haco Hubba, long tired of the strife and bloodshed, has shut himself up in Castle Lyme, where he dwells in peace with an only daughter, the Lady Eleyne. Villon learns of Sir Haco, begs an interview, and is invited to call at Lyme Castle. Villon accepts. Here he impresses upon the mind of Sir Haco the fact that it is better that one perish, than that the lives of countless thousands be sacrificed. Sir Haco agrees, but can see no way whereby the wily Sir Stephen can be induced to enter a trap. The Lady Eleyne enters and Villon informs Sir Haco that his beautiful daughter is the bait whereby to catch the fish. Eleyne's scruples are overcome and she agrees to go to court and there ensnare Sir Stephen. The action follows and Sir Stephen, now madly in love with Eleyne, follows her to Castle Lyme. Villon is on the watch, and catching Sir Stephen prowling about the castle halls, summons Sir Haco's men-at-arms, who quickly dispatch Sir Stephen, whereupon Villon returns to Louis' court and acquaints his master with the success of the expedition.
- Old Jean Basse makes a meager living for himself and granddaughter, Pauline, by peddling his miniature statuary. Pauline is in love with an unsuccessful artist who lives on the floor above. Every character who lives in the alley is shown, with his or her troubles and joys. Above everything else, it has been old Jean's ambition to possess a high silk hat. One day he receives a letter from an attorney advising him that he has fallen heir to the estate of a distant relative. It creates a commotion in the alley because all think that they are going to lose Jean. But in his heart the good old man decides that he will divide his wealth with his friends. On the strength of the legacy Jean buys a handsome silk stovepipe hat. It is a proud day for him when he strolls into blind alley thus spruced up. The attorney calls to see him the next day and leads him to his inheritance, the contents of a small cottage. But everything has been attached by creditors, save a few worthless odds and ends in the attic. The only thing he considered worth taking home is a dust-covered painting. Jean, feeling that he cannot now afford the silk hat, sadly sells it back to the haberdasher. Jean's homecoming is not as sad as might be supposed, for his friends rejoice that their little colony will not lose him. However the old man's legacy is worth more than he at first realized. The artist, Pauline's lover, no sooner sets eyes on the old painting than he declares it to be an original Van Dyke. Jean takes the painting to a successful artist, who attempts to buy it for two dollars. Jean, however, refuses it. The famous artist then tries to steal the masterpiece. Failing in this attempt he tries to mislead Jean by admiring Pauline. But all his schemes are defeated. Pauline's sweetheart begins selling his pictures, and on the day they are married, the couple present Jean with a swell silk hat. But for the old man the end has come; he lies sick unto death. As a wedding gift he gives Pauline the painting, and as his life flickers away he insists on wearing the silk hat.
- A woman is in love with a dashing Army lieutenant, but her father refuses to consent to give him her hand. The daughter appeals to her father's patriotism, but when he fails to relent, declares her own independence.
- Fulfilling a promise made to his mother on her deathbed, Dr. James Gibson finds his sister Pauline who has run away after giving birth to an illegitimate child. His sister's mind has snapped and Gibson takes his sister and his baby niece home with him. The years pass and the niece has grown into a beautiful woman while her mother is kept locked in a room that the young woman is forbidden to enter. Gibson and his wealthy neighbor, John Morris, are both interested in hypnotism, and one night the two men conduct an experiment by hypnotizing Gibson's niece. Pauline sees Morris from her window and recognizes him as the man who deserted her after fathering her child. One night she escapes from her room, takes her daughter's shawl, and stabs Morris to death. Returning home, she touches her daughter's hair, leaving blood stains on the sleeping girl. Morris is found murdered, the young girl's shawl is found near his body, and his blood is found on the still sleeping girl. The niece is arrested and convicted of murder, but Pauline is found dead in her room clutching a watch taken from Morris, and the young girl is cleared.
- The story opens with an Indian village, the home of Big Bear, the son of the Sioux chief. The government agent, impressed with the brightness of the lad, persuades his father to permit him to be sent to a military school. The cadets, perfectly disciplined, are shown in their trim uniforms, drilling on the parade grounds and the young savage is introduced into their midst. Ten years serve to convert the slender boy into a stalwart man, who graduates with the rank of lieutenant, and is assigned to Fort Reno. He arrives in a stagecoach and reports for duty to Col. Garvin. The officers and their families are at dinner when the colonel introduces the new officer. Lieutenant Big Bear is made to keenly feel barrier of race, as his pleasant acknowledgment of the introduction is met with coolness. Soft-hearted Ethel, the colonel's daughter, noting the man's mental anguish, impulsively comes forward and gives the lieutenant her hand, with a gracious word of welcome. The old Indian chief is advised of his son's coming, and attired in all the glory of paint and feathers, so dear to the Indian heart, visits Big Bear. An affecting scene takes place as the father and son meet again, and the old chief fondly caresses the gold trappings of his son's uniform, and proudly admires the shining brass buttons. The actions of the chief are the source of much amusement to the other officers and the women of the post, who watch the pair from a window and mimic the actions of the chief. Indignant at their narrowness, Ethel runs out and asks Big Bear for an introduction to his father. Capt. Haines has been an ardent wooer of Ethel, and he resents the friendly interest she has taken in the Indian. He is infuriated when he sees Big Bear in pleasant conversation with the girl while the lieutenant is waiting to speak to the colonel at his quarters. Haines waits for Big Bear and warns him from speaking to Ethel. The Indian resents the insult, the men engage in a terrific struggle. Haines is being badly thrashed by the powerful Indian when he draws the revolver from Big Bear's holster and attempts to shoot him. The weapon is knocked from his hand, but the shot attracts other officers who pull the contestants apart. Haines dramatically accuses Big Bear of having attempted to kill him, and points to the Indian's revolver with one cartridge exploded. Big Bear is court-martialed and found guilty of assaulting a brother officer, and is ordered publicly disgraced and dismissed from the service. The ceremony is most impressive, as the shoulder straps and side arms of the lieutenant are torn from him, in the presence of the whole regiment. Big Bear packs his belongings into his trunk, including his saber and uniform, and departs. With tears in her eyes and quivering lips, Ethel alone bids the lieutenant good-bye, and as he clasps the hand of the girl and sees the sympathy and friendship in her face, his whole heart goes out to her. With the taciturnity of his race, however, he does not betray his feelings, and with a hand clasp he bids her adieu forever. Big Bear is given a warm welcome by the tribe, and his father and mother. His civilian's attire is noted, and when the Indians hear the story of his disgrace they are filled with rage. The government has been negotiating with the Indians for their lands, and, a few days later, at a meeting with the colonel at the fort, the old chief denounces the pale-faces and their methods, and threatens trouble. After his departure, the colonel, knowing that a terrible Indian war is inevitable, sends a courier to Ft. Custer, apprising the commander of the situation, and telling him that the women of Ft. Reno would be sent to Ft. Custer via stage coach, under escort, for safety. The courier is shot from his horse by the Indians, who find the letter but are unable to read it. Big Bear has been persuaded by his father to don the war paint, and to join in the fight against the whites, when the letter is brought into camp. He interprets the message and the old chief immediately determines to massacre the escort and capture the women. Instantly Big Bear realizes the terrible danger Ethel is placed in, and, alone in his tent, he racks his brain for a scheme to save her. A vision of her soft eyes looking tenderly at him as she bade him good-bye comes to him, and he resolves to sacrifice his life, if need be, to save her from harm. At the fort the women are placed in the coach, and, accompanied by a picked detail, start on the journey to Ft. Custer, a larger and safer structure. As the Indians leave the camp to ambush the soldiers, Big Bear, by a ruse, stays behind, and rushing into his tent, tears the Indian feathers from his head and dons his lieutenant's uniform. Buckling his saber about him, he examines his heavy army pistols, and, leaping on a horse, starts out on his hopeless mission. As the stage coach reaches a valley, the surrounding bushes and trees become suddenly alive with Indians, and a volley marks a trail of death among the soldiers. Lashing their horses, the troopers endeavor to escape, and a running fight ensues. Behind a hill the last stand is made, and huddled together the little band fight for their lives. Galloping along, Big Bear comes upon the body of the company bugler, and picking up his instrument, makes his way to the crest of the hill. From this advantageous position, hidden by the bushes, he deliberately picks off the redskins as they approach close to the stagecoach, Coolly and calmly he makes every bullet tell. Amid the terrible excitement and thunder of riflery, the crack of his guns is not noticed. With the clothes practically shot from his back and hanging in shreds, a trooper suddenly darts through the line of Indians, down the hillside, and plunging into the river at terrific speed the horse turns a somersault. The wounded rider clings to the saddle and the noble animal gallops to the fort. A word, and the bugle call rings out and the brigade is mounted and hastening to the scene of battle. Meantime the little band is in a desperate predicament. Big Bear has seen the escape of the soldier, and knowing that every second is golden, he puts the bugle to his lips and the musical blasts of "The Charge" cause consternation among the Indians, who think the soldiers are at hand and hurriedly retreat. They soon discover their mistake, however, and return to the attack with redoubled fury. The few minutes' respite, however, have saved the doomed people. Creeping up from the foot of the hill an Indian works his way to the back of Big Bear. Taking deliberate aim he sends a bullet crashing into his body. Mortally wounded, the lieutenant leaps upon the Indian, but is soon dispatched. As the troops arrive and charge into the ranks of the Indians a thrilling scene is enacted, but the redskins are broken up and scattered, and ignominiously run for their lives, pursued by the relentless soldiers. The last scene shows the still form of the lieutenant in the twilight, the man who was despised by the white people with whom he had cast his lot, and who met his death at the hands of his own race, "unwept, unhonored and unsung," his heroism unknown even to the girl for whom he gave his life. They met. A far something in the soul of the girl responded to an indefinite something in his. And the greatest blessing and the greatest bane of earth melded with and became her being, a heedless, headless love. Then he tired of the jesting imitation, of the eternal squalor and the dreary denial, and longed for the convenient comforts and luxuries of his other life. He told them he was going to work elsewhere, and the girl's heart filled with an instinctive but indistinct fear and foreboding, interpreted by a great, glistening tear. Type was never so cold and bold and cruel as that which told her, a few weeks later, of his marriage to millions. A great sob arose from the desert of her soul to mock the lying promises of man, and her heart bowed to a sorrow as solemn as midnight, as profound as death.
- The prologue shows the life of a trapper, living in the solitude of the forest. He digs a bear trap, which is covered with boughs and grass. An Indian girl, armed with a bow and arrow, creeps close to a wild turkey, which she brings down. As she runs forward to gather up her prey she falls into the trap. Evans, the trapper, finds her there and on lifting her from the pit, finds that she has sprained her ankle, and takes her to his cabin, and makes her as comfortable as possible. As the shades of evening fall and the pain subsides, the girl drops into a slumber, and loath to awaken her, Evans leaves her in possession of his cabin and, wrapped in a blanket, sleeps outside. In the morning, the girl having recovered sufficiently, he lifts her to his horse, and mounting behind her, proceeds to the Indian camp. On the way he is attacked by a trio of Indians, who fire at him from behind a tree, and the trapper brings down one of his assailants. The others rush back to the camp, and when Evans arrives he is roughly dealt with by the Indians, but is saved by the intervention of the girl, who is the daughter of the Sioux chief. Some time later a party of Cheyennes visit the Sioux, and the chief buys the girl from her father. Though she has not seen the white trapper since the day of her accident, the Indian girl's heart has gone out to him, and the prospect of becoming the squaw of the Cheyenne chief is distasteful to her. It is an unwilling bride, indeed, whom the old Cheyenne brings to his tepee, and when he attempts to subject her, she turns upon him with a knife, and leaving his lifeless form dying in the tent, makes her escape. When she reaches her own village, however, she fears the wrath of her father, and suddenly the thought occurs to her to seek refuge again in the trapper's cabin. Evans, who has fallen in love with the girl, assures her of his protection. The Cheyennes, wild with anger at the death of their chief, call upon the Sioux to deliver the girl to them, and are assured that she is not in camp. They trail her to the cabin, and, while Evans is away examining his traps, break down the barricaded door and set the house on fire. As Evans is returning he sees the Indians gallop off with their prisoner, and flying to the Sioux camp tells of what has occurred. The Sioux chief immediately calls out his braves, who start in pursuit of the Cheyennes. The girl is about to meet her death when the Sioux arrive, and a hand-to-hand conflict ensues, in the heat of which Evans rescues the girl and gallops away with her. As the sun is setting, standing on the crest of a hill, he points out to her a wagon train of emigrants, and hand-in-hand they go to his people, and safety.
- In a small mining community lives an orphan girl who is engaged to a miner. A degenerate Mexican infests the camp and proves a menace to the citizens. The orphan's sweetheart finds him intimidating two young sweethearts and gives him a well-deserved beating. Thus he incurs the Mexican's hatred. A young stranger, coming into camp, accidentally shoots himself while cleaning his revolver. The orphan girl takes him into her cabin and dresses his wound. She is called out by the Mexican and attacked, but is saved by the stranger. To secure revenge, the Mexican informs the miners that the orphan is harboring a man in her cabin; this reaches the ears of the orphan's sweetheart. With a strong fist, the young miner smashes the lying mouth. In the meantime, the stranger, unaware that the girl is engaged to the miner, falls in love with her. The miner finds it out and his heart aches, but he acts straight. Upon learning the truth, the stranger departs; he makes his way up the hill, leaving the girl behind with a sore heart, for she loves him in a way. However, as he looks back and down the mountain, the stranger sees the Mexican below him on a cliff about to shoot the miner and the girl as they stand on the door-step. He hurriedly throws his pack onto him, spoiling his aim; then he jumps over and down. He kills the Mexican, but his own life is sacrificed.
- Sheriff Crane's wife and child are preparing for a little journey with their wagon and team. On arriving at the store, the wife, on attempting to get out, stumbles and startles the horses, which causes them to run away, the child hanging on to the wagon. This is seen by Harry, who gives chase, captures the runaway horses, and returns the child, unhurt, to the mother, she returns home to tell her husband of the bravery of the stranger. Harry stops at the saloon kept by Vesta, which is patronized by rough Bill and his gang. While there a poor old man enters accompanied by a dog. He begs for something to eat for himself and the animal, saying that the dog, will do tricks in payment. After the performance Bill abuses the dog. Bill strikes the old man and is called to account by Harry. There is a struggle and the gun explodes, killing the old man, but before dying, the latter gives his dog to Harry, begging him to care for it. Harry leaves with the dog and a threat from Bill. Later, Harry returns and there is a general fight. The gang get after Harry but escapes. Later he is shot and falls from the horse. The latter races on and crawls in the brush. The gang, misled, ride on. They meet the sheriff and tell him of the affair. Vesta is called away by one of the men. The dog enters, sneaks the bacon Vesta was cutting and takes it to Harry. Vesta cannot understand how the bacon has disappeared. The following day the same thing occurs but the dog is seen by Vesta, who shoots, wounding him in the leg. He follows and sees him take the food to Harry. He returns to the saloon and tells the gang. Harry is captured and brought to the saloon to be lynched. He is seen by the sheriff's wife. She explains to her husband that he is the man who saved their child's life. The sheriff gives Harry his horse and allows him to depart.
- All the men in the neighborhood love Bess, the daughter of the Mayor of Rockville, but she treats them coldly. Among this number is Jack Dayton, a son of Old Ireland known as the "No-Gun-Man" and Lesparre, leader of the Coyote gang. Lesparre brings his gang to town, holds up the bartender, secures all the whiskey they want, then robs the bank belonging to the Mayor, who offers $5,000 reward for the return of the stolen property. Jack's great desire is to get enough money to send to his mother in Ireland, to pay for the cottage in which she lives; so he starts after the bandits unarmed, although he is urged to take a gun. In the meantime, Lesparre has also kidnapped Bess and taken her to a place in the hills known as Coyote Hole. When Jack learns of this, he redoubles his efforts. He allows himself to be captured by the bandits, and on being taken before the chief, tells him he wishes to join the gang, and the chief finally consents. As soon as everyone is asleep, Jack enters the room in which Bess is imprisoned, and helps her to escape. He then wraps his blanket about him again and goes to sleep. In the morning the loss of the girl is discovered and Jack is suspected, and is locked in the room in which Bess was imprisoned. He finds the money and papers hidden in the bed, watches his chance, attacks the two men who are guarding him, defeats them after a desperate fight and escapes with the money. He reaches the railroad and climbs on a passing freight train. The gang follows closely, and after a fight, Jack throws Lesparre off the train, He finally reaches Rock River, is acclaimed a hero, returns the money and papers to the Mayor, and receives the girl in exchange.
- Mr. and Mrs. MacComb have two sons, Jack and Jim. Jim, the younger, is spoiled. He drops in with the boys to have "just one" while his father and brother go on to work. Late for work, Jim is discharged. Returning to the saloon he gambles all his money and is thrown out. Jack finds him, takes him home, makes excuses to their mother and puts him to bed. Disgusted with everything, Jim is anxious to get away from the town. He attempts to steal his father's money, is caught by Jack and when the father appears. Jack assumes the guilt. He is ordered from the house, never to return. In the city he obtains employment, while his brother Jim goes from bad to worse until the father at last locks him out. This awakens the manhood in him; he writes a note to the father confessing his guilt relative to taking the money and leaves for the city to redeem himself. There he meets Jack and through him secures employment. During their vacations the following summer they return home to save their father and mother, who, through reverses and sickness, have lost their money. A happy reunion takes places.
- Clifford's employer is shot down at his side while working over plans. Clifford's revolver, with his name inscribed on the butt, is found outside the window. Clifford is arrested on this evidence, combined with other evidence of less importance, tried and convicted. It is a tragic moment when he is condemned to die, for he loves the daughter of the man he is accused of murdering. Another man, an employee of the dead man, who seeks to marry the daughter for her money, was really back of the killing. He it was who urged an Indian to shoot Clifford, his rival. But the Indian, being drunk at the time, mixes the men and shoots the employer. On the day of the execution Alice, the daughter, is drifting down the river in a canoe when she observes an Indian swept over the rapids. She rescues the Indian in a dying condition, and he confesses that he shot her father. They are miles from the county seat where the execution of Clifford is taking place. She drags the Indian to an automobile and the race with death begins. The villain has learned of the Indian's confession and intercepts the girl. While one of her henchmen is fighting off the villain, the girl escapes with the Indian to a logging flume, which carries timber to the county seat. She constructs an impromptu boat and resumes the race to the gallows. The villain gets possession of the automobile and races in the same direction. While dashing wildly over a precipitous mountain road, the steering knuckle of the machine breaks and the machine and occupant dash into an abyss. At the scaffold the crowd awaits the moment when the death trap will fall. There is a commotion when Alice and the Indian enter. The execution is stayed a moment. Alice drags the Indian to the sheriff to hear his confession. Clifford is liberated and declared innocent.
- Gervais Delemere and Sydney Archdale, Sr. are lifelong friends. Archdale's son, Sydney, and Constance Delemere are affianced. One day as the friends are playing chess, an Indian runner brings a message bearing the information that King George III has directed that a tax of three pence per pound be put upon tea. The message virtually presages a call to arms. The men argue violently, Archdale asserting the tax an outrage and Delemere advancing strong Royalist principles. The men part enemies and the young people are forbidden to see each other. Hostilities start and Archdale shows his partisanship by drilling recruits. Delemere watches his daughter Constance carefully, he introduces her to Captain Devereaux and intimates to her that it will please him if she will show him attention. Delemere and Constance are out riding, when they hear a child crying. They investigate and find a six-year-old boy apparently deserted. Constance insists upon taking the child home with her. He is the son of Captain Devereaux, who has deserted little Phillip after he has struck down his Indian wife, Osano, leaving her apparently dead. Osano recovers and vows vengeance after her kind. Constance is unaware of the child's identity. Delemere accompanies Capt. Devereaux east in answer to the call for men to serve the King. Devereaux presents Constance with a charm from his chain as a remembrance. Constance accepts it to please her father. Constance cannot face the loneliness, and accompanied by her servants she starts for Boston, accompanied by the boy, to join her father. Arriving at a blockhouse, Constance requests accommodations for the night. It is acceded to. The blockhouse is attacked and after a bitter fight the survivors are taken prisoners by the Indians. One man escapes and, arriving at Boston, he seeks out Delemere, who receives a message from General Gage to the Mohawk chief, Main Rouge, asking him to deliver up his daughter. Delemere is on his way to Connecticut, when he is arrested for a spy by American soldiers and put into jail. In the meantime Constance is taken to the tepee of Chief Main Rouge, where she is found by Osano, the deserted wife of Devereaux. Osano recognizes the charm, and is about to kill Constance, but fearing detection and death, she conducts the white girl to the woods and leaves her to her fate. Constance wanders about and is found in an exhausted condition by a Quaker family and is taken by them to Boston. The Archdales, father and son, are very active in the interests of the cause. Archdale, Junior, leads the Boston tea party, overpowers the English crew and throws the tea chests overboard. He is also in command at the battle of Bunker Hill, from which he retreats fighting hard. Constance visits her father in prison and secures an interview with General Washington. She obtains an order for Delemere's release. The Declaration of Independence is signed. Delemere, Constance and the boy Phillip settle down happily in a cottage and the lad is devoted to his protectress. One afternoon Constance and the boy are seen by Osano, who attacks Constance with a knife. Phillip tries to defend her and thwarts her long enough to allow of her rescue by Sydney Archdale and his father. The squaw falls and the knife enters her side. They carry the woman to Delemere's cottage, where they find Devereaux, who has just returned from England. Osano recognizes Devereaux and denounces him as the husband who deserted her. In a fit of rage Devereaux draws his sword and lunges at Sydney, to whom Constance has run. Archdale. Sr. kills Devereaux. Osano sees the tribal mark on Phillip's arm and tells Constance he is her son. The boy runs to his protectress. The old men are reconciled and the way is open for the marriage of Constance and Sydney.
- Black La Rue was born on the Mexican border in times of raids and fights. His father was killed in one of the fights. The circumstances of his birth have in some strange way affected his character so that he can never see a fight without having an irresistible desire to join the fray. Cliff Buckley and his daughter, Jane, arrive in town. Black gets into a fight in front of their house and Jane makes him stop. He is attracted by the interest the girl has taken in him and later asks her father's consent to their marriage. When her father refuses Black is resentful and returns home in a gloomy mood. That night he decides to come to town to drown his sorrows. Jane sees him and detains him, knowing that he is bent on some mischief. Meanwhile Cliff Buckley gets into a fight over a card game and is arrested by the sheriff. As they go out of the building Buckley struggles and accidentally kills the sheriff. Jane has been standing near with Black and they both hear the shot. They are the first to reach Buckley, and seeing the sheriff on the ground, quickly take in the situation. Black, realizing the position the girl will be in, confesses that he killed the sheriff. The whole crowd has been drinking and a feeling against Black arises. He is taken in charge by a crowd who leave with him for the hills where they expect to hang him. He is taken to a tree overhanging the river, but just as they are about to hang him he manages to break away by making a wild leap for the river, far below. The men try to stop him but, by the time they can get to the river, Black has escaped. Black makes his way home and his mother looks after his bruises. Just before dawn, when he is preparing to leave the country, Jane comes in. She says that she has learned of his sacrifice and intends to wait for him. Black tells her that he is going away until he can master his strange obsession for fighting, and that he will then return. She promises to wait.
- Harry is thrown out of town and on his way across the desert meets a minister and his family; when the man is killed in an Indian raid, Harry takes care of his little daughter, later puts on the minister's frock and reforms a town.
- The Camp of Pinon had sprung into existence overnight. A prospector seeking the elusive metal had overturned something that glittered and the news spread fast and the population came in overnight. Ballarat Bob is the owner of a gambling establishment. Bob's reputation for fair dealing is known throughout the country. Clem Hardy, a victim of the gold fever, arrives in the mining camp, accompanied by his wife, Josephine, and their child, Peter Boy. They stake a claim near the camp of Dr. Bleeker, Chuck Walla Bill and Bob, who are palling together. Clem's first visit, after staking his claim, is to the gambling hall. As Bill and Doc approach their home they see the new neighbors. The child's crying gets on their nerves and when Bob arrives Bill is in a towering rage. They decide that the noise is unbearable and Bill, as a committee of one, goes to the tent to remonstrate. Bill enters in anger, but one glance at Josephine calms him. Clem, angry at the intrusion, hits Bill and knocks him out. Bill starts to retaliate, but, seeing Josephine, retreat in fierce anger. He returns to his friends and tells them of the incident; they decide that there is nothing to be done. The next day, as Bob is returning from the hall, Peter Boy is playing in the road. Bob snatches the child from death underneath the oncoming stage, but the child receives a minor injury to his hand. Doc is nearby and hurries out with his medicine case. Bob is especially thanked by the woman, and immediately the two find interest in each other. Josephine then confides to the friends her ambition for the youngster to become a doctor. Clem at last makes a rich strike of gold and at once starts on a career of gambling and drinking. At first Bob bars Clem from his tables on account of his family, but realizes if he does not take his money someone else will. Bob revokes his rule in Clem's favor. Josephine has come to look upon Bob as partly responsible for Clem's condition, and she believes that Bob encourages the latter to play. Clem loses everything and when he has left, Bob takes Clem's money from the safe, goes to Josephine and gives it to her. He then meets Hardy and threatens him with an awful death if he does not brace up and treat his wife and child decently. Bob then leaves and returns to the hall. Later on Clem finds that Josephine has received the money and accuses her of playing with Bob on the side. He strikes her down and leaves for the hall to find Bob. He picks a quarrel with Bob, but for the wife's sake the latter holds his hand. Clem snoots him through the hat. Peter Boy is ill and Dr. Bleeker goes to visit him. Clem sees their shadows on the wall and thinks that Bob is there with his wife. He shoots through the tent and Doc falls. Bob comes running to the spot and Clem wounds him in the shoulder. Then he jumps into his wagon and drives furiously away. The whole town rides after him. On the edge of a cliff he is lassoed and wagon and all fall headlong down the side of the steep incline and Hardy is killed. Bob is left to comfort Josephine, and tells her that someday, when he has made something more than a gambler of himself, he will come and claim her.
- Wonega is a very pretty Crow Indian girl with whom Deer Track is in love. Her decided aversion angers him. One day while gathering herbs and leaves for the medicine man, she falls from a high rock into the water. Her cries are heard by Feathered Arrow, a Sioux warrior on a lone bunting trip in a canoe, who rescues her and carries her to his tepee. Wonega's father sends Deer Track to look her up, and he discovers her with Feathered Arrow, who has won her heart. A swift attack is made on Feathered Arrow, and he Is captured and condemned to death. The Crows break up camp and move on, leaving Feathered Arrow to the tender mercies of his rival, Deer Track, who proceeds to torture his bound and helpless prisoner. Wonega has been given to Deer Track in marriage, and he has tied her to a tree. She tugs desperately at her bonds and finally unloosens herself. Creeping up behind Deer Track, she fells him with a fagot and releases Feathered Arrow. The lovers make their escape by canoe to Feathered Arrow's village.
- The emigrants are seen fighting the hordes of redskins. The hero rides to the settlement for help and engages in a thrilling duel with pursuing Indians. The settlers swoop down on the unprotected Indian village and burn it up. The savages seeing the flames, hurry back and fall into an ambush. They are attacked from the rear by the emigrants and from the front by the settlers. In a wild scene of carnage the surprised Indians are mowed down by the hail of bullets, horses and riders falling in tangled masses.
- Hamilton, a victim of paralysis and owner of a menagerie where animals can be bought, sold and exchanged, has a superintendent under his employ who is in love with his elder daughter, Grace. She loves him, too, but unknown to her father. One day while putting an animal through some stunts the trainer is caught and Hamilton is taken with a stroke at the sight, this being his second attack. He realizes that the next attack will probably mean his end, and he thinks, too, that by selling he will rid his daughter of the superintendent. He sells the menagerie, but keeps his pet animal, a wild and vicious lion, which he takes to his private residence and places in a barn. Some time later his little daughter, Blanche, is playing around the grounds of his home when young George, the superintendent, happens to spy her and asks her to take a note to her sister unknown to her father. Blanche consents, but in trying to deliver the message, she is stopped by her father, who takes it from her. The father is very angry. He locks Grace in her room and the mother, going on a visit, takes Blanche with her, leaving her with her aunt, who lives a short distance away. The father then decides that he will have the animal meet George that night, instead of his daughter, thinking that that will keep the superintendent away for good. He then turns the animal loose and waits for the arrival of George, but in the meantime Blanche runs away from the aunt's and arrives home and is confronted by he animal. Father, seeing this from the window, is attacked with the third stroke of paralysis. George arrives in time to save little Blanche's life. Grace breaks away from her room, helps rescue her little sister, while her mother tends to her father. Between George and Grace they manage to fight the animal back into the barn. They return to the house and all are reconciled.
- Ruth, a child of three, is taken with her little brother to the beach. She strays away, follows a dog into a boat, and is cast ashore on an island, where there are extensive sheep ranches. A gang of outlaws make their headquarters there, and take the child to their cave. They find her picture pinned into her sash. The outlaws set out for the mainland, except one, who remains to take care of the child. The Hardings think that she is drowned. Ranchman Martin heads a party to round up the outlaws. The one who remained is shot and killed, and Martin finds Ruth and takes her home to his wife. Fifteen years pass. Martin has legally adopted Ruth, and she thinks herself his daughter. She loves Jack Morgan, the son of a neighboring rancher, who has incurred the dislike of Martin, who warns the young man several times to stay away from his child, but the two meet frequently in secret. Martin has struck oil on his property and has interested some capitalists, of whom Harding is one. Harding comes to investigate the strike, accompanied by his son, Richard, a rather irresponsible young man. He makes Martin an offer, which Martin at first does not care to accept. The Hardings decide to stay several days and give him time to change his mind. Richard sees Ruth and is struck by her beauty. But Ruth distrusts him. At the end of a week Harding has persuaded Martin to sell, and to accompany him to the city to conclude the deal. Martin insists upon Ruth's going, too, as he has found her with Jack and wants to break up the intimacy. She sends word to Jack that she is being taken to the city against her will. Jack thinks that she is to be forced into a marriage with young Harding. He suggests that he and the boys hold up the special and rescue Ruth. They carry out their plan, and Ruth and Jack decide to be married at once. Martin, with Harding and his son, determine to get Jack, and they return to the ranch. Jack and Ruth, with the cowboys, arrive, and the marriage is disclosed. Martin is furious and tells Jack that Ruth is not his daughter and never was, that she is the child of a sheep-stealing outlaw. He asks his wife to bring the picture that was found on her. Harding recognizes it as his lost child. He claims Ruth as his daughter, and announces to Martin that he will double the price of the oil land and then give it to Jack for a wedding present.
- As six priests are in prayer in the Temple of Buddha, a band of marauding coolies sweep down and annihilate them. The last priest to die, perceiving that the coolies are taking the sacred eye of Bnddha, a precious stone, curses the stone and exclaims that the possessor of it shall die. He then passes away. The coolies arrive at the desert, where they begin to quarrel about the emerald. One by one they die and the surviving coolie grasps the stone and runs away with it to the jungle, where fear and excitement make him a madman. Casting the stone into the air, it hangs suspended, and, as the maddened coolie falls dead upon the ground, the stone descends upon his breast, where it is found by a caravan of merchants, one of whom appropriates it. The merchant goes to the bazaar at the English barracks, at Cawnpore, India, where he sells the stone to Sir Hugh Wheeler and his niece. Just as the transferring of the stone has been completed, the merchant is seized with an attack of fever and dies. Several days later, as Sir Hugh and others are admiring the stone, a dispatch comes to him bearing the news that the fanatical Sepoys have thrown down their arms and deserted, having been told by a Buddha priest that they are being defiled with greased bullets and that he had better prepare for immediate defense. Nana Sahib, a treacherous man, offers his assistance to Sir Hugh, which is gladly accepted. Back in the temple the High Priest Djalma sees in a vision Sir Hugh and his niece admiring the stone with the sinister Nana Sahib standing in the background with upraised knife. He makes a passionate vow that he will devote his life to regain the stone. When Cawnpore is invested. Nana, who had promised to take care of the English troopers, the invalids, the women and the children, fails to keep his promise and the troopers are killed, while the women and children are hustled into the old barracks. This also is seen by the High Priest Djalma in a vision as he stands before the idol of Buddha in the temple. The Sepoys, having been defeated by the advancing troopers of General Havelock, avenge themselves by slaughtering the women and children. A Hindu woman with a white baby escapes. In the temple the high priest throws incense on the brazier, and again in a vision he sees the Hindu woman give the baby to a Sepoy coolie who is in a boat, he having escaped after having looted the bodies of the dead and found the emerald. The old priest makes a solemn vow that the baby boy shall grow up and reclaim the stolen eye and that he shall adopt the boy. Twenty-five years later the emerald, after having passed through many hands and each time causing a calamity, finds its way into the possession of Colonel Van Alston, his wife and daughter, Nellie. The High Priest Djalma, now an aged man, realizing that his days are numbered, calls the little boy he adopted years ago, now known as Afga, the White Priest, and makes him swear that he will devote his entire life to the restoring of the eye of Buddha. Afga promises and the old priest passes away. Taking his ball of crystal he concentrates his mind upon it and sees in it Nellie at a reception with the emerald around her neck. That night, as Afga throws incense on the brazier, he sees in the smoke that rises, Nellie, admiring the emerald and gently refusing the proposal of a suitor. She suddenly falls in a trance, in which she sees Afga and the idol of Buddha with the missing eye. Recovering her senses again, Nellie becomes very ill and the doctors advise a change in climate. Just about this time the colonel is ordered to take his regiment to Cawnpore, India. In taking in the sights of that city, they eventually come to the Temple of Buddha, where Nellie meets Afga. Nellie continues to be sick, and one of her attendants, a native coolie, seeing the emerald about her neck, goes to the head of his sect and tells him of the emerald. He is given silken cords with which to hang Nellie. Meanwhile, Afga calls upon the colonel and asks to cure his daughter. He is given permission, and almost simultaneously with the laying of his hand upon her brow, she gets well. That night in the temple, Afga sees in a vision Nellie being maltreated by the coolie thus. He goes at once to her rescue and transforms the leader into a dog. The rest slink away in mortal fear. He takes Nellie home and leaves. The next day Nellie goes to the temple and is taken before the idol of Buddha. Pointing to the eye socket Afga tells her of the story of the emerald. Impulsively she gives him the precious stone, and immediately after it is placed in the socket it flares fire. They then go to the colonel, the history of the young man is told, and he is recognized as Nellie's accepted suitor.
- Old man Wilson is much inclined to a liberal use of liquor. His daughter. Nell, is known and liked by all the cowboys of the surrounding ranches. Jack Harding is especially fond of Nell. Old man Wilson fears Jack. The manager of the ranch on which Jack works is negotiating with a livestock exchange relative to the sale of a bunch of horses, and accordingly, the buyer of the exchange, Neal Banning, arrives on the ground, accompanied by his daughter, to look over the stock. Jack finds the city-bred girl very fascinating, while she finds much to admire in the young cowboy. The two take many rides together, in which Jack explains the country and the business of the livestock people to the girl. Nell notices the growing intimacy between the two, and is very down-hearted over it. Banning takes a liking to Jack and the girl tells him he can secure a place with her father in Kansas City. Jack promises to think the matter over. Banning and his daughter leave for the railroad station to await the arrival of the stock. Nell, noticing the growing preoccupation of Jack surmises he is thinking a great deal of the other girl, and she decides to exert herself to win him back. The boss of the ranch receives a letter from the buyer stating that the horses must be delivered at the railroad point at a certain time, and asking that Jack be allowed to accompany the horses, as he has a position in mind for him. The men in charge of the horses set out on the journey, which will take a couple of days. On the second stop they throw up a temporary corral, to keep the horses from straying. Nell follows the men and arrives at their camp after dark. She determines upon a desperate move to prevent Jack from leaving. Accordingly, she cuts the corral fence and stampedes the horses. The cowboys, aroused by the uproar, hurriedly pursue the fleeing horses while Jack, seeing the fleeing figure whom he thinks is guilty of the outrage, pursues it. Fearing he will not overtake the fugitive, Jack begins to shoot, and a well-directed shot brings the figure down. When Jack arrives, he is very much surprised to find that Nell is the one he has wounded, and he asks her why she did such a foolish deed. Nell then tells him that she stampeded the horses because she did not want him to leave. Jack realizes that it has been Nell all along whom he has cared for. He picks her up and carries her safely to the house. At the station, Banning and his daughter are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the horses, which finally arrive just as the train starts to leave. The girl is very much disappointed when she is handed a note from Jack, telling her that he has changed his mind and decided to remain on the range.
- A man struggles to survive after being shipwrecked on a deserted island.
- He was a kind old person, and he had served his employers well. In fact, he devoted forty years of his life, gave his brains and talent toward making the firm a success. But then a man can't always go on giving the energy and fresh ideas of youth and the firm knew it. The old man served his time with a beggar's reward and the best he got was a notice one day that his services were no longer required. It was late in the evening when the old man returned to his poorly-furnished little home; how could he tell his wife, was the question which kept his heart pounding against his withered old breast. But he did tell her, and the mothering heart in her warmed. She was his best friend, his pal for many years, and to fail her "man" now, well, she was not that kind. Of course the old man tried to secure another position; he needed it; his savings would not keep them more than a week or so. But it was a vain search. We follow him, step by step, in his declining path, until we see him without home, friends, and even shelter. And having suffered eviction, he leads his wife into a public square, where 'neath a pouring rain, they drop exhausted on a bench. For a time no one notices the old couple huddled on the bench. Then a policeman comes upon them. He approaches and speaks. There is no response. He attempts to awaken the apparent sleepers only to find that their souls have passed to the Great Beyond. And as the picture closes the astral bodies of the faithful couple ascend Heavenward, where they are received by the Angels of Light into their haven of eternal peace.
- The Medicine Man sends the warriors out for an Indian princess to be used as a sacrifice. They capture White Fawn, killing her lover, and return to their camp. The victim is tied to stakes and a fire kindled about her. Great Bear, who has fallen in love with the pretty captive, cuts her bonds, throws her in a canoe and escape, pursued by the frenzied Indians. After a sensational chase the two reach White Fawn's tribe, and the pursuers are forced to turn back.
- Jim Kennedy is living in the big timber district of the west and is fond of gambling, but does not play straight. One of the rangers becomes suspicious of him. A new settler arrives and stakes out a claim, but he does not seem to be sociable. All that they know is that his name is John Martin. A forest fire breaks out and all the men are called out. Kennedy is injured and Martin takes him to his cabin to care for him. At last Kennedy feels that he is able to move on, but so much has Martin become dependent upon his society that he dislikes to have him leave, and decides to tell him of his past history and its sorrow. Martin was married to Rose. They had lived happily, but a certain Kenneth James, in spite of the fact that he himself had a wife, made love to Rose and so succeeded in implanting the seeds of jealousy in her mind against her husband that she finally left him. Martin was heartbroken. The next morning the two men have breakfast, but both have spent an unhappy night. Kennedy tells Martin he thinks he will shave before he leaves, and when he does so, Martin recognizes him as the purloiner of his happiness. The two men struggle until Kennedy convinces Martin that he intends taking him to Rose, telling her that he had lied, and so repair as much as possible the harm he had done by his silence.
- The Apache Chiefs and Sub-Chiefs, Naitche, Ketena, Tahchilsa and others, come to the reservation barracks and demand liquor. They are very angry at the refusal given, and Lieutenant Davis, in charge, is apprehensive of trouble. The Apaches return to camp and make the squaws brew tizwin, their native liquor. A scout sees the effects of the brew and notes the braves in full war paint dancing. The scout reports to Lieut. Davis, who sends Second Lieut. Clark, with a troop of cavalry, to stop the warlike preparations. The troopers go to the Indian camp and the chief is informed that his tribe will be punished if he is not careful. The Indians show their resentment plainly and Chief Mangus's squaw would shoot Clark but for the interference of Mangus. After their departure, the squaw fires the braves on to action, and they start out to exterminate the Pale Face upstarts. They fire a pioneer cabin, kill the man and take the woman off. Clark reports to Davis, who leads a troop to the Indian camp and confiscates the tepees and takes the squaws prisoners. Mangus's squaw, Huera, being amongst the number. The Indians swear a terrible oath of vengeance. From their mountain retreat they descend cautiously to the reservation barracks and Chief Mangus climbs the brush stockade and rescues his squaw, Huera. An Indian climbs a telegraph pole and cuts the wires to destroy communication. Davis deems it advisable to call for reinforcements. He finds the wires are cut. He determines upon an immediate attack and rides after the redskins. The Indians see them and plan an ambush. They see the troopers enter a pass, which leads to a sandy plain. The Indians race across the mountain path, enter the plain and bury themselves in the sand. The Cavalry comes along and falls into the trap. The Indians rise from the sand on every side and annihilate them, and all that is left the next day are the naked bodies of the dead troopers.
- The film opens with a scene showing the old Indian chief, Arrow Head, selling beadwork at a railroad station. After the train departs he sits down in the shade and falls asleep, living again in his dream the days of his youth as a Yuma brave. The Apache and Yuma Indians, as allies, had been waging a bitter warfare against the whites. The United States government massed large bodies of troops in the district, determined to crush out the guerrilla warfare. The Apaches were willing to make peace, but feared their allies. A conference was held between the Apaches, Yumas and the government representatives, at which the Apaches defied the troops, but the Yumas signed a treaty on condition that the government protect them against the Apaches. During the conference Arrow Head met Red Feather, the daughter of the Sioux chief, and the two young people fall in love. Red Feather overhearing the plans of the Apaches to attack the Yuma camp, and fearing for the safety of her lover, sent her young brother to warn him. The Yumas, though outnumbered, were thus able to arrange a hurried defense, and the battle raged fiercely. Realizing that they must soon be annihilated by their ferocious adversaries. Arrow Head volunteered to ride to the distant fort and appeal to the soldiers for aid. Mounted on a fleet horse, he dashed through the Apache lines, and though sorely wounded managed to elude his pursuers. His horse dropped from exhaustion and he found himself in sight of the Apache village. Red Feather sees him and conceals him in her tepee, where he rests and is given water to quench his thirst. The pursuing Apaches are told by Red Feather that Arrow Head has gone by and they follow the direction she gives. She then brings her pony for her lover, and he reaches the fort without further mishap. When the savages find they have been tricked Red Feather is punished by being staked out in the desert. The rescuing soldiers find her, and then continue their mad gallop to the scene of battle. A fierce encounter takes place, but the Apaches, attacked from the top of the hill by the Yumas, and from the front by the soldiers, are badly defeated. The old Yuma chief, mortally wounded, calls his braves about him, and as a reward for the bravery of Arrow Head hands the latter his head-dress, the insignia of rank, with the consent of the approval of the grateful tribe whose lives Arrow Head has saved.
- Hell's Crown, a town where law and order are as scarce as preachers, is ruled by "Chuck" Wells, a former gun man. He has a dupe in Blaze, the terror of the town, and holds him by keeping him well supplied with money. A sheriff is appointed at Carson City on account of the horse rustlers. On the sheriff's arrival at Hell's Crown he has a brush with Blaze and shows he isn't a man to be fooled with. Chuck seeing his power slipping from him, gets Blaze to run him off. Blaze starts out with that intent, but meets Rose, the sheriff's daughter. Old memories are recalled while Blaze is with her. The next day Chuck takes four men and corners the sheriff on the street. Blaze jumps to the sheriff's side as he falls wounded, and cleans up the town. He wings Chuck and Chuck's men quit. After the doctor has pronounced the sheriff out of danger, Rose is attracted to Blaze, and the story closes with the sheriff on the road to recovery, and Rose and Blaze the best of friends.
- Interesting scenes are shown of the parade grounds and of Bob Evans, one of the post telegraphers, at work. The following message comes over the wire: "Sioux Indians holding war dance. Fear outbreak. Protect wagon trains and settlements. White, Indiana commissioner." A scouting party is immediately sent out, Evans being detailed therewith. The Indians, however, have already started on a mission of death and destruction. Settlers are wiped out and their cabins burned. They meet a Tartar in old man Hart, who barricades the doors and sells the lives of himself and his family at great cost to the redskins. The approach of the soldiers is reported by means of smoke signals by Indians hidden on hilltops, and the savages lay a clever ambush into which the soldiers fall. At the first volley Evans is tumbled from his saddle. The soldiers wheel round and dash back, but they are surrounded by "the circle of death," which narrows down like the coil of a python, until the few survivors, making the last desperate stand, are dispatched. Meantime, Evans has regained consciousness. He makes for the telegraph line, and stumbling and falling, reaches his goal. Racked with pain, and weak from loss of blood, he manages to reach the top of the pole, and taps the wire, connecting his pocket instrument. His sweetheart, Eva Reynolds, the daughter of an officer is talking to the fort operator when this message clicks in: "Ambushed in Rocky Gulch. Many killed. Cannot bold out longer. Rush help. Evans." Sharply the Colonel gives his commands. The bugler calls "Boots and Saddles," and in a few moments the troopers are rushing at break-neck speed to the aid of their comrades. Anguished for the safety of her lover. Eva cannot bear the suspense, and, donning a soldier's uniform she mounts a horse and follows the troop. When they reach the battle ground they find the ground strewn with dead horses and men, but evidence of the terrific struggle which took place. Without stopping to bury the dead the soldiers follow the trail of the Indians, bent on vengeance. Eva dismounts and looks for Bob. Not finding him, she remounts and circles around. Lying senseless at the telegraph post she discovers Bob, and reviving him, she lifts him to her horse's back, and, mounting behind him, gallops back to the fort. The Indians have reached their camp, and the sentinels report the coming of the troops. A council of war is held, and a bold strategic plan decided upon. Head-dresses and blankets are mounted on sticks, which are thrust into the ground about the tepees. Making a detour, the Indians gallop madly toward the stockade, where the emigrants and settlers have taken refuge, under the protection of the small garrison left there. The soldiers fall into the trap. With a telescope, the Colonel sees the dummies and, believing them to be Indians holding a council, advances upon the camp. The chagrin of the soldiers increases their anger, as they realize they have been tricked, after making a fruitless charge into the deserted camp, and, suspecting the plan of the Indians they start back on the long ride to the fort. Knowing that the time to accomplish their purpose is limited, the Indians hurl themselves at the stockade with indescribable fury. Inside, every hand that can hold a gun is sending leaden messengers of death into the Indian ranks. Getting up from the hospital cot, Bob joins the defenders, and, forgetful of his painful wounds, plunges into the fray. Soon the Indians begin jumping over the top of the stockade, and terrific hand to hand combats take place. Bob grapples with a huge buck, but in his weakened state is overpowered, and as the Indian, throttling him with his left hand, raises his right with a deadly tomahawk in it, Eva leaps upon him and plunges a knife into his heart. As the tired horses thunder along, the troopers hear the shots and savage yells, and, conjecturing what is occurring at the stockade their mounts are not spared, but plunging the spurs into their flanks the soldiers swoop down on the Indians. With rage and resentment in their hearts they fight like demons, and the flashing sabers soon mark the end of the contest. The end of the film shows a sunset scene, with the lowering of the flag, with Bob and Eva thanking Providence for their deliverance.
- John Scott, a prospector, sells his mine for a large sum of money, and guarded by a posse of deputy sheriffs starts across the desert to the railroad. The party is attacked by bandits and all but Scott are killed. He, badly wounded, makes his escape, and the next day, perishing from thirst, falls unconscious. He is found by a band of Indians, who are prevented from destroying him by Young Deer, one of their number whom Scott had befriended, and who revives the white man. Scott offers his rescuer gold, but the Indian refuses to accept anything but a watch. Scott reaches his home safely and is joyously welcomed by his wife and daughter. Some time later Young Deer is sent to the government school and makes rapid progress, He wins the championship for the Carlisle baseball team and is lionized. Scott's daughter falls in love with him and Young Deer returns her affection. Scott is furious when Young Deer asks for his daughter's hand, and offends the sensitive young man, who at that moment recognizes Scott, recalls the saving of his life and produces the watch. Scott is overcome with remorse and finally decides to let the Indian wed his daughter, but he haughtily walks out of the house, goes back to his old life, discards civilized garments and weds a girl of his race.
- The Secret Service is baffled by a band that is smuggling in Chinese. The chief of the department has assigned Robert Wharton to take charge of the case and in spite of his utmost efforts the smugglers are still at large. William Harwood is chief clerk to the chief of the service, and on the side is connected with the smugglers. Claire Morton, one of the stenographers in the office, and Robert are sweethearts. The office is tipped off regarding the arrival of a ship from the Orient, suspected of carrying contraband Chinese, and the chief assigns Robert to the case. Kooeri and his men watch the ship and observe a gang unloading a cargo of big boxes. They are suspected and followed to their den, but the smugglers are too wary for them and the boxes, on being opened, contain merchandise. On making his report to the chief, Robert receives a reprimand and is told that he will be given one more chance. The Secret Service Office receives a call that night from the night watchman, and Robert with his men hurry to the scene. Howard, one of the smugglers, is shot. Robert picks up a yellow star one of the smugglers dropped, and is again reprimanded for his failure when he returns to the office. Howard does not appear at his desk the next day and Claire, who has been assigned to do his work, finds stationery bearing an imprint of the yellow star, a code book, and concludes that he is one of the smugglers. Robert turns in his resignation and the chief tells him that if he can apprehend the smugglers, he will make a big jump up the ladder of promotion. While wandering about the warehouses, he sees a gang of linemen at work, and showing his star, climbs to the top of a house and peers in. He sees men going into a secret room and each of them shows a yellow star like the one he has found. Robert leaves unnoticed by the gang. On his arrival at the office, Claire tells him of her discoveries. She pleads for a chance to take the letter to the smugglers on the pretext she comes from Harwood. He finally consents and she is successful in finding her way to their room. Robert and his men follow and hide nearby. When she starts to leave, one of the men insists on returning with her to Harwood to collect the money and she is powerless to resist. As soon as she and the smuggler come out, Robert conceives a plan, and calling an officer to his aid, captures the man and Claire. The smuggler escapes, however, and hurries to Harwood and tells of his experience. Harwood accompanies him back to the den. Claire tells of her experiences and Robert plans to capture the gang that night. She again returns to the house, and says Harwood was short of money, when Harwood himself steps out. She is bound and gagged. Meanwhile, Robert and his men have surrounded the place and have a revenue cutter nearby. In the excitement the trap in the floor is opened and Claire falls through. Bob sees her in the water, and diving in, saves her. He then gives the signal and his men rush in. The gang is all run in and Robert insists that all the credit is due to Claire, but she, happy in the thought of his promotion, modestly refuses the credit and tells the chief that it is due to Robert's aggressive ability.
- William Wallace, an American circus owner, visits Central Africa to hunt wild animals with which to replenish his menagerie. His daughter, Marie, and his trainer Steve Larson, accompany him. They arrive in Kronjez, a small village, and Wallace makes arrangements with one, John Plymton, a local hunter, to secure for him a number of wild animals and to pilot him to the best hunting grounds. Plymton proves so congenial that Wallace promises him a permanent engagement in America if their hunting expedition is successful, which it proves to be, beyond even Wallace's expectations. Larson, the trainer, is infatuated with Marie, who, however resents his attentions. Plymton's interest in Marie, and his success in the hunt, arouses the jealousy of Larson, and excites in him a desire for revenge. He watches closely for an opportunity to crush Plymton, and feels that Fate is working with him when he sees his rival being chased by a man-eating lion. The timely shot of Wallace who arrives on the scene not a moment too soon, saves Plymton's life. It is with difficulty that Larson conceals his anger at this frustration of his hopes to rid himself of Plymton. When, however, the hunting party has succeeded in catching a ferocious lioness, Larson brings one of the helpers to free the lioness, believing that it will attack Plymton. The helper is repaid for his treachery by being chased himself by the lioness. He is badly lacerated and torn. In this sorry plight, feeling that he will not recover, the helper accuses Larson, and so indignant and angry does Plymton become at such diabolical treachery that he drives Larson from the camp. The next day Larson meets a company of Arab slave traders, and persuades them to attack the hunters, promising they will be well rewarded with both slaves and plunder. The Arabs willingly act on Larson's suggestions, and when they come upon Wallace, Plymton and their party, a pitched battle takes place in which the Arabs are successful. Larson seeks out Marie and is in the act of carrying her off when Plymton's elephant, which has been kindly treated by Marie, comes to her rescue by attacking Larson and throwing him over a cliff. The elephant, having accomplished this, returns to Marie, picks her up and carries her to Plymton's house. In the meantime, Plymton has succeeded in saving himself and Wallace from the Arabs, and they arrive in Kronjez in flight from their Arabian pursuers, but grieving over the fate of Marie and the loss of their associates. The failure of the expedition and all else, however, is forgotten in their joy at finding that Marie has been carried home by the elephant.
- Captain Alverez is the captain commanding the Spanish forces that are stationed at Manila at a certain fort that is essential to the Americans, who are invading the city. The captain is a dissolute sort of man, and in spite of the fact that his wife is pretty, he prefers the company of the other officers and spends all his time in gambling. One day the Senora gets sick and calls the American army surgeon, who is in camp nearby. As yet there are no actual hostilities between the armies. The doctor comes and a mutual interest arises between the two. Then comes the actual battle, and the captain, fearful that his wife is going to give away some secret to the enemy, locks her up in a barn. There she finds a dead soldier and dresses up in his uniform. In the meanwhile the battle has been raging and there is not much to choose between the two armies. Lieut. Jones, although with the medical corps, is fighting with the troops, and they are in great danger from the battery that is commanded by Alverez. So the Senora gets a barrel of powder, and making a hole in it, rolls it toward the battery. Then she lights the trail that the powder makes, and the whole battery and her husband as well are blown to kingdom come.
- Black Wolf, a brave, wants Whispering Water to be his squaw. Whispering Water is afraid of this taciturn Indian and refuses. He tries to carry her off but is stopped by another Indian, Brave Heart, and there is a savage light in which Black Wolf is worsted. He appeals to the chief to banish Brave Heart. The young brave has his arm bound, is blindfolded and cast out. He wanders about and falls into a deep hole. Wally is visiting his sweetheart Milly. He rides away, and bearing the Indian's cries goes to him, releases him, attends to his wounds and, putting him on his horse, takes him back to camp. Sometime later Wally and Milly's father go hunting, and Black Pete calls at the cabin. He is a lawless man without respect for anyone. He kisses Milly and would pay her further unwilling attention when Brave Heart, fishing near at hand comes upon the scene and worsts the bad man. Black Pete goes to the Indians, presents the Chief with a rifle and interests him in his revengeful project. He leads a band of Indians to the cabin, seizes Milly and has Brave Heart thrown over a cliff. The Indians then set fire to the cabin and dance around it. Brave Heart's fall is broken by some bushes. He climbs up the cliff and unseen runs off to the trapper's camp, where he finds Milly's father and Wally. The whole outfit mounts and rides to the rescue. They reach the charred cabin, find the trail of the fleeing marauders and pursue them. They come up with them at nightfall, surround the camp, ambush the Indians and kill a number of them. Brave Heart hunts for Black Pete and in a hand-to-hand fight kills him and takes Milly in triumph to Wally, who folds her in his arms.
- Jeanne La Roche lives alone with her brother in the great northwestern country. Jacques is a ne'er-do-well and has fallen under the suspicion of the mounted police, two of whom are dispatched to arrest him for robbery. The stolen goods are found in his home. Jeanne is too young to be left in their lonely cabin, so she is taken to the post, where the wife of the proprietor welcomes her and gives her a home. Several years later, Donald McLean wins her for his wife. Meantime Jacques escapes from prison, eludes his pursuers and takes refuge in McLean's home. Recognizing him, Jeanne hides him until she has dispensed with the police, then carries food and drink and an exchange of clothes to him and bids him an affectionate farewell. McLean, upon returning, sees his wife in another man's arms. He shoots the stranger, leaving him for dead; locks his wife in the cabin and proceeds to the tavern to drown jealousy in drink. Meantime, Jacques, recovering consciousness, staggers off. Jeanne, angered by the unreasoning anger of her husband, disguises herself in an old suit of his, steals out through the window, discovers her brother has gone and follows his footprints. McLean, returning, finds both gone, apparently together, and starts after them. Jacques is taken care of by a friendly Indian and Jeanne finds refuge in the home of Cox. Mrs. Cox is touched by her story and has Jeanne in her arms when Cox enters. Cox, seeing the affection displayed by his wife toward a strange "man," shoots and wounds the girl. Explanations follow and Jeanne is given a home with them. Fully recovered, Jacques, with much money from a trapping trip, through the northern woods, grows reckless and returns to see his sister, only to find her gone. He makes his way to the tavern, where a poker game is in progress. He flashes his money and is followed and murdered by a half-breed. Suspicion falls on McLean. He is arrested and taken to police headquarters. Meantime the half-breed, sorely wounded in the encounter which proves fatal to Jacques, staggers to the home of Cox, confesses his crime, and tells of the arrest of McLean. She arrives in time to save him and all ends happily.
- Jack Rance and Bess Shackelton, an engaged couple, are part of a party of settlers, moving westward. The settlers' camp near a band of Sioux Indians. Chief Eagle is picking herbs when he sees the wagon and prairie schooners in the valley below. As he hastens to his tribe, the bridle rein breaks, and Eagle is thrown and badly injured. He is found by his devoted squaw, but she cannot lift him. Jack and Bess are out riding. They come across Eagle and Dark Feather, and, seeing his bad plight, lift him on his horse and take him back to their camp and attend to his injuries. Dark Feather, believing that Eagle is being taken a captive, rides into the Sioux camp, and gives the alarm. The Sioux thereupon ride swiftly to the settlers' Camp and attack it. Eagle hears the war whoop, and, crawling painfully from his packet, he makes himself known and stops the attack. During the short fight, a half-breed steals through the wagon lines, and attempts to abduct Bess, but Eagle appears and commands him to go. Jack and Bess go to get water, the olla breaks, and Jack returns to camp to get another, leaving Bess to await his return. Boyd and two Indians find her and ride off with her, but they are seen by Dark Feather who gives the alarm. Eagle overtakes the half-breed, who transfers Bess from his horse to one ridden by one of his Indians. He and Eagle fight on horseback and the half-breed falls. Jack and several Indians intercept the half-breed's companions and rescue Bess and take the abductors prisoners. Eagle and Dark Feather ride to the settlers' camp with Jack and Bess, and are amply rewarded with a big dinner.
- The old blind chief, believing it time to appoint a new chief to succeed him, selects Swift Wind, his son. The latter is promised the beautiful Rainbow for his squaw, and thereby incurs the enmity and hatred of the warrior Black Ox, his half-brother, and Dark Cloud, the latter's mother. Black Ox and Dark Cloud plot to get the chieftainship away from Swift Wind, and Dark Cloud steals Swift Wind's fur covering and bear's tooth necklace and puts them on Black Ox. The two enter the old chief's tepee and make him believe that Black Ox is Swift Wind, and the old man orders Dark Cloud to put his head dress, necklace and other articles on Black Ox. As they emerge from the tepee Dark Cloud encounters Rainbow, claps her hand over the astonished maiden's mouth and drags her from the scene. Black Ox is acclaimed the new chief and the Indians greet him. The feast is prepared, and while it is in progress Swift Wind returns. He scents the treachery and, after a desperate knife fight with Black Ox, he succeeds in telling the old chief of the deception. The chief commands silence and summons the tribe, and is about to address them when the dread call comes and he falls dead. Despite his protests Swift Wind is banished and the struggling and heart-broken Rainbow is held by Black Ox and his mother, Dark Cloud. Swift Wind wanders in the desert and suffers from hunger and thirst. He is eventually rescued by a company of trappers, who take him with them. Later Black Ox and his warriors attack the trappers' camp, and as Black Ox scales the defenders' stockade he comes face to face with Swift Wind. They have a knife duel, and as Swift Wind is about to kill his rival he is wounded by a shot from the outside, and Black Ox escapes. Dark Cloud shows Rainbow her wedding dress, and the latter watches her chance and escapes, after half strangling Dark Cloud. She meets the trappers on their way to punish the Indians, and mounts behind her lover, Swift Wind. The Indians suffer defeat, and Black Ox is banished and Swift Wind is proclaimed the chief of the tribe, and the trappers and Indians smoke the pipe of peace.
- Showing the trail of civilization across the western country, the emigrant train, the Cooper family, the treachery of the Indians, the capture of Helen Cooper and the daring attempt to rescue her, resulting in his capture and being made to run the gauntlet and forced to undergo torture by the squaws. Thrilling rescue of the prisoners from the Indian camp, sensational battle, as the emigrants swoop down on the redskins, wonderful acting by star artists in the leading parts, massive and colossal cast, amazing in grandeur and magnificence, stages in scenes of wild and wondrous beauty.
- Gray is seated with his little one on the lawn when word is brought to him that he must sail for foreign shores. He calls to his wife, and their parting is full of pathos. He goes with the sailor who brought the message, and they board the vessel. His wife, who is disconsolate at the separation, turns from the consolation a friend offers. He some little time later brings the news of the wreck of the vessel her husband sailed on. She reads that none survived, and falls, weeping, into a chair. The man leaves her with reluctance, to conquer her grief. We see, however, that Gray, floating on a raft, was cast ashore on an island. Some years pass, and he is seen trying to attract the attention of a passing ship. Failing in this, he shows desperation. The wife, who believes Gray dead, visits the grave with her child and friend to place flowers upon it. After returning home, he tells of his love, but she turns from him, into the house, where she puts the linen she has ironed into a basket. This he carries for her, despite the fact that she is loath to accept his assistance. Gray, who has been successful in getting away from the island, returns home and sees his wife and child accompanied by her friend. He later sees them at the graveyard arranging flowers, and when the little one remains alone he goes to the grave and sees that it is to his memory. He falls across it, and the child runs for her mother, who returns. Both she and her friend recognize Gray. There is a happy reunion of the family, the other man taking leave of them. Husband, wife and child return home to forget the many years of sorrow.
- Joe Carlisle sells his trading vessel and visits his friends, the Marks family. He finds that Ed Marks, the eldest boy, is sick and when the doctor recommends that he go west, Joe persuades the family to join him. They agree and Joe together with Mrs. Marks, Ed and his sister Jess, and the two children Dick and Gertie, start in a covered camp wagon. On the way they are attacked by Indians, but beat them off. The children admire the tattoo mark on Joe's arm and persuade him to tattoo their arms in the same way. They build a log cabin and settle down to western life keeping on good terms with the surrounding Indians, until one day Joe surprises Moon Face stealing a hatchet and orders him off the place. Moon Face treasures a grudge and one day swoops down upon the children while they are at play and carries off little Gertie. Dick runs home with the news and the Indian is pursued, but without success. The family mourn the loss of Gertie. Ten years pass by and Dick grows into a handsome youth. He goes out hunting with his chum Cy. They happen on an Indian camp and are both smitten with the charms of the Chief's daughter Star Eyes. Their visits are repeated and Dick notes with regret that Cy possesses the first place in the girl's affections. Cy asks the Chief for the hand of Star Eyes and is ordered away. Star Eyes runs away and joins Cy. The escape is discovered and several Indians follow them and, in a running fight Cy is wounded in the arm. Star Eyes, from their stand point of vantage, keeps the Indians at bay until a posse of cowboys, led by Dick and Joe appears and the Indians are routed. Star Eyes is wounded in the arm, and when Joe splits her sleeve he discovers the tattoo mark and Star Eves is no more, But Gertrude takes her place and the family rejoice.
- The Cheyennes open up hostilities by fatally wounding a lone Sioux warrior. His horse carries him to the Sioux camp, where he tells the story of the attack and expires. The Sioux go on the warpath and in a fierce battle Big Thunder is captured by the Cheyennes. His sweetheart, by tricking a Cheyenne brave, enters the Cheyenne village and cuts Big Thunder's bonds. The lovers escape, but are hotly pursued. Brought to bay, and fighting for their lives, they are rescued by the Sioux warriors, who swoop down upon the Cheyennes and defeat them in an exciting battle.
- Jack Marston is the sheriff of a western town and Jennie, his sister, is postmistress and operator at the stage station. Among the inhabitants of the town is an Indian breed. An outcast from his own people, he is looked down upon by the race of his adoption, although his education has included a college course. The express company has posted a reward for the apprehension of one Apache Kid and his band of fellow robbers. The next night the band arrive in the town and hold up one of the main saloons. Peggy, a dance hall girl, takes the fancy of the leader, the Apache Kid, and he abducts her and takes her with them when they make their escape. After dividing the loot the band separates. The Kid takes Peggy and hides in the nearby hills. The sheriff and his party pursue the bandits, but lose them in the rocky canyons. The breed has accompanied the posse and wanders off alone to trace the bandits in his own way. The sheriff, too, becomes separated from his men and is seen by the Apache Kid. The bandit captures the sheriff and leaves a note to the posse, telling them to quit searching for the bandits and to bring him five thousand dollars under penalty of finding the sheriff shot full of holes. The posse, realizing the life of the sheriff is in danger, hurry back to the town to raise the money, but the bandits' haul has been such a large one that there is hardly five thousand dollars left in the town. Jennie wires to the nearest express office, telling them to send the money, and arranges relay horses so as to get the money before sunrise next morning. Next morning the Kid is awaiting the sunrise to see whether he kills the sheriff or not. Through an accident, the breed locates the hiding place and attacks the bandit. His superior strength prevails and the bandit is thrown over the cliff. Jennie has received the money, and accompanied by a posse, makes all haste to take the money to the Apache Kid. Her surprise and joy are unbounded when the party meet the breed, Peggy and the sheriff returning. They learn of the bandit's death and the bravery shown by the breed. The sheriff recalls his debt to the breed and regrets the humiliating remarks made to the latter when he had warned him to stay away from the girl. As the story ends, the girl finds her trust in the breed was justified and the others begin to look upon him with more respect and honor.
- While the red men are on a hunting trip the village is attacked by a hostile tribe and White Fawn is captured and carried away. When her lover returns, he follows the enemy closely. White Fawn is made a slave, and is beaten and abused. She meets her lover, jumps into his canoe and they are off, pursued by the enraged Indians. Beautiful water scenes are shown as a canoe battle is fought, White Fawn's tribe coming up and defeating the enemy.