| Plot Summary |
A Western picture in a new setting; the scenes are laid on an Oklahoma cattle ranch. The foreman of the ranch is in love with the owner's daughter, and how near this love comes to costing him his life forms the basis of the story. Ranch scenes never before introduced to motion picture audiences are embodied in this strange tale of love and hatred. Mabel, the ranch owner's daughter, returns Jack's affection, and has long promised him a photo that he may have a picture resemblance to cheer him during the long hours he is forced to be away from her while attending to the vast herds of cattle under his charge. We see Mabel ride into the prairie town for the daily mail, and as she passes an itinerant photographer's cart she remembers her promise and secures a picture. Jack has a rival, an unscrupulous neighboring ranch owner. He meets Mabel as she comes from the photo wagon and begs for the picture. Mabel coolly tells him that she intends to give the photo to Jack, and the rival leaves, vowing vengeance. We then witness a meeting between the lovers as Mabel rides out where Jack is on duty. The rival also sees the two, and, maddened by a realization of the success of Jack in winning Mabel's love, he determines to be revenged. A daring plan occurs to him as he rides by the monster herd. He knows that Jack is just out of sight, "I'll stampede them over that rise of ground," and his trained eye takes in the distances at a glance. The cattle, several thousand in number, are stretched over a range of nearly a mile; a wide river winds its crooked way just below. Jack is reclining half asleep, still gazing at the pictured features of the girl he hopes soon to call his own. The coward strikes his spurs into the flanks of his mustang and in two minutes has reached the head of the herd. Ranch-raised cattle feeding are a peaceful sight, but only those who have lived among them and cared for them can realize how easily they can be turned into a living and irresistible flood. Once started, panic seizes them, and only tired nature can stop their mad flight. A few rapid shots, a quick sharp yell, and frenzy seizes the mass. They are off. Jack's trained ear notes the sound as the stampede starts. He rushes to the top of the valley's bank and looks for his horse, but too late; he has taken the alarm and is off like the wind down the valley. "My God! someone has started them. I haven't a chance on earth." You are wrong, Jack. The woman who loves you has seen the danger and also knows intuitively what has brought it upon you. She turns her horse and rides for the life she loves, and as Jack in despair watches the death he cannot avoid, approach, Mabel's voice reaches his dazed senses. "Get up behind; Pinto will save us. The boys have seen the cattle and will turn them." Jack reaches the camp with the half-fainting girl and tells the story of the stampede, and with but little respect for the law the cowboys would have made short work of Jack's rival. However, justice seldom goes amiss where men and women live close to nature, and the neighbor gets his deserts to everybody's satisfaction.
Written by Moving Picture World synopsis
|
