- Susan Daubray's father, a judge, insists upon her reading law. Her brother, Robert, is her only real companion. She has a kind friend in Daddy Dorand, a goatherd on a neighboring island. Prince Michael of Sylvana is visiting the Duke of Valdimere, whose castle is near Susan's home. Susan meets the Prince and they become close friends. The Prince is called to Paris to meet Princess Sonia. He writes to Susan, but his letter is intercepted by the Duke, who disapproves of the acquaintance. Susan, unable to bear the sorrow of the loss of her friend, goes to the Duke's castle to learn the reason why the Prince does not write. While in the castle she faints and a ring which the Prince had given her is taken from her finger by the Duke and returned to its original owner, the Prince. The Prince thinks that Susan has forgotten him and he consents to marry the Princess. A baby is born to Susan and she is told by her father to leave his house. She goes with the goatherd to live. Her brother, who has gone to America, returns and, learning of the Prince's deceit, seeks him out an in a fight and he, the brother, is thrown over a balcony and killed. The Prince then learns of the intercepted letter and finds Susan and they are reconciled. Susan, after the reconciliation, is content to die in her happiness and drowns herself.—Joseph L. Kelley - Motion Picture News (1917)
- Susan Daubray, motherless, lives with her father and her brother Robert. She has a friend in Daddy Dorand, a goatherd. Near her home in Duke Vladimere's castle, where Michael, the Prince of Sylvanna is visiting. Michael meets Susan. The two fall in love with each other. Robert goes to America, where he becomes a mine operator. Susan and the Prince are often together in the secret grotto where she dreams her daydreams. One day the Duke see him kissing Susana. Michael makes a wreath and crowns the girl, using a ring which had always served as the token of an engagement in the Sylvanian Court. A letter recalls Prince Michael. The Prince goes to the grotto, but Susan does not appear. Giving a farewell letter to the Duke's servant, Michael departs. The Duke intercepts this letter. He says Michael asked him to bid her farewell. Susan is heartbroken. Michael, in Paris, is grief-stricken. Susan goes to the Duke for news of Michael. She swoons and the Duke takes Michael's ring. Susan comes to and pleads with the Duke to help her get a message to Michael. She misses the ring. The Duke forges a letter, presumably returning the ring. At a reception the Duke delivers this letter. The Prince breaks down, but the Duke tells him he must master his grief. Michael writes Susan, bidding her good-bye, and saying he will never see her again. When she reads it her faith is shattered. In her desperation she writes her brother. Her father, seeing the letter, drives her from the house. She goes to her grotto, where the goatherd finds her. A year later Susan, with her baby, is living in the goatherd's cottage. Princess Sonia, betrothed to Michael, is spending a week at the Duke's castle. The Prince arrives. They go to goatherd's island, where they find Susan's baby on a rock. Susan recognizes the Prince. When they left, she comes to her child, and tears up the note for 100 francs which had been left under the child's head. She tells the goatherd the Prince has been there. Michael tries to banish the memories that haunt him. Robert, home from America, learns of Susan's tragedy. He comforts her. He swears vengeance. Susan tries to dissuade him. He arrives at the Duke's castle during a reception, breaks through the guests, and tells Susan's story. Robert forces Michael out of the castle, and is seen struggling with him at the edge of a cliff. The Duke's servant shoots Robert, and he topples over. Susan sees her brother fall, and finds him dead. Bending over his body, Susan looks up to see Michael. She swoons. Her head strikes a rock. She is taken to the goatherd's cabin by the Prince. When she comes to the Prince is by her side, and she forgets that they had been separated, the shock having deranged her mind. She pays no heed to her child, but is very tender with Michael. She falls asleep in his arms. When the goatherd takes Michael to task, explanations ensue, and they realize the Duke's duplicity. The Duke explains it had been for his King and country. Michael leaves. He breaks his engagement with the Sonia, saying he must make amends for a great tragedy. Susan dresses in the clothes the Prince liked best. Michael again crowns her with, the daisies. She is delighted. She wanders along like a child, picking daisies. In trying to reach a flower her foot slips, and she falls into a stream and is carried down by the current. The old shepherd dog brings the goatherd and Michael to where Susan lies dead with her daisy-crown on her head. In later years Michael and his son go often to Susan's grave, which is at the mouth of the grotto.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content