The Biograph Company's work shows preeminently artistic construction; the choice of incident in its picture is good. The action is nearly always significant of human things and nearly always it is carried forward with a sweep. Biograph weakness shows itself in the relief. When the picture is nearly all tragic we are not moved deeply. It gets a strong hold when some contrast deepens the picture by relieving the tragic cloud as against the eternal calm, the blue sky of life. There are psychological reasons for this. The picture before us was taken in a lovely forest country and the camera has caught tome perfect views of it. The main thread is played by Claire McDowell and Henry Walthall with a second man, a very competent player. The Mary story, whose purpose was solely relief, is carried by a young player who wasn't quite up to it. As a whole, it makes a striking picture; but it deals almost wholly with passion and never reaches the deeper human interest. The worst that can be said of it is that it wasn't a very happy choice for a silent drama. It will astonish more than please. - The Moving Picture World, October 26, 1912
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