- Episode 1: "The Leopard's Mark" "Peg o' the Rine" opens with a prologue depicting the arrival of a circus in a small town, the detraining, selection of the location, erection of the tent and the preparation of all of the paraphernalia for the exhibition of the show. As the hour of the performance approaches, we are introduced to Peg, known as Peg o' the Ring, an aerial performer; Flip, her guardian and supposed father; Pierre Durand, an athlete, her lover; Big Bill Barnen, who runs the show; and Polo, an athlete and tumbler, preparing for their work in the ring. As Peg and Durand go to their dressing rooms Big Bill Banen meets Flip and tells him that he would like to see him before the day is out. In his office in one of the circus wagons Barnen tells Polo, his henchman, that for certain reason he would like to have Flip out of the way. Polo is agreeable. When Flip comes in Barnen sends everyone else out of the office and brings the conversation around to Peg. He is the only one in the circus who suspects that she is not Flip's daughter. After telling Flip that he is getting too old for the circus stunts, he suggests that he might keep him if he will tell him who Peg really is. Flip refuses and comes very near being throttled by Barnen. Flip leaves the wagon after telling the manager that he holds his whole future in the palm of his hand. Barnen resolves to get Flip out of the way, and tells Polo to pull a horse whip when Flip is in the ring that night doing his big jump, Polo obeys his orders implicitly, and Flip is fatally injured in his jump. Realizing that his hours are numbered he calls Pierre to him and starts to tell him who Peg really is. All unknown to them Big Bill Barnen is listening to them. "Years ago," says Flip, "we were in winter quarters. La Belle, the wild animal queen, had been feeling depressed for some time. I was nothing to her but a friend, but she was all the world to me. I was the only one in the circus who knew that she was secretly married to Dr. Lund, owner, but for reasons of his own the doctor had decided that the marriage must be kept a secret. It was this fact which made La Belle so downhearted. I tried in every way to cheer her up, but I knew in my heart that there was another woman in the doctor's life. I loved her too well to tell her, but I never had the courage to tell her of my love. I had watched over her like a child, and I cautioned her frequently against taking such chances in the cage with her wild animals. And that very night, it was the opening performance of the season, the big cats jumped on her, and before the trainers could get into the cage she had been dangerously hurt. How dangerously, none of us knew at the time. They took her into my tent, and she lay in my arms weeping. The first episode ends at this point with the question, "Who is Peg?"—Moving Picture World synopsis
- Episode 2: "A Strange Inheritance" Dr Lund, Jr., on board the circus train en route for the next town, with the unconscious Peg in the arms of Flip, the clown. About to enter the coaches in search of Peg, Lund is seen by some of the ring crew and not recognized as the owner's son, he is forced off the train despite his urgent attempts to convince them of his identity. Not to be put off without another effort to see the strange girl he had asked to marry him, Lund, Jr., starts out to walk to the next town. In the coach Peg regains consciousness but is unable to remember anything that has taken place. Flip, realizing Peg's strange inheritance, is becoming more anxious and tries to warn her, and watches her even more closely than before. Dr. Lund, Sr., unable to join the circus himself for fear of his wife, sends his man, a rough-neck and former employee of the circus, to watch Peg and try to get the letter from Flip, which he is sure will establish Peg's identity as his child. His wife, recognizing Peg as La Belle's daughter, sends a hired thug to get her out of the way, fearing that Peg will cheat her son out of some of his inheritance. Both roughnecks arrive at the circus at the same time, each ignorant of the other's identity or mission. Peg and Flip, in the practice ring, Peg with her big white horse and Flip watching her with loving pride, are ignorant of the destiny in store for them. In the meantime Dr. Lund, Jr., succeeds in getting to the circus grounds at the finish of the night's performance and makes another attempt to see Peg, but meets with the same reception he received in the morning. The roughneck sent by Dr. Lund, Sr., seeing him, tries to force him from the grounds. In the meantime the thug sent by Mrs. Lund succeeds in getting into Peg's room and tries to kidnap her. It is twelve o'clock, just when the change comes over her. Peg, in a rage, tears the clothes off the man. Her screams reaching young Lund's ears, he knocks the roughneck down and catches Peg in his arms in time to forestall the thug. He is about to take Peg out of the tent when Flip and the others come in. They ask her what is wrong and she turns on Lund and accuses him of trying to kidnap her, as the episode closes.—Moving Picture World synopsis
- Episode 3: "In the Lion's Den" Peg, unconscious in the arms of Dr. Lund, Jr., in the strange house, slowly comes to as he tries to escape with her, but to no avail. At the circus they miss her and start in pursuit, arriving at the house just as the ruffian tries to get Peg away from Dr. Lund, Jr. Flip and the others, after a hand-to-hand fight with the ruffians, succeed in getting Peg away on board the train. Peg accuses Dr. Lund, Jr., of kidnapping her while in one of her fits. In the rescue Dr. Lund, Jr., is left behind with the ruffians, who hide him in a box car. The gangster sent by Mrs. Lund follows the circus and Peg. In the box car Dr. Lund, Jr., succeeds in getting loose and escaping. He catches the circus train as it passes the boxcar he is in by jumping from the side door on to the moving train. Safely in the same train with Peg, and knowing that everyone thinks him guilty after Peg's insane accusation, he keeps under cover by hiding behind some baggage. Mrs. Lund's hired ruffian succeeds in boarding the circus train as it leaves the freight yards, in another attempt to get Peg. Peg has regained consciousness, but is unable to remember anything that has happened. Flip, fearful for her safety, stays close with her, not allowing her out of his sight. The ruffian, seeing this, and playing for time, sneaks through the train. Coming to the cage containing the animals, he fiendishly hits upon the idea of turning the animals loose in the train, thereby causing a panic and affording him an opportunity of getting Peg in the excitement. Watching his chance, he sneaks to the animal car and, loosening the locks, hides. The episode closes as the wild animals make their death dash through the cars.—Moving Picture World synopsis
- Episode 4: "The Circus Mongrels" Peg, left by the ruffians in the den with the lions, discovers Dr. Lund. Jr., in the water-filled pit below, and tries to find a way to rescue him. The ruffian and his gang feel that they have both Peg and Dr. Lund, Jr.. away, and he leaves to report to Mrs. Lund. At the circus Flip and the circus people are frantic over the loss of Peg, but have to stay with the show, feeling that she may get away from her captors and return to the circus. In the dive. Peg succeeds in rescuing Dr. Lund, Jr.. from the pit, and together they escape from the dive and start for the circus. Still following the circus, Pete, the man sent by Dr. Lund, Sr., to get the letter from Flip, tries again to gain possession of it, but to no avail. Flip, seeing Pete spying on him, substitutes a blank paper for the letter and hides the original. Pete succeeds in getting the false letter and leaves to report to Dr. Lund, Sr. Both ruffians report to the Lund home at the same time. Marcus telling Mrs. Lund that Peg is safe with the lions with "some guy who got fresh." She, thinking he meant Flip, is pleased and about to dismiss him, when they overhear a roar from the doctor in the next room and discover that Pete has returned with the false letter. Listening further, she sends Marcus to get the letter for her and he leaves to do her bidding. Pete asks leave to make another attempt to get the letter for Dr. Lund. Marcus, arriving at the circus, bides his time and begs a ticket for the performance, entering the ring just as Peg's old horse is brought on. He watches with intense interest to see who is to ride her horse. Staring, he cannot believe his eyes, as Peg herself runs into the ring and starts her act. Things go around in Marcus' head, as he sees the girl he thought dead with the lions, safely riding before him. Leaving the crowd he goes around to the dressing room to make sure, as Peg comes out. After watching a few minutes he sees her come out and run into the arms of the man who should be drowning in the pit, Dr. Lund, Jr.—Moving Picture World synopsis
- Episode 5: "The House of Mystery" At the end of the fourth episode, we find Peg looked in the circus box in the burning tent, with her only friend, Dr. Lund, Jr., unconscious near her. Dr. Lund regains consciousness only to find himself in the burning tent. Struggling to his feet, he looks for a means of escape, and is about to make try for the entrance of the tent when he is attracted by the muffled cries of a woman in distress. He finds that the noise comes from the box, and learns it is Peg. Nearly suffocated with the smoke and fire, he succeeds in cutting a hole in the tent, and with his fast-ebbing strength, he pulls the box through the hole and into the night and safety, while he falls exhausted nearby. The circus people, attracted by the fire miss Peg and search for her. Passersby see the unconscious Dr. Lund. Jr., and failing to revive him, send him to the hospital. In the excitement, some roughnecks see the box in which Peg is hidden, and. thinking it contains circus goods which they can convert into money, they take the box to their counterfeiting den. Marcus, with the letter he stole from Flip, tries to locate Mrs. Lund and receive his reward. Failing to find her at her home, he starts out to look for her. Peg, while in the box, feels herself taken through many passageways and secret entrance and finally laid in what seems to be a den of some kind. Listening, she learns she is in a counterfeiting den. She is not there long when her captors, or rescuers, try to open the box she is in. Breaking the locks, they are about to open it when several crooks run in and announce that the "Boss" has just been driven up outside. Leaving the box, they all rush upstairs. Feeling sure she is alone, Peg succeeds in getting out of her prison and hides behind a secret door. The gang enters with the "Boss," who is none other than Mrs. Lund. She warns them that the Secret Service are on their trail. In her hurry to leave, she loses her purse containing letters, etc., which are found by Peg after the roughnecks take Mrs. Lund upstairs. Keeping the purse for evidence against Mrs. Lund, Peg to starts to find a way out. Watching the others go through secret panels, she waits for an opportunity to do the same. In the meantime, Dr. Lund, Jr., escapes from the hospital, much to the worry of the doctors and nurses, and starts on a search for Peg. Arriving at the smoldering circus grounds, he makes inquiries regarding the box, and learns from some boys that the crooks took it to their den. Learning its location, he starts in pursuit. Peg, in the secret passage, starts to find a way out, when she feels a dampness and the floor slowly go down with her. Hearing running water she finds she is drawing near an underground river or sewer. Screaming for help, she is engulfed in the dark water.—Moving Picture World synopsis
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What is the English language plot outline for The Adventures of Peg o' the Ring (1916)?
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