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- The scene opens with an assembly of citizens who are harangued by one of their number, whose words have great weight with the crowd, and their attitude of approval shows that Roman misrule in Jerusalem has reached its climax. Heralds now approach and Roman soldiers beat back the crowd to make way for the approach of the Roman Procurator. The scene changes to the home of Ben Hur, who is seen with his sister and mother on the house top. The cavalcade of Roman troops approaches, and to get a near view Ben Hur leans from the coping and knocks down one of the stones thereof onto the shoulder of the Procurator. This is seen and misconstrued by the Governor, who orders soldiers to arrest the inmates; they, after ineffectual pleas and struggles, are carried off. Ben Hur is consigned to the galleys, where he is loaded with chains. Here he signalizes himself by saving the life of Arrias, who publicly adopts him as his son and proclaims him a Roman citizen amidst the acclamations of the assembled crowd in the forum. Now comes the scene in the games where Ben Hur is challenged by Messala, and accepts it, to the great delight of the citizens. The chariots and athletes parade before the dais and in due time are arranged, and the chariot race commences. Three times 'round the ring dash the chariots, and at the fourth turn Ben Hur comes out the victor and is crowned with the wreath, to the great, chagrin of Messala, who is borne on a stretcher, wounded to death.
- Jim wishes to make an impression upon Jane, his sweetheart. He calls upon her in a taxi, which he forgets to dismiss when he enters the house. Judge Holden, Jane's father, dislikes Jim and leaves the house when the boy calls. Later, when Jim leaves he faces a taxi bill he cannot pay. He is arrested and taken before Judge Holden. Jane calls to see her father and arrives while Jim is being tried. Jim is fined. Jane saves him from jail by slipping him the money with which to pay his fine. The chauffeur and the judge dive for the money. Holden gets it and pockets it, after which he discharges Jim. Jim is elected town marshal. He elopes with Jane. Judge Holden pursues the pair. Jim allows him to catch up and then arrests him for speeding. He places handcuffs on the Judge and has him arraigned in his own court. A substitute judge fines Holden. The humor of the situation appeals to Judge Holden. As Jim and .lane are leaving the court, he calls them back. Surprised, the two return. Turning to the substitute judge, Holden laughingly orders him to perform the marriage ceremony.
- Helen, informed of the danger which menaces an excursion train because another engine on the same track is running wild, mounts a motorcycle and speeds down the track to warn the passengers of their imminent peril.
- The Chinese Slave Smuggling scene opens up in the midst of a wood in which a shanty is hid; there appears upon the scene a Chinese Potentate, who is stealthily drawing nearer to the door of the shanty, and knocks in a peculiar manner. Lieutenant Manly, who has had his suspicions aroused, appears at this moment, peering around the corner of the shanty, and sees the Chinaman admitted by the captain of the sloop, after which Lieutenant Manly comes forward and looks through an aperture, and, seeing them about to reappear, he hides again. The door then opens, with the captain of the sloop and the Chinaman dragging a Chinese girl between them. At this point a controversy takes place between the Chinaman and the captain of the sloop, about the money to be paid for smuggling the girl, but the captain refuses to allow the girl to go unless he is paid in full. They re-enter the shanty and settle this matter, leaving the girl alone. At this point the lieutenant, seeing the coast clear, runs up to the girl and informs her that he will render her assistance. The two captors then re-appear upon the scene, and Lieutenant Manly again hides. They now drag the girl away, but they are followed at a distance by the lieutenant. The scene is now changed to the Coast Guard Station, with a coast guard performing sentry-go. The lieutenant rushes up and explains to the sentry his errand, and goes into the station, and, calling his comrades, he explains to them what he has discovered, and soon re-appears in the disguise of a common seaman. The next scene is aboard the sloop, and the men are seen quarreling amongst themselves. The captain and the Chinaman are seen coming along with the Chinese girl between them, and the sailors assist in getting the girl aboard. Just as they are about to sail, the disguised lieutenant springs aboard, and after a little parley is engaged as one of the crew. As soon as this matter is settled, orders are given to sail. While they are busily engaged, the lieutenant advances to the girl, tells her to be of good courage, but in this act he is observed and is felled by the marline spike of the captain; he lies on the deck in a swoon while the girl is beaten. The information given at the Revenue Station has caused the officers to bring out the cutter and they give chase to the sloop. We see them gradually drawing nearer, but as yet they are not observed by those on the sloop. The girl, turning to her rescuer, tries to revive him with cold water, bathing his face; this soon revives him from his swoon. Hearing steps, he feigns unconsciousness again, and the girl assumes her attitude of dejection. The Chinaman then appears and offers his attentions to the girl, but she repulses him, but he calmly smokes his pipe and puts his arm around her waist. At this moment the revived lieutenant strikes the Chinaman, and gives him a dig in the arm with his knife, and then lies back in a supposed swoon. The Chinaman then calls the captain of the sloop, and, with his marline spike, attempts to strike the prostrate form of the lieutenant, but the girl interferes and prevents the blow. The revenue cutter is now seen drawing nearer and nearer to the sloop, and the revenue men are seen training their guns upon the sloop. This takes the attention away from the couple, and they prepare to fight off the onslaught of the revenue men, but the men on the sloop are soon over-powered by the revenue men, who take charge of the sloop and rescue the girl and Lieutenant Manly. -- The Moving Picture World, October 5, 1907
- A reel of mirth-provoking stunts that will draw the pennies from the children, but which is of much interest to young and old alike. It opens with a crowd of children leaving school and marching through the streets to the "Humpty Dumpty Circus." We see them crowd into the tent and at the end of each act they vociferously applaud the performers These are the little wooden toys that are familiar to all, and which are made to perform all the usual acrobatic stunts of the circus performer in a remarkably realistic manner. Some of the scenes are really comical and it is hard to believe that the elephants and donkeys are not alive.
- An account of the life of Jesus Christ according to the New Testament, told as a series of tableaus interspersed with Bible verses.
- Harold is ensnared by the wiles of Sybil, an adventuress. The boy forgets Helen, his country sweetheart. Sybil's influence over him is so evil that he can no longer apply himself to his work. His employer finally discharges him. When Harold's money is gone, the adventuress throws him over. He becomes a drunkard. Helen, failing to hear from him, comes to the city, where she secures a position. Harold decides to become a hold-up man. To pass away the time before midnight, he goes to a theater where Bert French and Alice Eis are presenting their famous "Vampire Dance." The characters are an artist and a vampire, in the guise of a wood nymph. Harold sees the artist attracted by the beautiful creature and then his struggles as he realizes what the result of the fascination must inevitably be. The victim beats her in his frenzy of fear, but is irresistibly drawn into the coils by the vampire's fiendish wiles. The vampire fascinates the man by her beauty and lures him toward a forest dell There the horrible creature succeeds in taking his life. Harold feels that a veil has been torn from his eyes. He seems to have reviewed his life with Sybil, and vows to reform. He succeeds in regaining his position and once more takes his place among men. The boy learns of Helen's presence in the city, but can find no trace of her. Sybil, learning of Harold's prosperity, attempts to drag him into her net once more, but the boy, with the memory of "The Vampire Dance" before him, resists her efforts. That night he finds Helen, and to insure his reformation, proposes immediate marriage. His sweetheart consents, and the knot is tied.
- Old Tom Wells, a victim of drink, is unable to pay the rent when young landlord Steve arrives; his stormy interview is broken by the appearance of Tom's daughter Alice, whom the landlord has made many unsuccessful efforts to court. Alice, who has given her promise to Martin, an industrious young farmer, entreats with her father to overcome his weakness. Wells, knowing he will he dispossessed, becomes desperate and starts for the village to secure money. He is tempted to steal Steve's horse, but is discovered by the landlord, who declares that he will have the old man imprisoned if he does not force Alice to consent to the marriage. The unhappy father therefore refuses to permit Martin to visit Alice, to whom he explains that he is in the landlord's power. Alice sacrifices her happiness and marries Steve. Wells makes his home with the young couple but finds that he is in the way. Steve is harsh, often cruel, and the old man is finally obliged to leave the farm. Meanwhile, heartbroken Martin leaves for the village, unable to bear the sight of the old places where he has known so much happiness. Wells, in his journey, falls by the wayside and dispatches a note to Martin, beseeching him to look after the unhappy daughter. Steve meets a young woman with whom he determines to elope and he returns home to secure his money. He discovers Alice weeping over an old photograph of Martin and attacks her. Martin, fulfilling his trust, arrives on the scene and is confronted with Steve's revolver. In the struggle the pistol is accidentally discharged and the unfaithful husband is killed. As the days pass. Martin;s true love makes Alice forget her past unhappiness.
- The Rev. Elbert Lawrence, feeling his duty lies farther south among the savage tribes of Africa, departs with his daughter from the settlement near Luxor, Egypt, to a new scene of labor. Several weeks later the missionaries arrive at their new field. At the first religious service, the natives show considerable interest and the chief orders all his tribesmen to attend. The chief wins Faith's confidence and begs for private instructions. While Faith is doing her best to teach the dusky African, he, on his part, is falling desperately in love with the white girl and determines that she shall be his wife. The chief brings presents and asks the Rev. Lawrence for the hand of his daughter. When his gifts are refused and his suit declined, he orders his tribesmen to fall upon the missionary and they take the girl captive. They arrive at the village of the tribe on the desert and Faith, recognizing her danger, decides to take her own life, thus surrendering her soul to the keeping of her Maker.
- Rant and his daughter, Julia, two stranded thespians, pick up an old newspaper and read of a wonderful mummy, discovered by a European scientist in Egypt, which has retained its remarkable beauty for centuries. This gives Rant an idea. Julia is to represent the mummy and Rant, as the professor, will deliver a lecture. They secure the co-operation of a medicine faker, who has found business dull, and his tent is used as an auditorium. The scheme works splendidly until one of the boys falls in love with the mummy and the constable concludes that the professor is disturbing the peace. Dr. Quack, the faker, runs off with receipts and only the timely interference of the cowpunchers prevents Rant and his daughter from being arrested.
- Lured by Diana, Katherine runs away from home. The foolish girl is soon drawn into the whirlpool. She meets Mace, a notorious man-about-town, and is fascinated by him. Doctor Busby, an insane physician, recognizes in Mace the man who had caused his daughter's death. Shortly afterward, Katherine discovers Mace's real character. Wild with rage, she stabs him. Believing herself to be a murderess, Katherine flees. The crime occurs opposite Busby's home. The doctor witnesses all that happens and carries the wounded man into his house. When Mace revives, he finds himself in the clutches of a madman who intends to torture him and thus avenge his daughter's death. In the meantime, haunted by fear, Katherine flees from place to place. Sleep is denied her. Half-crazed, she pours her tale into the ears of Father Richard, a priest. At his suggestion Katherine surrenders herself to the police. The latter, however, unable to prove such a crime to have been committed, set the girl free. Katherine thereupon resolves to take the veil and enters upon her novitiate. Mace escapes from Busby's clutches. Frenzied by his frightful experience, he seeks the girl who was responsible for it. Mace traces Katherine to the convent. Forcing his way into the place, he comes upon the girl as she is praying for forgiveness. Her words cause the man to stay his hand. Katherine thus learns that she is not a murderess. Father Richard enters and witnesses the startling denouement. Dropping to her knees once more, Katherine, folding her hands in prayer, weeps tears of joy and thanksgiving.
- Marauding Cherokees attack the cabin of Jacques Videau, at the edge of the settlement. One of the pioneers witnesses the attack and rides for help. He notifies Francis Marion. The latter heads the settlers who go to the rescue. The Indians set Videau's home afire. The family rush out into the open to escape from the flames. All are promptly slain by the savages, with the exception of Mary, Videau's ten-year-old daughter. The chief of the Cherokees makes her his prisoner. The arrival of the settlers causes the Indians to retreat. Later, they ambush the pioneers. A terrific hand-to-hand battle takes place. Marion's heroism inspires the settlers to victory. The young leader rescues Mary from the Indians. His heart filled with pity for the poor, homeless orphan, Marion offers her a home with his sister, Mrs. Sharp. Mary becomes one of the family. Ten years later, Marion, now a Provincial Congressman, returns home to find that Mary has grown into glorious womanhood. He falls in love with her, but because circumstances seem to indicate that Gabriel, his nephew, and Mary are in love with each other, he conceals his affection. Balfour, a young Tory, also loves the girl. Gabriel comes upon him in the act of forcing his attentions upon Mary and fells him. A duel ensues. Attracted to the scene, Marion interferes. Balfour's taunts cause Marion to take Gabriel's place. He disarms the Tory and orders him off. News of Cornwallis's landing at Charleston is brought to Marion. He immediately organizes a body of partisan troops. They adopt the first American flag, the famous rattlesnake design with the words, "Don't tread on me," underneath. Marion offers the services of his men to General Gates, but that arrogant officer, styling the sturdy farmers as a band of vagabonds, declines to enlist them. At the same time, Balfour organizes a band of Tories to ravage the patriots' homes. General Marion and his men become a thorn in the side of the British. The Continentals learn that a British force will shortly pass near their rendezvous at Snow Island. Sallying forth, they ambush the English and capture the entire force. Marion also learns that Gates has been defeated by the British and is being held prisoner at the red coat encampment, some miles away. Dashing into the midst of the British with his force, he throws them into panic and rescues the Continental officer. Returning to his camp in the swamp, the "Swamp Fox" invites his captives to dinner. To their amazement, the English officers learn that the meal consists solely of baked potatoes served on a pine chip. Cornwallis sends Colonel Tarleton, known as "The Butcher," to capture "The Swamp Fox." Balfour offers to aid Tarleton to capture Marion's home and camp. A friendly innkeeper hastens to the Marion home and warns Mrs. Sharp of the British approach. Mrs. Sharp, her daughter and Mary flee to the home of Mrs. Motte for shelter. In his anger at finding his quarry flown, Tarleton vandalizes the house. The man then hastens to Marion's camp with his soldiers, but warned, the "Swamp Fox" makes his escape. Tarleton proceeds to Mrs. Motte's home, where he makes his headquarters after driving the inmates, with the exception of Mary, forth. At Balfour's behest, Tarleton charges the girl with being a dangerous spy. Marion learns of Mary's imprisonment. Furious, he determines to attack Tarleton. Just at this time, he receives a small cannon as a gift from General Washington. The "Swamp Fox" surrounds the Motte home. Unaware that the ladies have been driven forth, he sends Gabriel forward with a flag of truce, requesting Tarleton to remove Mrs. Motte, his sister and children before he commences the attack. The little cannon bravely answers the fire of the heavy British artillery. Unaware that Mary is a prisoner in the house, Marion has one of his men set the place afire with burning arrows. Balfour sees that the Continentals will prove victorious. Entering the room in which Mary is confined, he tells her of his intention to kill her. Just at this moment, Marion and his men sweep the British before them in a desperate charge. Balfour is just about to slay Mary, when Marion and his men burst into the room. One of the men shoots as Balfour raises his pistol. The Tory falls dead. Two months later, the surrender of Cornwallis clears the south of the British. Marion writes his sister that he is about to return. Mary hears the news with delight. Marion comes home. Believing that Mary was in love with Gabriel, he strives to express his sympathy for her bereavement. To his intense surprise, Mary throws her arms about his neck. Knowing him too diffident to propose, the girl pops the question. For a moment the "Swamp Fox" is taken back. Then, filled with delight, he seizes her in his arms.
- Side-showman Jim Burke is attracted by the pretty face of Mary, a country girl who has come to the county fair, and he sends her a note proposing a meeting. The inexperienced country girl, flattered by the showman's attention, joins him and they arrange to elope. Burke's sweetheart Lazelle overhears the conversation and tells Mary's suitor John of the proposed elopement. John goes to warn Mary's parents but finds they have gone to the fair. Running down the road, John meets Mary's father and mother on the way back from the fair. He tells them of Mary's proposed elopement and states that a strange buggy has just driven down the road toward the depot. A wild ride toward the railroad station takes place and Mary's parents arrive just as the young girl is about to board the train. The error she is about to make is impressed upon Mary and she agrees to return home. Just as the train is pulling out, Burke arrives, sees that his plans have been frustrated, and boards the last car. Realizing her fortunate escape, Mary concludes that John is a safer companion than a traveling showman.
- In the period before the Civil War, a young man returns to his hometown of New Orleans after having been gone for a long time. He soon meets and falls in love with an "octoroon", a young woman who is one-eighth black. However, since the "one-drop" laws--anyone having as little as one drop of "Negro" blood in them is still considered black, and therefore subject to be sold as a slave--are still in effect, the girl is sold at auction and purchased by an evil and murderous overseer. The young man sets out to free his love from the clutches of the evil slaver.
- Episode 1: "The Jackaroo" Maud Norman, the owner of the G Block Station, an Australian sheep run, points out to her manager, Glover, that her flocks have been seriously ravaged by the continued droughts of the past year. But her financial difficulties are somewhat lessened by the arrival of Jack Tabourdin, whose father sends Maud a check for one hundred pounds in payment for taking his son on as a "jackaroo" or apprentice on the sheep run. The following April when a payment of 500 pounds is due on the purchase of the sheep station, and Maud, foreseeing that, she will be unable to meet the payment, advertises for sale her favorite horse, Polly. Stingaree, the gentleman bushranger, and his partner, Howie, read this advertisement, and Stingaree decides that he must have Polly. Tabourdin, the jackaroo, overhears Maud and Glover discussing the sale of Polly. He remembers a handbill advertising 500 pounds reward for the capture of the bushranger, Stingaree. He wonders if he could spare Maud the loss of her favorite horse by capturing the outlaw. He receives an opportunity to do so, when, during the absence of Maud and Glover, Stingaree and Howie arrive at the station to get the horse. He fires at them as they are entering the stable. They run away, but by a subterfuge they make the jackaroo a prisoner. They take him to their camp, and are overjoyed to find that the jackaroo pursued them on the horse they had sought. In camp the jackaroo tells Stingaree the reason for his attempt to capture the bushranger. Stingaree, always too chivalrous to see a woman in trouble, proposes a plan to Howie and sends him away to the Kangaroo Hotel at Topanga. Then, feigning carelessness, he allows the jackaroo to make him a prisoner and take him to the troopers' quarters at Topanga, where Stingaree is locked up, and the jackaroo departs with his 500 pounds reward. Howie bursts into the Kangaroo Hotel at Topanga and holds up the bar. There is a trooper present, and Howie allows him to sneak away to give the alarm to the other troopers. The troopers rush away from the barracks, leaving only one man to guard Stingaree. Arriving at the hotel, they see what is apparently Howie riding away. They give pursuit and overtake the horse, only to find it is carrying only a dummy of straw, which Howie has rigged up for the occasion. Howie hurries to the barracks, where he overpowers the one trooper left in charge of Stingaree, and helps his partner to escape. Stingaree and Howie ride back to their old haunts, while the jackaroo returns to the G Block Station and persuades Maud to accept the 500 pounds as a loan to pay off the note on the sheep run.
- After being chased around by a cop for being vagrants, Ham and Bud take jobs in an unscrupulous sausage maker's shop. The secret of his hot dogs is they're made with REAL dogs, which Bud catches and Ham puts into a machine where they come out link sausage.
- A boy from Ireland comes to America and makes good, but he doesn't forget the poverty he left behind. He returns to rescue his sweetheart just as her family is about to be evicted from their land.
- As heiress to a large fortune, Marguerite is able to satisfy her love for beautiful clothes and a taste for adventure, while confronted by a multitude of schemers and gangsters bent on reducing her to poverty.
- On an old, cluttered work ship, a man is helped on with a bulky, old fashioned diving suit. It's a complicated process, many layers and sections are carefully applied. He goes over the side. Some men row out to what looks like a wrecked barge and set dynamite. Then the diver returns and now laughs and acknowledges the camera.The other men, now safely away, blow up the barge.
- Dr. Latham, a demented scientist, who believes that life can be artificially created in an inanimate object, is killed while conducting an experiment. His nephew, Felix, a skillful woodcarver, supports himself by selling wooden dolls to the guests at a nearby summer resort. Grown to manhood, Felix becomes engaged to Hilda, a neighbor's daughter. The girl is passionately fond of dancing. Hart, a professional dancer, who is stopping at the hotel, meets the girl. Informing Hilda of the great career which awaits her in the city, Hart induces her to elope with him. His sweetheart's flight drives Felix mad. He fashions a life-sized figure in Hilda's likeness and dresses it in her clothes. Mechanism inside the doll enables it to walk and dance. In the meantime. Hilda, married to Hart, finds him a cad. Following a quarrel, in which the man strikes her, Hilda returns to the mountain. Among his father's books. Felix finds a note in which it is declared that the spark of life can be implanted in a lifeless form by lightning. A violent storm comes up as Hilda approaches the house. A flash of lightning stuns Felix. Hilda, entering, removes the dry clothes from the doll and dons them. When Felix recovers consciousness he sees Hilda and believes her to be his doll come to life. Hilda, realizing Felix's plight, resolves to nurse him back to health. Hart discovers her whereabouts and goes to demand his wife. He enters the house while a storm is raging. Hart is about to seize the girl when a bolt of lightning kills him. Felix's sanity returns and he and Hilda gaze at each other in perfect trust and understanding.
- The bad blood existing between Reardon and Haley results in a fight in which Reardon is worsted. Reardon, vowing vengeance, climbs back aboard his engine while Haley resumes his station. The fight is witnessed by a number of railroad men. In climbing back to the water tank, Haley stumbles and falls between the cars. By a miracle, the man escapes death, but the shock leaves him temporarily demented. By the time Reardon discovers that his fireman has disappeared from his station, the train is several miles from the scene of the accident. A search is made for the missing man, but since Haley has taken refuge in the underbrush, it proves futile. Although Reardon is suspected of having done away with his fireman, lack of evidence keeps him out of the law's clutches. Shortly afterwards, Helen, in passing between two boxcars, comes upon the insane fireman. Leaping upon her, Haley knocks the girl unconscious and then lashes his victim to the driving rod of the freight engine. Climbing into the cab, Haley opens the throttle. The startled trainmen see the engine dashing down the track and wire ahead, ordering the tracks to be cleared. Reardon thus becomes aware of the runaway. A steep grade causes the engine to slow down as it approaches the crossing where the engineer waits. A flying leap and Reardon boards the locomotive. Haley leaves his throttle to attack the engineer. Reardon, however, catches the insane man squarely upon the jaw and knocks him unconscious. Springing into the cab, the engineer brings the locomotive to a halt just in time to avoid crashing into the Hendon express at the Thomas Crossing. Leaping to the ground, Reardon cuts the cords which bind Helen. The girl is unconscious as the result of her frightful experience, but soon revives.
- Simon Watson, devoid of conscience, has become wealthy through the manufacture of "Watson's Remedy." One day he is stricken with terror when he finds a bottle of the medicine in the hands of his little girl Helen, and he warns her never to touch it. But her curiosity is aroused and when her father has left for his office, she tastes the medicine and becomes violently ill. Young workman John Smith's little daughter Margaret is taken ill and her mother secures a bottle of the "remedy" at a drugstore. Instead of relieving the child's pain, the medicine causes her to lose consciousness and when the horrified father learns the cause, he determines to seek Watson's life. Smith forces his way into Watson's home and finds him at Helen's bedside. The revolver drops from the astonished workman's hand and the manufacturer hears the sound and steps into the next room, where he promises Smith that he will discontinue the manufacture of the "remedy," and skilled physicians succeed in restoring the health of the two children.
- Ellis, an intrepid young lieutenant, is located at the frontier post, Fort Bryson. He pays ardent court to General Fosters daughter, Gertrude, and is a prime favorite with his comrades. At a military ball Ellis steps out for a stroll and finds Lieutenant Allen annoying Mountain Dew, an Indian girl, who has been attracted by the music, and who has found innocent entertainment in watching the dances at the window. Ellis roundly denounces the thoughtless officer and his intercession in Mountain Dews behalf wins the girls gratitude. Some time later Mountain Dews father, Chief Swift Bear, comes to the post with a band of his tribesmen and openly defies the authority of General Foster. The Chief cites imaginary grievances and declares that his people on the reservation will no longer submit to the white mans rule. General Foster attempts to pacify the Indians and bids them return in peace. The crafty Chief, waiting for an opportunity to incite an outbreak, sends two vicious braves to the cabin of John Simmons, a settler, to make a demand for food. Knowing that the Indians are well provided for, Simmons refuses and orders the two away. The braves bring their message to the camp and Swift Bear, flying into a passion, gathers the tribe and declares war. All determine to wreak vengeance on the settler. That night John Simmons sends his son, Bob, to the spring, and during the boys absence the Indians sweep down upon the cabin. Simmons and his wife barricade themselves against the fusillade of bullets and arrows and bravely defend their lives until the marauding savages bum down the cabin. Bob, in terror, watches the attack from the distance and is powerless to protect his parents. When the howling tribe proceeds on its way, bent on further depredations, Bob reaches his home and finds it a mass of burning embers. Overcome with grief he goes in search of his horse, which has broken away. The faithful animal responds to Bobs call and the young settler sets forth to warn Fort Bryson. At daybreak he reaches the post and tells his pitiful story. General Foster gives a sharp command. The bugle is sounded and the troops dash away to quell the outbreak. Scouts, who have kept a keen surveillance on Fort Bryson, hasten to inform Swift Bear, who ceases his spoliations and forms an ambuscade in the pathway of the approaching soldiers. Besieged on all sides, the troops are almost annihilated and the survivors flee in panic to the post. Foster returns to Fort Bryson, realizing that his forces are insufficient to cope with the Indians, and endeavors to communicate with the next post by telegraph. Suspecting the Generals purpose, Swift Bear orders the wires cut and feeling assured it will be impossible for Fort Bryson to withstand an attack, he gathers his tribesmen at the camp. Finding the fort imperiled, General Foster calls for a volunteer to discover the enemys numbers and secure aid. Lieutenant Ellis responds and starts on his hazardous journey. As he comes in sight of the Indian camp, Ellis meets and overpowers an Indian, whose blanket he takes. Masquerading as the brave, the young officer approaches to observe the Indians movements and is discovered by Mountain Dew, the girl whom he has befriended. She bids him flee, but Ellis has no intention of doing so, and while he watches Swift Bear marshalling his forces, he is detected. With a quick movement Ellis places his revolver at the girls temple and declares that he will fire at the first suspicious action. Still covering Mountain Dew, the lieutenant jumps on his horse and speeds away. Swift Bear is beside himself with rage and leads the tribe in an assault on Fort Bryson. General Foster is not unprepared, but his weakened forces have little hope of resisting the Indians. Meanwhile Ellis dashes madly down the valley and reaches Fort Craig. The commanding officer responds to the call for reinforcements and Ellis, with a fresh horse, leads the troops to Fort Bryson. The Indians break through the stockade and a terrific hand to hand battle is being waged when Ellis with the command from Fort Craig surrounds Fort Bryson and saves the day. -- Moving Picture World synopsis
- James Peyton, a young Internal Revenue Officer of unusual resources, is sent to investigate the operations of a band of daring liquor smugglers and bring about their apprehension. In order that he may not arouse suspicion. Peyton secures employment at a village store, and while engaged in his duties as clerk he gains the friendship of Marcella. the storekeeper's daughter. But in forming the acquaintance, Peyton makes an enemy in Poole, a rough character, who has been endeavoring to win Marcella's hand. Poole is the leader of the smugglers and his association soon becomes known to the vigilant officer. One day, while delivering a basket of groceries, Peyton encounters the smugglers and is made prisoner. He is bound and led to an attic room. Struggling desperately with his bonds, Peyton manages to secure a small mirror from his pocket and flashes a heliograph message to the revenue cutter down the bay. Meanwhile, Marcella, who has been expecting Peyton to call, becomes alarmed at his absence, knowing that he has recently had an altercation with Poole. She warns her cousin, Ben, and by making inquiry, they learn where the officer was seen last. Peyton is discovered in the attic window by Ben, who climbs the porch and assists the officer to escape. Hearing the disturbance the smugglers take to flight and when the cutter comes steaming up the river in response to Peyton's message, the officer, together with Marcella and Ben, is taken aboard. There is an exciting pursuit in which the smugglers in a tugboat cast out a net and entangle the propeller of the cutter, but the lawbreakers are finally captured and Peyton receives two rewards.
- A young Irish boy has fallen in love with a poor girl and wants to marry her, but his mother will stop at nothing, including murder, to see that he marries his rich cousin.