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- The boob is working in a country grocery store. One day, a farmer gets in an argument with him. Words lead to a fight and the farmer chases the boob out and up the street. In his endeavor to escape be jumps into an auto driven by a girl from the city who lives near the store. The girl assists him to escape. In the girl the boob sees the girl of his dreams, but in him the girl sees merely a boob. A traveling show comes to town and advertises for extra people for their show. The boob applies and gets the job. After several blunders he gets his part and comes out on the stage. The girl and her father are in the audience and see the boob make an ass of himself. A fire breaks out in the theater during which there is a stampede for the exits. The girl is left in the burning theater. Her father tries to save her but cannot face the flames. The boob rushes in and saves the girl's life. Shortly afterward, the girl and her father leave for the city and leave a note for the boob. The girl tells him that if he ever comes to the city to be sure and call upon her. Enclosed in the note he finds a check from her father telling him to use his own judgment in disposing of the money, but he would suggest that he use it in getting an education. The girl in the city grows tired of society life and longs for a real man. The shallow life and selfishness of the people she comes in contact with disgusts her. The boob has taken the girls advice and secured a college education. He returns to her rejuvenated and she is very much surprised at the change in him. The boob has indeed become another man. With the development of his mind, his character and even looks have changed. In him the girl sees all that she has been wishing for.
- With the help of futuristic technical inventions, a private detective investigates a bizarre murder case involving mysterious messages delivered in a small black box by the killer.
- Both crooks, on the pleading of the girl, determine to turn square but with the provision of turning just one more trick. The first could not foresee that the second had placed a time bomb in the safe when he went to rob it. Likewise, the second could not foresee the other was going to pay a visit to the booty after he had planted the explosive. But worse, neither could foresee that a gang of burglars were contemplating carrying off the safe and that there were police loitering nearby. All this leads to events whereby the safe is suspended from a twenty story skyscraper with a man locked inside and a time bomb threatening to go off in five minutes. The burglars on the roof did not realize they were defying the law of gravity when they attempted to pull the safe over the eaves. This was impressed on them, however, when the safe exploded. The man inside the vault also learned a lesson on the laws of gravity, and the same thing was impressed on the other crook and the girl when they least expected it.
- Jeanne Doré's profligate husband is hopelessly addicted to gambling, and is threatened with expulsion from his club because of his heavy indebtedness to another gambler member. Confessing his disgrace to his wife (Mme. Bernhardt), she offers to save him from disgrace by selling her jewels. With the money thus obtained he goes to his club, determined to pay his debts and live up to the pledge he has made to his wife to gamble no more. However, the lure of the roulette wheel overcomes his resolve; he loses all his money on "just one more turn of the wheel," and rather than face his disgrace, commits suicide. Left with her young son to support, Jeanne Doré is forced to sell her remaining possessions and live as best she can until her husband's uncle takes pity upon her and buys for her a small stationery shop in Paris. Here mother and son prosper until the boy reaches early manhood. One day he falls suddenly and violently in love with a married woman, who comes to his mother's shop to make purchases. An intrigue with the unscrupulous female leads the young man to murder the same uncle who had befriended himself and mother. The youth, with the assistance of Jeanne Doré, makes good his escape. Well clear of immediate capture, the boy comes back to the scene of his crime and succeeds in his efforts to once more affect a liaison with his mistress. By accident he is discovered and captured, thrown into jail, is tried and convicted of the murder and sentenced to the guillotine. Even in these desperate straits he seeks to gain some response to his affection for the woman, who promptly spurned and repudiated him. He prevails upon his devoted mother to become a messenger in his service and her appeals, likewise, fall upon deaf ears. Instead of telling the boy that her quest has been fruitless, Jeanne Doré goes to the prison herself, on the evening before the boy's neck is to be given to the knife, and poses as the woman he had expressed himself, to his own mother, as the one he most wished to see. The boy goes to the guillotine, and the final scene depicts the devoted mother in the extreme agony of watching, from a window across the street, the execution of her son.
- Miss de Millyuns and her mother receive a letter from the Baron reading as follows: "I love you. My blue blood curls and gives me the goose-flesh when I think that I might be accused of wanting to marry you for your money. So I spend my days roaming in the woods waiting for the day to come." From which it might be surmised that the Baron is fond of Miss de Millyuns-which he is. But. as a matter of fact, he is more than fond of her kopecks and her rubles. Now it was perfectly true that the Baron passed much of his time roaming in the park. The park was his favorite promenade and in its leafy dells he often bowed profoundly to the ladies of fashion who passed by. Being new to the ways of American women, the Baron little realized that he was flirting with a maid when lie made the acquaintance of a pretty miss in the park. The maid invited him to what supposedly was her home, but, as a matter of fact, it was the home of Miss de Millyun, where she was employed. Realizing that if he was to call upon the Fifth Avenue heiress. he would need some money, the Baron, who was absolutely penniless in his own name, "touched" a park dilettante for a few simoleons. Upon calling at the Fifth Avenue address given to him by the flirtatious maid, the Baron finds himself in the home of the de Millyuns. Mamma de Millyuns presumes, of course, that the Baron has come to call either upon herself or her daughter. She makes the Baron as comfortable as she can, sends out for wine and cigarettes and puts a pillow underneath his feet. Reggie, the wealthy scion of an old Knickerbocker family, who sincerely loves Miss de Millyun, notes that he is being superseded in the affections of the heiress and decides to propose at once. He does so, but both mamma and her daughter are so infatuated with the charming manners of the Baron that Reggie is abruptly asked to leave their home. Reggie gets a good look at the Baron, however, and recognizes him as the man who borrowed two dollars from him in the park. He calls the Baron's attention to the fact and when the latter indignantly denies having received the loan hostilities are imminent. Reggie is a gentleman, however, and he restrains his wrath. Discouraged by his throw-down, he goes into the next room and is about to waft himself into the Elysian fields when the butler interferes and takes the pistol away from him. Reggie struggles desperately to make an angel of himself and in the struggle the pistol goes off. Six bullets go through the curtain and attack the Baron in a painful spot. Mamma de Millyuns also receives several stray lead pellets in embarrassing places and the house is soon in an uproar. In the excitement the Baron sees an opportunity to get the millions of the family without marrying the daughter of the house. He makes for the family safe. While Mamma de Millyun is running around displaying her anxiety the Baron tampers with the big lock on the strong box. He gets the safe open and is about to make off with the yellow backs with which the safe is filled, when the maid with whom he flirted in the park sees him at his nefarious work and determines to get some of the bills herself. She projects herself on the Baron and snatches half a million from him. Reggie in the next room, struggling with the butter, loads his gun up again and determines that if he must die he will take everybody in the neighborhood through the Pearly Gates with him. He shoots through the curtains and partitions and another of the bullets turns a corner and bites a piece out of the Baron's trousers. The Baron feels that he has been unfairly taken advantage of and drops his roll. The corner cop hears the shots and sends in a call for the reserves. The patrol wagon rolls up a few minutes later just at the moment Reggie is emptying his fifth box of cartridges. The dum-dum bullets at once take an instinctive dislike for the cops and the latter meet with a hot reception. Feeling that they have stepped into a hostile arsenal, the cops pull their own guns and start peppering away. When they finish with their ammunition they start in with their clubs and the guests at Miss de Millyun's reception make their first acquaintance with the business end of a police billy. Meanwhile the heiress, feeling that Reggie is the only true friend she has. after all. rushes into his welcoming arms, while the Baron beats it precipitately.
- Desire, Goody Margin's ward, is a waif from one of the French colonies. She is distrusted by the stern Puritans of old Salem. Goody Martin dies leaving her herb lore secrets to the girl who practices them. The old governor meets her and, being struck by her beauty, tries to kiss her. She slaps him and he never forgets. Later the fear of witchery spreads through the colonies. Desire's hut is burned and she is pursued and stoned until saved by Margaret Maiden, for whom she becomes a maid. Here Margaret's fiancée, John, meets and falls in love with the little maid whom he calls a very witch in all truth. Later he sees her dancing wildly and freely in the wood and his love cannot be repressed. He catches her in his arms and kisses her. She admits her love for him, too, but then remembers Margaret. Fearing to spoil the love of one who has been so good to her, she goes back to the woods. It is forbidden for any woman to practice what is called black magic in Salem. Desire, on a visit to the town, sees a woman burned and is horrified. Margaret falls ill. The doctor cannot help her. Desire comes back to see her. She knows the herb that will make her well, and despite all protest, goes ahead. Margaret recovers, but Desire is arrested as a witch. In her cell she is sentenced to death as a witch. John and Margaret visit her and say good-bye. Later the old governor comes in. He says good-bye and taunts her. Finally he offers her freedom if she will yield to his love. She laughs in his face. Later she is led out to execution. John comforts Margaret, but he thinks of the other girl, who goes to her martyrdom in that hour. And, as the flames creep about her, Desire bows her head in prayer.
- The little cow-camp of Rawhide is slumbering under the desert stars. Suddenly the doors of one of the saloons bursts open and Fred and Jack back out of the saloon shooting. They leap upon their waiting horses and dash away, a body of citizens in pursuit. Out on the desert's edge stands the lonely little cabin of Pauline, "The Girl of the Desert." On the night in question, she has retired for the night when she becomes aware of a pounding on the door and a man's voice asking her to open it. She takes her revolver from under her pillow and waits. Slowly the door is forced open. Pauline draws herself back into the shadow and when one of the intruders lights a match, he finds himself looking into the muzzle of a revolver. Pauline orders them out. The two men are Fred and Jack, who have sought refuge from the pursuing cowboys. They leave the cabin good naturedly but camp nearby for the night. The pursuers, baffled and thrown off the track, divide into several small bands and start scouring the country for the fugitives. One of these stumbles upon Pauline's cabin and demands entry. Pauline, thinking that they are the two refugees who first broke into her cabin, warns they away and when they persist in trying to force an entry, opens fire and slightly wounds one of them. They return the fire through the door and when one of the bullets from their guns shatters a lamp chimney near Pauline's head, her feminine nature asserts itself and she dives under the covers. Frank and Jack, startled out of a sound sleep by the shots, investigate and find that their would-be captors have broken into the cabin and are subjecting the girl to insult. They immediately champion her cause and succeed in taking their pursuers captives. Out of gratitude, Pauline offers to show the two fugitives the trail across the desert to the border. They set out early next morning, leaving the three members of the posse tied up in the cabin. Owing to a wound which Fred has sustained in the encounter, he becomes delirious and they finally lose the trail. But after many hardships, the border is reached. Pauline says good-bye to the boys, sets out on the back trail across the desert to her little cabin and the incident closes.
- A little boy and his beloved puppy find themselves in and out of mischief.
- Phillip Randall, a wealthy young southerner in search of health, travels in a coach to a little woodlawn resort, The Ardmore Inn, where he is cared for by old Tom Babcock and his lame wife Rosa. Their daughter Sarah is to be married the next day, in the garden of the nearby convent. Violet, 17, meets the Mother Superior, who reminds her that her 18th birthday is approaching, when she is to take the Holy Veil. On Sarah's wedding day, Violet gathers a large basket of roses for the bride. The village guests have assembled at the inn and Phillip, at Rosa's request, acts as best man. After the ceremony Violet gives the roses to Sarah. She becomes self-conscious under Phillip's admiring gaze. Phillip learns from old Rosa that Violet's mother, after her betrayal by the son of a wealthy man, had died broken-hearted. Before her death she left her infant at the door of the convent, where the child was found by the Mother Superior, who brought her up and called her Violet. The next day Phillip shoots a bird in the convent garden. The bird falls, at Violet's feet. Phillip approaches, and his attitude towards Violet is a mingling of shame, amusement, and awakening love. At the evening vespers she is questioned on her strange mood by the Mother Superior who, after soothing her, sends her to her convent cell to pray for divine guidance. Meanwhile Phillip has a vision of Violet and realizes how completely she has aroused his love for her. Violet has also fallen under the spell of love. She takes a piece of altar cloth she is embroidering, puts it on her head, and leans out of the window to pluck a spray of roses. The candle throws her shadow on the wall of her cell, and a vision fades in of herself arrayed in a white bridal gown and veil with an armful of roses. The vision fades and Violet, terrified by her wicked thoughts, tears the cloth from her hair and flings the roses from the window. Unable to rest, she rushes out of the convent. Phillip, equally restless, leaves the inn and sits down on the steps of the village church. Violet, on approaching the church, starts as she sees Phillip's figure rise up before her. There in the moonlight they meet. Phillip confesses his love. Alarmed at his passionate pleading, she tells him she cannot be false to her vows, and seeks refuge in the convent, where she sobs in despair in her cell. Some days later Phillip is thrown from his horse in a hunting party and is seriously injured. Violet witnesses his fall. For a month he lies ill at the inn, while Violet looks eagerly forward to the day of his recovery. A week before Violet is to take the veil Phillip comes out of his delirium, and longs to see her again. He finds a pencil and pad on the table near his bed, and writes her a note in which he asks her to become his wife if God grants his recovery. On reflection it occurs to him that it would be wrong to make her break her vows, and he is about to destroy the note when he faints from undue exertion in his feeble condition. Old Tom, however, finds the note, and hands it to Violet, who, after reading it, rushes from the convent garden to the consternation of all the nuns. Violet enters the sick-room and kneels at Phillip's bedside. When Phillip opens his eyes and sees Violet, he masters his desire to clasp her in his arms, and asks her forgiveness, telling her he knows that she intends to be true to her vows. Surprised at Phillip's apparent change of attitude, she staggers to the door of the convent, where the Mother Superior catches the fainting girl in her arms. Phillip, on discovering that the note he wrote to Violet has disappeared, learns from Tom that it had been delivered to her. Presently he finds the crumpled note at the foot of his bed, and realizes that Violet had come to consent to give herself to him instead of the Church. The shock causes him to have a relapse, and after his recovery he goes to the convent. Looking over the hedge he sees Violet draped in black. With a little cry of grief, Violet lowers her head in prayer and passes on without a word.
- Frank Herrod is a detective with a conscience; Irene Morris, a stenographer for Oliver Morton, an unscrupulous mining promoter. She and her little sister, "Billie," live with Mrs. Benson" a motherly old lady whose only means of support is the board she receives from them. Billie has a puppy she calls "Baby." One day, furious at a proposition made to him by a client, Frank throws himself into a chair by the window. His frown changes to a smile as he looks across a narrow areaway and sees Irene working at her typewriter. She glances up and, seeing him smiling at her, is annoyed and pulls down the shade. Mrs. Benson, with a child-like faith in the advertised richness of Morton's mine, sends him her scanty savings to invest. He chuckles in satisfaction and, handing the latter to Irene, tells her to mail a receipt. Irene knows Mrs. Benson and, for her friend's sake, asks Morton if the mining property is all right. He declares that it is, but his manner increases her suspicions and he sees that she does not believe him. He becomes angry and discharges her. Frank, anxious to make her acquaintance, pretends to be interested in mining stock and goes to the office. She passes him as he enters. He secures some circulars and leaves. Morton learns that Frank is a detective and begins to get nervous. Irene tells Mrs. Benson of her suspicions and sends her to Frank for advice. Morton sees her with Frank, and his fears are increased. Frank sees him watching from behind the curtain, and in order to catch him napping, says to her in a loud voice, "I will investigate the matter tomorrow." He then slips over to Morton's office after calling up the police station and giving them a description of Morton. He catches Morton just as he is about to flee with his ill-gotten gains. Morton tries to bluff but caves in when he is confronted with the receipt. He gladly pays back the money and Frank allows him to go. He hurries away but is unexpectedly nabbed by the cop waiting for him outside. Frank goes to Mrs. Benson's to pay the money over to her and finds Irene there. He is introduced to her and is overjoyed. Billie has gone to the store on an errand and calls up the house. The 'phone bell rings, and Irene answers it. Frank's happiness is changed to consternation and despair as he hears Irene say, "All right, Billie dear, hurry home; baby wants you." He is about to leave, his dream shattered, when the little sister returns and is introduced as "Billie." Hope is born again but he is still mystified. Irene guesses the reason for his actions and in a spirit of mischief says, "Don't go till you have seen 'Baby.'" She goes out and return with a basket and to his astonishment, he gazes upon a cunning little puppy. In great relief and joy he grabs and hugs the puppy and Irene smiles at him as the scene fades.
- Marie Mathews and her friend, Jeanette, are entertaining Tom and Jack Moore. In a game of tennis, Marie turns her ankle. Tom assists Marie, much to the annoyance of Jeanette, who loves Tom. Tom is much worried concerning Marie's ankle, until Jeanette shows anger at Tom's attention to Marie. As Jack and Jeanette leave the room Tom tries to propose to Marie, but his courage fails him as they are interrupted by the entrance of Jeanette and Jack. Jeanette relieves the situation by playing Tom's favorite selection on the piano. Jack realizing the feelings of Marie, takes her from the scene to a balcony where they enjoy the moonlight. After an argument concerning Jeanette, Marie returns to the drawing room. As Jeanette hears Marie returning she pretends to have something in her eye. Tom endeavors to help Jeanette. As Marie enters the room she sees Tom on his knees. Thinking Tom loves Jeanette, Marie goes to her room. Next morning, at breakfast, Marie is still kind to Jeanette, who shows her dislike for Marie. Jeanette leaves on a shopping trip and meets a messenger who is bringing some flowers to Marie with a note from Tom, in which he tells her he loves her but has not the courage to tell her so in person and begs her to wear one of his flowers that night. Jeanette returns to her room and reads the note which Tom has written. Jeanette sees a chance to turn Marie against Tom and takes the note with the flowers to Marie, who, when she reads, offers congratulations to Jeanette. Next morning early Marie packs her bags and sends for her housekeeper. She gives a check to both the housekeeper and butler and tells them to inform Jeanette in the morning that the house is to be closed. She leaves for her lodge in the hills prepared to live the life of a hermit. When Tom calls to get his answer, Jeanette tells him Marie is unable to see him. Tom leaves dejected. After Marie leaves the city, Jeanette entertains Tom, and in an impulsive moment Tom proposes to Jeanette and is readily accepted. As Tom proposes a vision of Marie comes to him telling him to beware of Jeanette. Five years elapse. Jeanette is driving Tom to the walls with her extravagance. Jack refuses to lend him any more. The bright spot in Tom's life is his little girl, whom he worships. Tom warns Jeanette to be less extravagant, but she still continues to entertain. A vision of Marie comes to Tom when he is about to draw up a brief for an important case in a way that would make him a laughing stock. Marie shows him the right way to draw up the document. From this midnight work Tom goes home to find his wife entertaining a large crowd at supper. He declines their invitation and goes to his little girl's room, where he finds the child unattended. Brought at last to realize his position by the serving of papers on him for a sheriff's sale of all his goods he attempts to end it all, but is stopped again by a vision of Marie, who tells him of his duty. At last Tom's troubles are brought to a close by an accident which kills Jeanette. Subsequently Tom wins an important case which nets him a large sum of money. He turns the office over to Jack and, with his child, leaves for the woods. While tramping along one day through the woods the child begs her daddy to go with her. They take a cross path which leads them to Marie's lodge, where the old sweethearts are reunited once more.
- A squire's son and a miner's son join the Scouts and foil a gypsy spy supplying petrol to U-boats.
- Vera, an heiress, while on a trip to the seaside, sees and admires Jack, an oyster dredger. She takes a fancy to his mode of living and through her lawyer proposes to change places and life with him for a time, placing all her property in trust with her lawyer. Jack finally agrees to the proposition and is installed in the wealthy girl's home, while she takes up the work of an oyster dredger. Vera's lawyer plots to force the girl to marry him as he has absolute control of all her property and she cannot gain possession without his consent. Vera is indignant at the lawyer's presumption. Jack tires of the life which is so different from that to which he is accustomed and decides to go back to his dredger. In a saloon, he overhears the lawyer make an insulting remark about the wealthy girl helping the oyster dredger and is about to attack him, when the crooked lawyer steps backward and falls into the sea. Jack and Vera are reunited as the story ends.
- Frank Crane is to be tried on a charge of murder. Among the men summoned for jury duty is Thomas Haig, a family man. Haig and his wife have just received a letter from their daughter, who is an actress and has been away from home for some time, announcing her arrival next day. He rages at the fate that draws him away from home at such a time. Frank has told the facts of his case to his lawyer, which were that while passing through the street he saw two men fighting, one of whom was shot. He tried to aid him and accidentally picked up the gun he had been shot with when a policeman appeared on the scene and arrested him for murder. The trial drags its wearisome way and finally the jury retires for a verdict. There is a difference of opinion among them and as several of them desire to be released from duty to attend their personal affairs, they return to the judge with the statement that they can't agree. The judge angrily orders them to go back to the jury room and stay until they have reached a verdict. They go back and Haig alone holds out. While they are arguing, Haig sees two of the jurymen deciding how they will vote by flipping a coin. He decides to leave his decision to Fate and flips a coin, which falls heads, making his verdict "guilty." The girl has arrived home and springs the surprise that she has promised her parents. It is that she is married. She tells her mother that her husband will call on them soon. The jury have declared the prisoner guilty and all leave tor their homes. Haig comes home, finds his daughter and is told of her husband. The girl shows them a picture of him and it turns out to be Frank Crane who has been convicted on the turn of a coin. Haig is remorseful and next morning confesses all to the judge. The judge issues warrants for the jurymen and is giving them to an officer, when the real crook comes in and confesses. As the picture fades, Frank and his wife are bidding each other a sad farewell, not knowing of the happy events which are transpiring in their favor.
- Jacques Fournir, a Canadian guide, receives a letter from Hugh Travers that he is coming to spend several months in the woods, as he had done five years before when Jeanne, Jacques' daughter, was twelve years of age. It is decided that Jacques is to act as guide to members of the Canadian police, who are on the trail of diamond smugglers. Meanwhile, Jeanne, who is now a wide awake young woman, runs off with her dog to meet Hugh at the railroad station. The dog runs ahead and while in the woods is captured by the smugglers, who hide the stolen diamonds in the dog's collar. After meeting Hugh, Jeanne and Hugh enter a canoe which glides gracefully along down the lake as a panorama of picturesque views is reproduced on the screen. On leaving the canoe, they take a stroll through the woods, and run across the smugglers, who overpower Hugh, but Jeanne succeeds in making her escape. During the night, Jeanne stealthily crawls into the camp where Hugh is sleeping. She cuts the ropes with which Hugh has been firmly bound and Jeanne's dog gets loose from the tree, and follows them out of the camp without rousing the smugglers. While resting on some rocks in the woods, Jeanne secures the diamonds from the dog's collar and puts them in her pocket. In attempting to descend from the rocks, Hugh has had a fall, spraining his ankle, and sustaining other painful injuries. Thus the young couple seek refuge in a log-wood cabin from which Jeanne dispatches her dog with a note calling for help. The dog meets Jacques and the mounted policemen who read the message. Meanwhile, the smugglers, on missing their captive and the dog, rush to the cabin and surround it. A desperate right ensues, in which Hugh and Jeanne return their gun fire until the smugglers break in and overpower them. The mounted policemen arrive in the nick of time. Some of the smugglers are shot dead and the others are captured, the diamonds are recovered, and the young couple fall into each other's arms with wedding bells instead of musket shots ringing in their ears.
- "The Mad Maid of the Forest," that is what the people down at the village called her. No one knew from whence she came; nor of her identity. Richard Lacey, a noted physician, and his friend, Addison Graves, on the way to their hunting lodge, encounter the mysterious maid of the forest, but, as she does from everyone else, she flees at their approach. Lacey learns that she lives the life of a hermit. The following day Lacey and Graves set out for game, and incidentally to look for the girl. They encounter her, but she flees to her cabin, barricades herself within and they are forced to go away disappointed. Repeated attempts on Lacey's part to see her prove futile. While Lacey is out alone looking for the girl one day he mistakes her for game and wounds her. She hides herself from him and manages to reach her cabin. Here Lacey shortly after finds her and first learns of the accident. He nurses her out of danger and places her in the care of Mrs. Reynolds, a widow who resides in the village. Lacey, who has fallen in love with the girl, is hopeful that with the return of health will also come return of reason, but in this he is disappointed. He determines to remove her to the city and to operate in the hope of restoring her reason. Graves reminds him of his responsibility should the operation prove fatal, but Lacey, sure of success, prevails upon his friend to help him. During the evening the girl dresses and slips away. In the morning as Lacey and Graves arrives to carry out their intention, they learn of her disappearance. Lacey at once proceeds to her cabin, but does not let her become aware of his presence. He is determined to save her in spite of herself and with the aid of Graves carries her away by force to the city. Lacey's skill results in an operation which completely restores her reason. With the returning reason also comes a remembrance of the events which caused her to lose her mind. She returns Lacey's love, but feels she cannot become his wife until she has told him of her past. Despite his protests, she tells him this story: After the death of her mother, she, as the oldest, secured work, while Dorothy, her sister, kept house. A young man came to live with them as a roomer. He took a fancy to Dorothy, and she, believing him honorable, approved of the growing friendship between the two. Several months passed. One day she returned home from work to come upon him in the act of packing up his things. She confronts him and begs him to do right by her sister. He refuses. She has a revolver and in the struggle the weapon is discharged. The youth is wounded. After that everything went blank and she fled to where Lacey found her. The story fails to change Lacey. Shortly after their marriage, Lacey receives a letter from his brother, Frank, advising him that he, his wife and child are passing through the city on their way home and will stop off and get acquainted with the new Mrs. Lacey. His brother, Frank, proves to be the man she thought she had killed, and his wife, her sister, Dorothy.
- Ferris Sims, once a notorious crook, but lately leading an apparently honest life, has a daughter, Helen, whom he wishes to keep in ignorance of his past life and also of his erstwhile associates, who frequently visit him. The girl is in love with, and is loved by, a rich young man of the town. "Spider" Dale, Sims' lieutenant and former companion in crime, calls on him for the first time, and gets a good look at the girl. He immediately falls in love with her and tries to meet her, but her father objects. This angers him and he goes back to his den, where Flo Summers, who has previously held his fancy, awaits his coming. Time passes and one day "Spider" sees Flo reading a paper in which the engagement of Helen Vincent is announced. He is mad with rage, and getting the address of her fiancé, goes there to kill him. Flo is angry because "Spider" is in love with Helen, and calling up Sims' house, warns him of what the crook is going to do. Sims, in an effort to save the life of his daughter's lover, hurries to the house where he lives. He arrives at the same time as "Spider" and they confront each other with drawn guns. Vincent has heard the noise of their entrance, and, slipping in, turns on the light and confronts the two with a drawn revolver. Their surprise is mutual, and in the moment of indecision, "Spider" makes a desperate attempt to kill Vincent. Sims is too quick for him, though, and jumping in the way, stops the fatal bullet, but his life pays for the sacrifice. The crook, too, meets his fate at the hands of Vincent, who fires back. As the scene fades, the girl's father makes a last rally and is about to tell of his past, when he sinks and dies without bringing his past from the shadows. The two young people live in ignorance of the double life of the girl's father.
- A framed inventor flees to England and catches a spy at Epsom.
- George Merrill and Nell Fenwick are in love with each other. George is a club man and has unconsciously drifted until he is a little better than a drunkard. Nell, a struggling young artist, has clung to him in hope of making a man of him, but her patience reaches the limit when he comes to her apartment one night, and in an intoxicated condition, makes a fool of himself. She orders him never to enter her house again. Billy, a typical newsboy of the streets, is a favorite of Nell. One day as she is talking to him, Merrill comes out of a store and tries to force his attentions upon her. She resents his presence and Billy kicks him. The little newsboy is knocked down by Merrill. The boy is injured worse than was thought and Nell, who has taken him in charge, arranges to take him home with her until he is well. Merrill is overcome with remorse at his actions and makes a resolves not to have anything more to do with liquor. Billy rejects the presents Merrill has sent him in the shape of peace offerings and tells Nell to throw them under the bed. Nell misses Merrill a great deal and secretly takes out his picture for consolation. Merrill, discouraged because he can make no headway in his efforts to win back the affection of Nell, prepares to go on a trip abroad. Billy is now convalescent and whenever he can do so, he shoots craps with lumps of sugar to while the time away. Nell never knows of this, however, as he hides them before she arrives in the room. One day while he is alone, he rummages around the drawers of the bureau and finds a picture of Merrill. His sharp wits take in the situation and when Nell returns home, he tells her that he thinks he will die and wants her to get the "gink" who knocked him down so as to forgive him. Nell, in terror, calls for the doctor and also Merrill. Merrill arrives and Billy puts him "wise" to the deception. The doctor arrives and he, too, falls into the scheme. Billy's cleverness wins the day and the lovers are once more reunited with a better understanding of each other, while Billy has made a permanent place for himself in the hearts of each.
- Vera Ronceval has been brought up in seclusion by her father, Amos Ronceval, a recluse. One day she meets Orthen Owen, an artist, and they fall in love. When Amos learns of this, he forbids Arthen to see his daughter, and in his rage suffers an attack of heart disease. Dying, he commits Vera to the care of her cousin, Mr. Ronceval, a lawyer. Mr. Ronceval takes Vera away with him to his city home. Arthen, unable to find further trace of Vera, falls upon evil ways, neglecting his art and finding forgetfulness in dissipation. Reduced to poverty, he makes a contract with Lee Varick, famous as an artist, whereby Arthen is to paint pictures, signing Varick's name to them. Varick has acquired his reputation by this traffic in the work of others. In the meantime, Vera has been living with her cousin, Mr. Ronceval, who is a friend of Varick's, and who greatly desires a match between Varick and Vera, Although Vera has never forgotten Arthen, she has, to please her cousin, conditionally consented to an engagement with Varick. One day Vera meets Arthen in his fallen condition, and learning the story of his fall, she tells him that she still loves him, and that she will break off her engagement with Varick. At the same time Arthen, obtaining a new lease upon his manhood, seeks Varick out to return the check just given him for the sale of his name and work to Varick. Vera calls upon Varick, tells him that she knows of his mode of obtaining fame and that she will not marry him. Varick, believing that he has her in his power, attempts to commit an assault upon her. Just then, Arthen, on his way to return Varick's check, hears Vera's cries for help and breaks into Varick's studio. He knocks Varick down and rescues Vera. He then takes her to her cousin, who, upon learning the whole story, gives his consent to the marriage of Vera and Arthen.
- Obscured by modesty and the ethics of the old school, old Doctor Jones, a master of his profession, pursues his practice in the village of Condon. A shunner of publicity and fame, his wife's work is wrapped up in promoting the welfare of his fellow-beings. Blackie, Jones' old horse, occupies a warm spot in the old man's heart. Richard Carleton, a young doctor, just starting out on a career, arrives in Condon with a view to locating there. He bears a letter to John Emerson, Condon's most influential citizen. Carleton meets Enid, Emerson's daughter, and a mutual affection springs up between them. The advent of a brother doctor is welcome news to Jones, as the increasing practice has become too much for one of his years. Jones pledges his friendship and assistance to the young doctor, a snobbish type, believing himself above all, and curbs his good intentions. In order that the outside world may benefit by his genius, Jones is a contributor to the leading medical journals, but will not permit the use of his name, using the non de plume of "Old School," and Carleton little realizes that the man whom he regards as a "has been" is the author of articles which have startled the medical world, and which the leading specialists have learned to look to for solution of knotty medical problems. Emerson takes a liking to Carleton and establishes him in an elaborate office. Slowly the remunerative patients, impressed by Carleton's fine office and up-to-date methods, go over to him, while to Jones falls the lot of caring for the non-payers, who are not welcome at Carleton's office. Poverty descends upon the old doctor but he is too proud to admit it. By self-denial, Jones manages to keep his wife and Blackie from want, and this is his contentment. The friendship of Carleton and Enid ripens into love and they become engaged. To Emerson, the happiness of his daughter means everything, and as he has always looked to Jones for council on weighty matters, goes to him to ask his opinion as to Carleton's worthiness. Even though he has been ridiculed and insulted by Carleton, Jones, who can think badly of no one, gives him a clean slate. In the midst of a reception attendant upon the announcement of her engagement to Carleton, Enid is suddenly stricken. Carleton's petty skill is inadequate to combat the case, but he is unwilling to admit his incompetence. He scorns Jones' offer of assistance, and as Enid steadily grows worse, and he is forced to admit his helplessness, he sends to Cleveland for two eminent specialists. A consultation discloses that an operation is the only hope, but the case puzzles even the specialists and they hesitate. Happening to rest his eyes on one of the "Old School" articles in the medical journal, Warren, one of the specialists, advises, as a last recourse, that they attempt to secure the aid of the contributor. Emerson places his wealth at their disposal, to take any steps in order to save his daughter. A telegram is sent to the editor of the journal, who, in answer, refers them to Jones. The master hand of the old doctor is successful in staving off death and the incident is the means of joining together the practices of the old and the young doctors.
- A woman is in love with a dashing Army lieutenant, but her father refuses to consent to give him her hand. The daughter appeals to her father's patriotism, but when he fails to relent, declares her own independence.
- The Lake View Railroad is building a spur. Sam Price is in charge of the work and as he is not giving satisfaction in his work is discharged by John Paxton, the superintendent. Paxton's daughter, Dorothy, and Jack Arnold, whose father has all his wealth tied up in a new invention to take the place of gasoline, are lovers. Dorothy persuades Jack to accompany her to her father's office to ask for her hand. They arrive and Jack is having a hard time to get his courage up to the speaking point. Just at this time. Price comes in to ask about his discharge and gets in a fight with Paxton.Jack comes to his rescue and Price is thrown out. There is bad feeling between the two men. Jack's father is making a demonstration of his new invention when it explodes and his factory burns to the ground. Jack and his father are penniless. Through the efforts of Dorothy, Paxton puts Jack in charge of the new construction work. Jack arrives at the front to find that a disastrous explosion has occurred. He wins the friendship of Bess White by his kindness to her father who has been injured in the explosion. He finds Burke, the foreman of the work, carousing and drinking and warns him that he will have to cut it out. Price has sneaked back to the work and he and Burke get together to bring about the downfall of the new man. They know that the powder supply is short and any accident to it will throw the work behind. The pair plan to wreck the powder house and get the new boss in it so as to eliminate him. By a clever ruse they get him to the house, and overcoming him, leave him tied up in the house with a lighted fuse attached to the powder. Bess White arrives in the nick of time and saves him, but the powder is destroyed. Dorothy realizes that her lover has been a "man's size" job and so she persuades her father to take her on a tour of inspection to see how the new man is coming out. Jack has secured another can of powder and his efforts have made such headway that the work ought to be completed some days before the contract is up. Price and Burke have gone to work for another road nearby under assumed names and one day they learn that the powder for the spur is in the yards. They manage to get the car on the Lake View tracks and set fire to a fuse expecting to blow the car up and block the tracks. One of the brakemen who have tried to stop the pair wires Jack of their dastardly work and he, realizing the danger to the upcoming passenger train containing his boss and sweetheart, grabs a switch engine and sets out in pursuit. He manages to catch the car and get it away from the passenger train, but in the resulting explosion is severely shaken up. Jack is now determined that nothing shall stop him and the party go on to the construction camp. The work is completed before contract time, and Jack is accepted by Dorothy Paxton.
- Abner Stebbins, Martin's crony, has a daughter, Helen, whom he wishes to marry to the bank clerk. Richard Willis, who is a "swell dresser," but addicted to the use of alcoholic beverages, unknown to Abner. Abner's clerk, Harry Matson, and Helen are simply "made for each other" and Helen does not take to the idea of tying up with the bank clerk as she knows some of his bad habits Abner, however, can't see things that way and insists that she marry him. He also takes occasion to "bawl" Harry out for daring to think of marrying his daughter. The two youthful lovers seek out their mutual friend, Martin Lowe, and find him engrossed in a very interesting magazine story. He puts his book aside and they pour their tale of woe into his sympathetic ears. He agrees with them and promises to use his utmost efforts in bringing the girl's father to their way of thinking. Martin finds his old friend engrossed in a magazine story and eating peanuts "by the peck." He is welcomed in and offered some of the "fruit." Martin tactfully tries to talk Stebbins into letting the two youngsters have their way, but in vain. At last, desperate, he tells Abner of a seemingly true story wherein a father forces his daughter to marry a man of his own choice, who turns out to be a drunkard and abuses his wife shamefully. Both old men are touched by the story and wipe the tears away. Just as the story is finished, Willis comes in with a "jag" on. They tell him he has been drinking and he indignantly disavows the charge and leaves. The two lovers some along and give him the merry ha! ha! which insults his dignity more. The two lovers come into the office to learn their fate, and so diplomatic has been the work of "the fixer" that her father grudgingly agrees to the match. Martin then takes out the two to a celebration at the soda fountain. Stebbins, although he appears to have been taken in by Martin's story, is not so dense as he appeared and, slyly going to Martin's room, finds the identical magazine he had been reading telling the story that Martin claimed as his own. In a spirit of fun he marks across the page the word "plagiarist" and, Martin, coming home from his celebration with the two lovers, finds the book. His poor old brain whirls when he tries to figure out the word. As the story closes the old man is seen painfully searching out the word in the dictionary.
- Professor Schultz invents a mechanical life-sized doll. By pressing the right button on its back it will dance or sing. Now little Lillian, the spoilt daughter of Heinie Gotrocks, reads a newspaper account of Prof. Schultz's invention. She will not let up on dad until he promises to buy this mechanical doll for her nursery. The family go to inspect the toy, and Gotrocks promises Prof. Schultz $20,000 for his invention, to be paid when delivered. Gotrocks and his family depart. Prof. Schultz and his helper, all flustered at the prospect of securing the $20,000, are carefully packing the big doll when the janitor, cleaning the toy shop, carelessly upsets the doll box and puts the manikin out of business. Schultz and his helper are enraged. Something must be done, or the twenty thousand is lost. They then notice that the offending janitor is exactly the same size as the injured manikin. They force him to imitate the doll and don its costume. He rebels to no purpose. They promise to relieve him as soon as the doll is repaired and carry him in the doll's place to the home of Gotrocks. Little Lillian is more than delighted with her new possession. The janitor's imitations of the actions of the real doll get by. It was all very fine at first, but as time passed, it ceased to be a joke. He was made to perform day and night at little Lillian's parties, and his stomach grew more and more empty. His frantic appeals over the telephone to Prof. Schultz only brought him the advice to stay on just a little longer as repairs were being rushed on the real doll. Now, Gotrock's butler had caught the janitor off his guard several times and had a well-founded suspicion that the supposed manikin was a fake. In fact, later events proved to him he was certainly right. The butler's endeavor to prove to Gotrocks got him "in bad," however, for Prof. Schultz arrived in the nick of time with the real mechanical doll, thereby allowing the mighty thankful janitor not only to escape his dreadful position but to get back on the butler for the indignities suffered at the latter's hands. When Gotrocks and his family are shown the mechanical doll is no fake, they put down the recent escapades of the janitor to the fact that the twenty thousand dollar doll must have slipped a cog.
- Arthur Graham is confidential clerk to Edmund Stewart, and he and his employer's daughter are very much in love with each other. He receives a letter from his brother, James, who has just finished serving a prison term, telling him that he intends to live a straight life hereafter. There is a happy reconciliation between the brothers and Arthur manages to secure a place for his brother in the same office in which he works. Edmund Stewart is in hard straits for money and realizes that some bonds that he holds in trust would tide him over his financial trouble. He is sorely tempted. Next day at the office he gets a note from a friend telling him that James Graham, who is now in his employ, is an ex-convict. Stewart calls James into his office and while he is questioning him strikes upon a scheme to overcome his monetary difficulties. He tells James that he has some bonds in his safe and that if "someone" were to steal them he could get ready money for them in Europe, and James reluctantly consents to do the deal. That night he makes his preparations and slips to the house. Edmund Stewart has fixed things so James will have an easy time getting in. Arthur and his sweetheart, Mabel, have selected this night to elope, and she is impatiently waiting for his arrival when she hears the noise of an explosion. She runs in with a gun in hand just as the burglar is dropping out of the window and shoots him. He drops to the ground. Stewart has been watching things from the garden and sees his daughter. He runs to them and arrives just as Arthur Graham comes up, having heard the noise of the shot. There is recognition and Mabel stands back in horror, thinking the man she was about to marry is the brother of a thief. James, believing he is mortally wounded, tells them of the agreement between Stewart and himself. Arthur corners Stewart and forces him to tell the truth of the matter. James is found to be only slightly wounded and some time later Arthur and Mabel come to visit him. Stewart pleads for forgiveness, which is freely granted, and the story ends happily for all concerned.
- William Conway, a slave to drink, is at last told by his wife that he will have to leave her for their own good and her own health and happiness. She urges him to fight against the craving for liquor and to try to overcome it. If he succeeds, she promises to take him back and start life over. He accepts the terms and goes to the distant mountains to fight it out alone. In the mountain resort lives Beth, the daughter of the hotel keeper, who has a childish love affair with Charles Vassar, a boy of the mountains. Upon the arrival of Conway, Beth appoints herself his guide. They become firm friends, but Charles grows jealous, imagining it a love affair. After several weeks, the story of his trouble is told to Beth by Conway. She sympathizes with him and in a burst of affection throws her arms about his neck. Charles, seeing this, is driven wild with anger and charges Conway with having stolen his sweetheart, at the same time attempting to shoot him. Conway grabs the gun and pulling a telegram from his pocket, which he has received that morning from the city, shows it to the boy. The telegram reads: "Come home. Your wife and newborn son need you. Lovingly, your wife." Charles realizes his mistake and from a distant rock. Conway sees the happy reunion of the young sweethearts.
- A man robs his mill-owning brother-in-law and frames a weaver.
- Two fishermen have misadventures punting on the Thames.
- Billie took out a policy which worked two ways. It was good for a loan of $3.75 or $500 in case of fire. He tried to collect on both clauses but had not counted on rivals and sweethearts. His rival extinguished Billie's insurance blaze and to cop Billie's troubles an ostrich swallowed the bracelet he had bought for his girl. In addition, an unkind note he had written in his rival's name fell into hostile hands and was read by unfriendly eyes. When the fire department and hoses had their turn, Billie found himself completely cured of any inclination to realize on fire insurance policies.
- A cowboy will inherit a fortune if he weds a girl named Mary Brown.
- Plunged into the depth of mysticism and led by the ever-beckoning finger of science, the mirage of an Eleventh Dimension is always before the old professor's eyes. His concealed laboratory is filled with the latest chemical appliances and, in spite of his daughter's pleadings, his days and most of his nights are spent vainly searching for the unknown. Betty's joy in the love of young Lloyd Chambers is interwoven with anxiety for the state of her father's mind, especially as, for some unknown reason, he disapproves of her union with her lover and at the same time countenances the suit of his elderly friend, Dr. Lovejoy. Betty having retired for the night, the old man prepares to spend the hours in his beloved experiments. The electric furnace is at white heat. All the test tubes are laid out and retorts cast their reflections around. He transfers a few drops of liquor from one tube into another and a pale blue smoke arises, a flash, and to his distorted brain appears the image of a large cat. His hoarse cry of "success at last" is heard by Betty, who has crept from her bed and now stands at the open door of the laboratory. The terrible light in his eyes tells her that his brain has at last given way, and frightened, she closes the door. Dr. Lovejoy, interested in the old man's work, to a certain point, offers to bring one of his patients for experimental work, one whose life is despaired of. However, the sight of the laboratory quenches all desire for martyrdom in the visitor and he promptly refuses to lend himself. Foiled by his departure, the professor's twisted mind prompts him to chloroform the doctor and in an unwary moment the latter is drugged and strapped to the chair. Recovering consciousness, he pleads for mercy and the professor agrees to play a game of chess, the loser to give up his life, in order that he, the professor, may prove his theory that one lives after death. Beaten in the game, the doctor cheats and the old man turns the gun on himself and fires. A moment passes and he finds that he is still alive. Quickly he grabs the paper and writes, "This proves existence after death." Meanwhile, Betty, sensing something is wrong, tells Lloyd that her father and Lovejoy have been for hours in the laboratory. The police are called and the door is burst open. The wild exclamations of triumph from the professor are cut short by the discovery that the bullet has been deflected by his watch. The fact that he was not dead, not even hurt, is a sore blow to the old man's pride, but his sorrow is short-lived, however, for the sight of his daughter being embraced by young Lloyd restores his reason.
- A man steals his wife's pearls to buy a kiss from a pierrette.
- Mary Grey, a young working girl, is in love with Chip Malone, a young fellow, who, while not bad at heart, has, through evil associates, learned to shirk work and spend in drink what money he is able to obtain. Discouraged by her failure to reform him and hopeless when Mary loses her position, she can see no way out of her troubles but suicide. An item in a newspaper to the effect that a man has swallowed bichloride of mercury, and is awaiting the slow death which that poison brings, suggests to her the means to carry out her plan. She goes to a drug store, asks for the same poison and takes the box to her room, where she swallows the contents. Meanwhile in the room next to Mary's another tragedy is about to be enacted. Rorie Graves is the son of the district attorney of the city, a boy weak in the face of temptation, who has sunk lower and lower until he has become the member of a gang of thugs, which is being prosecuted by his own father. When the gang decide to do away with the district attorney and the lot falls to Rorie to carry out the crime he realizes the error of his ways and shrinks from the gang, who proceed to deal with the traitor. Mary hears the struggle, and, only conscious of the fact that someone is in danger, hurries into the presence of the gang and denounces them. Rorie grasps the opportunity to escape and when Mary returns to her room she finds him hiding there. He tells his story to Mary and she decides to save him. Together they hasten out to go to Rorie's father. On the way there they learn that Rorie's father has been shot by a member of the gang. This upsets Rorie so that he enters a saloon with Mary to brace himself with a drink. There a moment later detectives, who recognize Rorie as a member of the gang, arrest them, but as they lead their prisoners out Chip, who happened to witness the arrest, stands them off with his gun and Mary and Rorie escape to Mary's room. There Chip, who has also made a getaway, joins them. Leaving Rorie in her room, Mary hastens to the district attorney's residence and fetches Rorie's mother, who is overjoyed to clasp her wayward boy in her arms again. Meanwhile, the detectives have located the building where Rorie is hiding, but Mary, by a clever ruse, decoys them to the gang's room instead, and the thugs, as well as Mary, are handcuffed and led off to the police station. There Mary awaits the approach of death. When Chip arrives with the doctor, who has examined the box which Mary believed would be her death, he brings the news that the contents of the box was harmless and that the wrong label was used. Surrounded by the laughing policemen, Chip, who has also learned his lesson, pledges his love for Mary anew.
- The old man and his daughter are crossing the ferry from Oakland to San Francisco. The boys are on the same boat. They flirt with Billie, the "Peach," which arouses the old man's ire. Later, they meet in Golden Gate Park and one of the boys adroitly gets a note from Billie saying that she will meet them in five minutes, by the lake. She slips away while the first boy takes her place on the park bench. The old man, meanwhile, has been taking a snooze. When he wakes he discovers the trick that has been played on him. Pursuit follows, the irate father calling in a policeman to arrest the young men, but when the girl says that she will go to jail, too, the father forgives them and the story ends.
- Senor La Bullio was a fierce, wild lover and also the village barber. He made the big hit with Senorita Hitchey Koo, until Mr. Perkins, the globe trotter, appeared. The latter made an easy conquest of Senorita, but made the mistake of talking about it when he went in to get a shave. Senor Bullia had him conveniently in the chair with an assortment of razors within reach. Mr. Perkins cursed bis glib tongue and the Senor reached for them. Perkins' regrets didn't appease La Bullio, and he tried to get out. The Senor was a better runner than he, however. Other rivals had this fact impressed on them when they got in the way of the sprinters. The Senorita turned out to be a fickle jade and shook the bunch.
- Billie was a groom, but he had a secret hankering to be a social lion and when the baron was absent he posed as the latter gentleman. The affair started well, but the maid he had promised to marry recognized him making love to the heiress and told her brother, who had a nasty temper and carried weapons. Billie had to take back the maid, but only temporarily, as he got away and attended a reception in his honor at the heiress's home. The vendetta, however, mistook him for the real baron they wished to assassinate and threw bombs at him. These had a disturbing effect on the dinner party and everybody tries to get away gracefully, but with haste. Billie ran into a shed, but a bomb followed and exploded in his rear. Billie immediately went up. His descent was much more rapid than his rise, and several unpleasant obstacles were met with on the way down. Another man got the maid and the baron got Billie.
- A widower's daughter raised as a boy falls in love with an artist, and poses as her grandmother's portrait.
- Edith and Frank are little sweethearts. They meet on the way to school and Edith presents Frank with a flower for his buttonhole, while Frank gives Edith a nice, rosy-cheeked apple. On their way to school an auto with a lady, gentleman and a small boy stop and ask Frank where the schoolhouse is. Edith is attracted to the boy and forgets all about her sweetheart, Frank. In school she makes the acquaintance of Clarence and they become good friends, while poor Frank is left out in the cold. One of the big boys in school carelessly drops a lighted cigarette in the cloakroom of the schoolhouse and a fire is started. When the teacher discovers it he tells the children to jump out of the windows. Clarence forgets all but himself, and throws Edith and the other children aside, intent on saving his own hide. In the meantime, Frank, who has been playing hooky, sees the fire in the distance and rushes to the schoolhouse, where, learning that Edith is still in the burning building he runs in despite the flame and smoke and rescues his old-time sweetheart. Needless to say, after that the original sweethearts make up, and Clarence is given the cold shoulder.
- Detective Potts is the star detective on the force and as such is a welcome suitor for the hand of the commissioner's daughter. The young detective joins the force. He is made the butt of all jokes, and the star detective disdains to even look upon him. The daughter falls for the new man. But they have a road hard to travel with the opposition of both the commissioner and the star detective. Both realize that matters cannot go on as they are, so they decide on drastic measures. They arrange to have a fake kidnapping with Eddie to pull the hero stuff. The matter is all arranged. The girl goes to visit her father, after writing him a note telling him that unless he comes across with some money his daughter will be kidnapped. Her father shows her the note and makes it a joke. The girl pretends to be afraid but is reassured by her father, who tells her that such a thing cannot happen with Potts on the job. The girl then goes to her chum's dad on the 'phone and tells him that she has been kidnapped. When dad hears a muffled scream come over the wire, which is caused by the chum holding her hand over Vic's mouth, he is frantic. Potts is put on the job and combs the town but without avail. Eddie pleads to be put on the case, but gets nothing but sneers. He calls the girl up and tells her the plan is working smoothly but he can't seem to get on the case. They plan another coup. The girl writes another note to Potts telling him to go to a deserted house near the railroad and await developments. He has a clue at last and departs stealthily. He finds the house all right and sits down at the door, gun in hand, to await developments. Meanwhile the girl has been taken to the house and put in an inside room, tied to a chair and left. The young detective at last gets on the case and. after making the rounds, comes back and tells the commissioner his daughter has been kidnapped by the star detective. They laugh at him when he tells them he will prove it. He takes the commissioner to the house and tells him to peer in at the window. They see the girl inside tied. At the front, as if on guard, sits Potts, "waiting developments." He is denounced and his star taken off. Meanwhile the young detective has released the girl and they are inwardly shaking with laughter at the success of the plan. As the picture fades, the young detective has risen to be the star and with the old man's backing things look bright for an early marriage.
- Bill was a bootblack, but that didn't stop him from having social aspirations. He rescued an heiress from a burglar at no particular risk to himself, but it looked big and Bill got away with it nicely, even meeting father and getting himself invited to call. But back at the shinorium, Bill's boss was getting peeved because Bill was so late and when Bill did return, the boss talked harshly to him. Meanwhile, father and the heiress needed a shine. Bill's stand was the one out of a thousand in a great city they shouldn't have picked out. But they did. Bill saw them first, though, and put on whiskers and a plug hat for disguise. This didn't help as the boss knew him and didn't care whether it hurt Bill's feelings to be seen shining shoes or not. He ran into a barber shop next door, but this didn't help him, as there were too many razors lying about and too many ill-tempered parties who didn't like Bill to wield them. Bill is slammed in the stomach and knocked clean through a brick wall. Papa and the heiress got lost in the shuffle. The boss pulls out a big knife but, through unforeseen developments, attacks himself from the rear.
- Both the boy and the girl work in "The Emporium" and have become quite chummy. The boy has made quite a hit with the girl, so one day she invites him to her home to meet father. Eddie resolves to go and has quite a trying ordeal getting acquainted with the old folks. The girl's family are all spiritualists and Eddie arrives in the midst of one of the meetings. The spiritual "carrying ons" are too much for the boy and even a kiss from the girl can't bribe him to stay. The next day the girl again invites Eddie up to the house and he is about to decline when he takes pity on the girl's disappointment and promises to go. She tells him that the party is in honor of the famous Dr. Bunk. Eddie regrets his decision but there is no way out of the party. That night Dr. Bunk is the first of the guests to arrive. Eddie sees several unnerving omens, such as a black cat crossing the road ahead of him, and wishes he had not given his promise to be present, but goes on. The party starts and all are intently listening at the table, when Eddie's knees knock together in terror. The longer the party is in session the more Eddie's fears grow. Finally he can stand it no longer and says he must go. They all try to persuade him to stay but he gets as far as the front door, when he sees that it is raining "pitchforks." Baffled in his attempts to escape, he reluctantly agrees to stay and wants to go to bed at once. They show him up to his room and tell him that he and the professor will have to bunk together. Eddie tries to sleep but every creak of the blinds and every flash of lightning is a manifestation of spirits to him. When the professor gets in bed there is more "business." The bed pitches and jerks, but finally there is a lull and Eddie prayerfully tries to sleep, thinking the spirits have all gone to bed. The girl has a habit of walking in her sleep, and as she has been thinking of Eddie, she unconsciously goes to his room in her nightdress. Eddie uncovers his head long enough to see her and he knows that at last he sees real "spirits." Nothing can hold him now, and hurriedly dressing, hollering help at every breath, he starts out for home. The old folks try to quiet his fears by telling him that he saw their daughter walking in her sleep, but, nothing doing, he says he will do some walking of his own and joyfully sets out for home and peace.
- At a fashionable summer resort, life has become a dull bore to all the guests except Violet and Daisy Meredith, two young sisters who are being sought by Sir Algernon Coldstream and Henri St. Ives. Mr. Smith of New York, a purely American product, finds himself neglected by the younger feminine contingent and becomes the prey of some elderly ladies. This period of calm is broken by the sudden, unheralded advent of dashing young widow Mrs. Jane Garner, who finds that through an error, no rooms have been reserved for her. Mr. Smith, Sir Algy, and St. Ives desert everyone else and beg for the privilege of giving up their rooms to the widow. Coins are tossed and Smith wins the privilege of sleeping on the billiard table and resigning his suite of rooms to the adorable Jane. As the days pass, Violet and Daisy find themselves deserted and a stern race is on between the American and Sir Algy and St. Ives for the widow's hand. The rivals are watchful and give one another no opportunity to be alone with Jane for even a moment. At last the girls, tearful at being deserted, appeal to the widow to be merciful, choose one of the three and be done with it, and give them a chance at the remaining two. Jane, really weary of the trio's collective attentions, determines to be alone for one afternoon at least and hires a boat to row out to the sunset rocks and enjoy a little solitude until the late evening, when the tide, coming in, covers the rocks. She finds that the boatman has only two rowboats left after renting her own, and realizing that she will be pursued by the rivals, she bribes the boatman to bore holes in the bottom of the boats. After she has landed on the rocks, her fears are verified, for Sir Algy and St. Ives hire the remaining boats, and give Smith the laugh as they start for the rock. They agree that the first man to reach Sunset Rock shall be left alone with the widow. Smith, meanwhile, hires a bathing suit, with the intention of swimming out to the widow. Algy and St. Ives soon outdistance him, but later their boats begin to fill up and finally, waterlogged, capsize and Smith, at first swimming hopelessly behind, forges ahead and leaves them sitting, soaked to the skin, on their overturned boats, from which they are rescued by Violet and Daisy, who don bathing suits and swim their ex-suitors to the shore. Smith, arriving at the rock, finds the widow asleep and determines to put her in a position where she will be at his mercy. He raises the anchor of the boat and getting in it calmly awaits her awakening. She, about to return to the mainland, finds her boat gone and in the possession of the imperturbable Smith, who demands her hand in marriage as the price of taking her off the rock. Although she has grown to care for him, the widow refuses to be driven and says "No" with emphasis, and Smith, undaunted, waits for the tide to rise. As the moon comes up, the widow is standing submerged to her knees on top of the now tide-covered rock, but though in tears still defiantly gives "Nay" to his requests. He relents and takes her into the boat and just to be properly femininely inconsistent she then consents, and, a bedraggled pair, they return to the hotel to receive the congratulations of the guests and learn that Sir Algy and St. Ives have returned to their first loves, Violet and Daisy, in a properly humble and repentant spirit.
- In Ruritania, the King's son grows up and avenges his father's murder.
- Harry finds a wallet stuffed with bills in the park. The "fat beauty" is seen in the distance and Harry drops his wallet when she is near and pretends it is hers. She pockets the money. Later, she carries on a similar flirtation with two other admirers and then goes home. One of them has presented her with a valuable necklace which he attempts to secure. He follows her to her room and then sees her disrobe. She has a false wig. Henry writes a note to Harry saying that if he disguises as a burglar he may recover the necklace. However, before he has an opportunity of sending the note, Miss Jane, the fat beauty, discovers him and he runs away. A real burglar then attempts to steal the necklace, the police follow him and the shots blow off the fat beauty's wig amidst much excitement.
- Howard McGrath is a Wall Street broker with few scruples. His nephew, Kenneth McGrath, the son of a deceased brother, is his chief clerk. Doris Van Ness is an heiress whose fortune is left in the hands of Howard McGrath, her guardian. Mrs. Wheeler Van Ness, her mother, does not share this fortune, for she is anxious that Doris marry Baron Von Zeller, an impoverished German nobleman with a couple of debt-ridden castles. Howard McGrath attempts a corner on the stock market and is tightly squeezed. He realizes that a marriage between his nephew and the heiress will solve the trouble. Kenneth, though he secretly cares for Doris, is, at the same time, incensed at the idea of marrying any woman for money. He takes the latter course and his refusal to enter into the plan arouses the anger of his uncle, who decides upon other measures. Accordingly he sends one of his clerks with a letter to Mrs. Van Ness urging her to permit him to invest a sum of Doris' inheritance on his speculations, promising a big return. He signs Kenneth's name to the letter. Mrs. Van Ness persuades her daughter to sign a check for the, amount asked. Kenneth and Doris have, in the meantime, become interested in each other, Kenneth refraining, however, from showing his regard for the girl because of his uncle's proposition. The speculation fails and Doris loses a large portion of her fortune. Mrs. Van Ness accuses Kenneth of treachery and he, for the first time, learns of the investment. He is shown the letter with his forged signature and denies any knowledge of it. His uncle in turn accuses him of lying. Kenneth leaves the employ of McGrath and secures a position as reporter on a daily paper. Doris secretly believes in him. She is pressed to marry Baron Von Zeller, whose estates are heavily mortgaged, the elder McGrath promising to rehabilitate the fortunes of Doris on the consummation of the match. Doris urges Zeller to press his suit, promising him in turn his fortune will be rehabilitated by such a union, keeping the financial straits of Doris from him. McGrath's plan is to use the names of both of the contracting parties in the organizing of a new stock jobbing scheme, securing investments on the alleged backing of the supposedly wealthy pair. Kenneth is sent to interview his uncle and is refused admittance to the office. He calls on Mrs. Van Ness and is told that Doris will not see him. Angered at both his uncle and the girl, he threatens his uncle that he will write a complete exposure of the scheme. He gives him the alternative of dropping the scheme or being exposed as a fraud. The uncle gives in. Zeller learns from Howard McGrath that Doris is no longer an heiress and takes ship for his country. McGrath is forced to tell Doris the truth about the note urging her investment in the stock deal. Kenneth is thus reinstated in the good graces of the young woman and their marriage follows. His uncle is forced to quit his crooked dealings.
- Hubby is insanely jealous of his wife. One day she is taken ill and Hubby hurriedly takes her to the hospital. She is assigned to the ward which is in charge of Dr. Watt. The doctor is interested in the patient only in a professional way, but Wifie admires his looks and Hubby's jealousy comes to the front. He takes her back home. Wifie has left her purse at the hospital accidentally and the doctor, feeling that she will be worried, goes out of his way to return it. Hubby leaves the office early to be with his wife, and coming in, finds the hated doctor with her. Angrily he orders him out and tells Wifie that the next time he will kill the doctor. Wifie decides to spend a day with a friend and as she is going up the steps of the friend's house, she sprains her ankle. The doctor who is accidentally passing, sees the accident and decides to take her to the hospital for treatment. Hubby is worried over his wife's prolonged absence, and, 'phoning to the friend's home, finds that she is in the care of Dr. Watt. He fears the worst has happened, and getting a large revolver, goes to the hospital and demands to see his wife. The attendant tells him that she is in the care of Dr. Watt and that no one can see her. Hubby pushes him aside and rushes into the hospital. There is a lively chase before he finds her but at last he breaks into the room just as the doctor is holding her hand to test her temperature. Hubby is caught and put in a straight jacket and put to bed. The doctor feels his pulse, which is above normal on account of his anger and orders him strapped up. Hubby escapes, however, and eluding his pursuers, gets home. Wifie and the doctor arrive and the doctor tells Hubby he has had a good example of what jealousy will lead him to and cautions him to control himself. Hubby agrees that the advice is good and as the picture closes all is serene.
- Ski-hi has an auto. He loads it up with nitroglycerin and takes a trip through the clouds. A mule kicks two of his enemies on him as he is repairing the car. Ski-hi jumps in and starts off with the two on the radiator. The car goes through a fence and knocks off a fat person sitting on it, goes through a mountain of granite, falls down a precipice through the roof of a house, but Ski-hi is finally captured and dragged about by his pigtail.