- When Vera, the daughter of steel king Daniel Maitland, marries Blair, a young lawyer, her father cuts her off with only a small allowance. A few months later, Blair becomes famous by securing the acquittal of one of his friends who had killed his wife's lover, basing his plea on "the unwritten law." He then succumbs to the fascination of another woman. Vera discovers them in a compromising situation and shoots Blair. At her trial, her lawyer is pleading for mercy when Vera explains that she does not want mercy, but justice. She asks if there is one law for a woman and another for a man and explains that she shot her husband because he betrayed her trust. At that moment, it is revealed that the whole episode is being composed by novelist Elaine Esmond, who interrupts her story to go to the opera with her sweetheart.—Moving Picture World, November 17, 1917
- Elaine Esmond is dictating a story to her stenographer. Vera Maitland, the only child of Daniel Maitland, the "Steel King," gives a dinner. Ashton Blair, a guest, is attentive to the hostess. Barrentos is attentive to Grace Danby, arousing the jealousy of her husband, Allen. Blair asks Vera to be his wife and she consents. She informs her father, and he is displeased as he knows Blair to be an idler. He gives her a check for ten thousand dollars, saying it will support them both for several years. Several months later Blair and Vera are living in an apartment. Vera breaks her pen and borrows Blair's. She notices he uses green ink. At the office, Blair reads law, but no clients come his way. Danby has become suspicious of his wife and Barrentos. He tells her he is going away. That night, as Vera is about to retire, Grace comes to her, saying that her husband returned unexpectedly, and finding Barrentos, has shot him. Vera promises that Blair will defend him. She aids Blair in planning his line of defense. He secures an acquittal. Now Blair has many clients, and his head is turned. At a dinner Florence Grant is effusive in her congratulations and Blair is attracted to her. The gossip about her husband's attention to Florence Grant reaches Vera. She goes to a seaside resort, leaving Blair a note saying that she still loves him. She sees Florence and looking over the register she recognizes her husband's handwriting of an assumed name, in green ink. The rooms of Vera, Blair and Florence are adjoining, and Vera hears her husband make plans for the evening. When they go out, Vera secures a passkey and enter Blair's room. She unlocks the adjoining door and goes back to her room. When Florence enters Blair's room, she takes a revolver and opens the door. Vera tells Florence to go at once. In the quarrel Blair tells her that he is tired of her. She kills him. Vera is placed under arrest and several months later is brought to trial. Vera has been in a trance since the shooting. Her lawyer points out the fact that she could not have been in her right mind since in her last letter she told him that she loved him. He begs for mercy for her. Vera rises and says, "I do not ask for mercy, I ask for justice. I killed my husband because he betrayed my trust. I worked and slaved for him, then success came; he needed me no longer. He boasted he was tired of me. Is there one law for the woman and another for the man?" Elaine Esmond, the novelist, is standing with arms outstretched. Suddenly there is a knock and Blake Wendell enters, surprised to find her still working on the novel. She dismisses the stenographer and says to Blake, "I wish all love stories could end as ours will." Blake asks her to explain and she answers, "They lived happily forever after."
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