- The disgrace and suicide of her father drives Eleanore Marston from her comfortable existence into a life as a department store clerk in New York. There she meets wealthy Powers Fiske, who offers her a life of luxury if she will consent to an operation on her brain which would deprive her of her memory. Eleanore agrees, and after the operation, Fiske is horrified to learn he has robbed her of her individuality and that she has become cruel, selfish and remorseless. Dr. Trow, a friend of Fiske, hypnotizes Eleanore to learn of her previous incarnations. Eleanore first remembers herself as a heartless Viking woman, then progresses to a Borgian princess, ending as a woman persecuted as a witch in Salem. Continuing to exercise his power over her, Trow draws Eleanore to the edge of a cliff. They are followed by Henry Johnson, one of Eleanore's compatriots from the department store, who traced the girl to Fiske's house. At Eleanore's plea for help, Johnson leaps upon Trow and the two plunge to their death over the cliff. Fiske arrives just in time to lead Eleanore back to the house. He appeals to a great scientist who restores her memory by means of a second operation, and Eleanore then becomes Fiske's bride.
- Eleanore Marston is summoned from a house party to learn that the dishonesty of her father has been discovered and that he has committed suicide. He has left a large amount for her, but she uses it to make restitution to the people he has defrauded. She breaks off her engagement to Angus Hood, and finally obtains work in a department store. Chadwick, the manager, and Johnson, the floor walker, both make love to her, Chadwick in an offensive way. Powers Fiske, a young man of wealth, overhears her say that for one day of decent living she would gladly die, and tells her to come to him whenever she makes up her mind to do so. She is discharged for repulsing the advances of Chadwick, and goes to Fiske. Fiske offers Eleanore a life of luxury if she will consent to having an operation on her brain performed, which will completely deprive her of her memory. She consents. Fiske has been asked to take care of Rose Harding, the daughter of an old friend. When news comes that the ship has been sunk by a submarine Fiske decides to give Eleanore her name and identity, as she has lost all memory of her life as Eleanore Marston. Henry Johnson has discovered her whereabouts, and thinking Fiske has wronged her he attempts to kill him. Fiske is soon horrified to learn he has robbed Eleanore of her individuality, and that she has become cruel, selfish and remorseless. Dr. Trow, a friend of Fiske's, reminds him of his intention to hypnotize Eleanore and get her to tell of her previous incarnations. Fiske refuses, and Trow hypnotizes her himself. First she remembers herself as the mate of Ulric, a Viking of old, who made war on England. She was faithless, and Ulric made her kill her British lover. Her heartless nature gloried in the deed. Next Eleanore's memory seeks out her soul, living in the body of a Borgian princess. To punish a man whom she has failed to ensnare she asked the right to take his life, but later, becoming merciful, urged that his life be spared. The soul was progressing, learning wisdom with the ages. Next the wrongs, instead of being done by the soul, were directed against it, as shown in Eleanore's memory of herself as a persecuted woman in the days of Salem witchcraft. Trow later succeeds in getting her to join him on the brow of the cliff. Johnson has followed them, and upon Eleanore's request for help leaps upon Trow. The men go hurtling together over the cliff, and sink to the bottom of the water, locked in each other's arms. Fiske has followed Eleanore and leads her back to the house. He appeals to a great scientist, who restores her memory by means of a second operation, and Eleanore becomes the bride of Fiske.
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