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- Trixie believe the only way she can save her older sister from dying of tuberculosis is by preventing the autumn leaves from falling, so one night she steals into the garden in her nightie and fastens fallen leaves to branches with twine.
- An abused woman finds love in the arms of a famous novelist.
- A chance find of money makes the penniless Sam a good match for the nouveau riche Lindy. But Sam soon loses the money at cards - and with it the favor of the unfaithful Lindy.
- Algie Allmore has one year to prove he's a man in order to wed Harry Lyons' daughter.
- In this story the hero is haunted by a beautiful young woman who tries to stab him to death with a knife. This fantasy recurs on each of his birthdays, becoming more and more real as the years go on. He leaves home to secure a place as groom, but arrives at his destination too late. Forced to retrace his steps, he seeks shelter in a little inn, forgetting that the hour of his birth is approaching. In the middle of the night he awakens, terrified with fright. Standing by his bed with a deadly knife in her hand is "The Dream Woman." She plunges the blade into the mattress as he squirms out of the way. Twice she attempts to reach him. He yells for help. The innkeeper and his family are aroused. Seeing nothing, they drive him away for disturbing them. As he is escaping the apparition appears once more. Fear lends speed to his quaking legs and he runs until he falls exhausted in his mother's arms. Francis Raven, the young man, is home from his hair-raising adventure. His mother is sick and he goes to the druggist for medicine. While there, Alicia Warlock, a very pretty girl, enters. It is easily discerned that she has been wayward; that she is tired of life. She asks the druggist to sell her laudanum. He refuses. As she goes out, she attracts Raven's attention. He is fascinated and follows. When he introduces Alicia to his mother, that good but very superstitious woman receives her with askance. But the son is infatuated and when the mother orders the girl away he goes with her and the two are married. They settle down in a home of their own, but when Raven is absent his wife associates with questionable companions. She drinks and is frequently under the influence of liquor. He finds her in this state and scolds her, but she is defiant. Not willing to give her up, he summons his mother, who promises to use her influence toward reforming the girl. But the mother sees her daughter-in-law cutting bread with the same knife that has always been a part of her son's dream and runs away. Not long afterward, Raven finds his wife stupefied with whiskey. He handles her roughly and finally strikes her. She falls to the floor completely sobered by the blow. In a second the husband regrets his hasty temper, but his wife, beside herself with rage, declares she will murder him with the very knife that has tortured him in his dreams. He gets the knife and vows to put it where his wife cannot find it, but while traveling a lonely road he is attacked, the knife is stolen from him and he is thrown into a well, from which he escapes. A few years elapse and Raven is engaged in the care of horses. Upon the anniversary of his birth two strangers, a man and his wife, employ him to drive them to their station. Having heard his cries they ask for an explanation and he tells his weird story. They pity and employ him as a second groom. To protect him over his birthday the first groom is instructed to watch him constantly during the night. But the first groom while in the village flirts with a woman who readily accepts an invitation to visit his lodgings. Just as she is about to partake of food and refreshments there are groans and cries of distress in an adjoining room. The first groom, not wishing to be disturbed, goes to the frightened man, ties him hand and foot, places a gag in his mouth and returns to the woman he picked up in the street. He does not have much time to revel in her society, however, because his mistress calls him. While he is gone, Alicia steals into the adjoining apartment, recognized the helpless occupant of the bed, draws a knife from the folds of her skirt and plunges it into his heart. The story ends in the fascinating atmosphere of the spirit world with the "Dream Woman" enveloped in soul stirring mystery.
- A recent immigrant learns several hard lessons about how husbands in America are expected to behave.
- Lord Kilgore, seated one day in his ancestral home with his best friend, Betsy, at his feet, is called upon by an attorney, who shows him a copy of his uncle's will, containing the remarkable provision that his entire fortune is left to Lord Kilgore, provided he will immediately proceed to American and marry his cousin, Alice Wetstone, whom his lordship has never seen. Lord Kilgore, after mature deliberation, decides to comply with his uncle's wishes, and departs with his four-footed friend, Betsy, for the United States. On the ship he meets Villiers, a New York crook, to whom he confides the purpose of his trip. Villiers conceives the idea of detaining Lord Kilgore and of impersonating him at the home of the girl whom he is going to see. Bribing the wireless operator aboard the ship, he sends a message to his gang in New York to have one of their number disguised as a coachman meet the vessel upon its arrival and prevents Lord Kilgore from sending a message to have his friends meet him. When the ship reaches New York, Villiers secures Lord Kilgore, and leaving him bound in a room at the headquarters of the gang, proceeds to the house of Alice, who has been anxiously awaiting the arrival of Lord Kilgore. Villiers reckoned, however, without the trusty friend of Lord Kilgore, his dog Betsy. The wonderful dog takes advantage of Villiers' absence from the room to give her master a pencil and paper, upon which he scribbles a note acquainting Alice of his plight. The dog, with human intelligence, then hides herself in one of Lord Kilgore's suit cases, and delivers the note to Alice, having been carried there by the villain himself. The "best friend" then leads Alice and a rescuing party to the place where Kilgore is detained. His lordship is liberated and the villain arrested, and all ends happily.
- The four-masted schooner "Caroline," a valuable seagoing vessel engaged in a peaceful legitimate trade along the rough coast of New England, is the central point around which this interesting drama revolves. Her owner has been forced by misfortune to borrow money from a wealthy merchant who is the secret head of a band of smugglers engaged in bringing Chinamen into the United States by landing them secretly upon a dangerous stretch of the seacoast. The merchant wants the "Caroline" for his illegal traffic, and has also made up his mind to obtain her captain-owner's daughter for his bride. The girl, however, is in love with a stalwart coast guard and is seconded in her dislike for the merchant by her brother who, besides being the first mate of the "Caroline," has rigged a wireless apparatus upon the vessel and upon the roof of their home, and has taught his sister how to communicate with him while he is at sea. The merchant succeeds in secreting a number of his desperate band in the hold of the "Caroline" when she sails upon one of her cruises, and thus gains possession of the vessel and places her crew in irons. She is immediately forced into the "yellow traffic" and used to pick up a cargo of Chinamen who are packed in barrels and loaded upon her deck. Meanwhile the activities of the merchant, the girl and the coast guard upon the land combined with the government's efforts to stop the operations of the smugglers add double interest to the story which reaches a splendid climax when the brother succeeds in communicating with his sister by wireless, is made to walk the plank, swims 140 feet under water, finally clinging to a rudder chain and reaching shore in time to lead a large force against the smugglers on land. He pursues the "Caroline" out to sea and leads an attack upon her ruffian crew, which ends in a hand-to-hand conflict and a triumph for the guardians of the law.
- A naturally-told story of the 8-year-old daughter of a workman who is on strike. The mother falls sick and has no money in the house to buy medicine prescribed by the visiting doctor. The little girl, discovering this, starts out to sell her doll, and by a strange coincidence meets the owner of the factory where her father is on strike. She finally sells the doll to a storekeeper, but the employer, seeing her sad face and winsome way, immediately purchases the doll and returns it to her. The closing scenes of the strike and the intervention of the little girl preventing bloodshed bring about a happy sequel to a pathetic story.
- Frank Watson was spending a month in New York when one day he receives a letter from his father requesting him to come home and also that a surprise awaits him on his return. This aroused Frank's curiosity, so immediately he made preparations to leave at once. One arriving home he went at once to the drawing room and there to his surprise he saw a very attractive girl sitting by the fire-place seeming to be perfectly at home with her surroundings. Frank coughs. The girl turns around and then nods to him but leaves the room at once. Just then his mother and father come in and greet him. At once Frank begins to question them about the girl. For an answer Frank's father walks to the desk and brings Frank a letter. There he learns that this girl is the daughter of his father's best friend who has just died and has made his father guardian. The girl's name is Peggy and she has been left a large fortune. Frank does not approve of this and begins to offer his objections. At the same time Peggy is seen coming down the stairs at the back of the room and accidentally overhears what Frank is saying. She then comes into the room and they are introduced. Six months later we find Frank in bad company. He has started gambling and has hard times settling all his debts. At present he owes $500 to a very miserly Jew who has Frank's promissory note to pay in a week's time. Poor Frank is almost a nervous wreck, for he has no means by which he can lift this debt. The day has come and we now see Frank nervously awaiting the Jew's arrival. The Jew is ushered in and at once starts business. He then learns that Frank is unable to pay and then swears that he will go to Frank's father for payment. Frank pleads not to tell his father. The Jew looks around the room in order to find some plan with which to force Frank to pay. Suddenly he notices a small safe in the desk marked EMERGENCY SAFE. He calls Frank's attention to it. After much arguing the Jew has persuaded Frank to get his payment from this safe with the hope of winning it back and then replace the money before the father finds it out. Frank takes the money, gets a receipt from the Jew and orders him out. Frank leaves the room at once. Suddenly we see Peggy getting up out of the large chair by the fireplace. She has accidentally overheard all that has passed between them without their knowledge and she realizes Frank's position at once. She decides to help Frank out of his trouble and starts to think of a plan. Later we see her coming into the drawing room all ready for a journey, carrying a suitcase in her hand. She puts a letter on the table for Frank's father and then leaves the house. The girl makes a splendid sacrifice to save Frank and later, in an impressive scene Frank admits his guilt and asks for forgiveness of the girl he has grown to love.
- "Wild Bill" Gray is a renegade and a wife-beater. He is about to start on some expedition of crime and his wife implores him to stay at home. She receives a beating for her trouble. Jim, a cowboy, rides past the shack, hears Mrs. Gray's screams and interferes, and takes Mrs. Gray over to his friend, the postmaster, so that she may have a good home. "Wild Bill" plans vengeance. Paxton, the postmaster, starts for the station with money and gold, and is accompanied a short way by Jim. Gray sneaks after them. After going with Paxton a short distance, Jim takes a turn in the road and Paxton rides on alone. Gray closes up on the postmaster, gets the drop on him, but Paxton is quick and there's a hand-to-hand struggle. Bill, however, worsts Paxton, and finally sends him over a precipice. But in falling, Paxton falls into a tree and thus is saved from sure death. In the meanwhile Paxton's horse comes back to his general store. When the riderless horse arrives there is naturally considerable excitement. Gray arrives on the scene and he makes things look pretty black for Jim, the man who was last seen with the postmaster. Jim is placed under arrest, but the boys, as well as the postmaster's young daughters, May and Gladys, do not believe Jim to be guilty. May and Gladys ride the trail and finally find their father after he calls to them. Gray stoutly asserts his innocence and manufactures evidence incriminating Jim. May and Gladys, the "two little rangers," however, untangle the evidence and their father's story cinches things. When things begin to look pretty black for Gray he retreats to his shack. The girls, however, are determined to get him and, after seeing their volleys of bullets have no effect, discharge a firebrand from a bow. The firebrand sets the shack on fire and Gray perishes in his own tomb.
- Brendan O'Malley is a Robin Hood like bandit, who repeatedly escapes from jail, survives attempts to kill him, and eventually manages to sail to safety on a ship with the lady of his heart who helped him in his latest escape.
- Proud old Major Neal disowns his only child, a beautiful girl, because he considers her marriage a misalliance. Years pass. The old major becomes a recluse feared by all. One Christmas morning, a hamper is found beneath the Major's covered driveway. The butler and housekeeper (in the secret), carry the hamper to the library and present it to Neal. He is greatly puzzled and finding a card attached inscribed "To Major Neal," he opens the hamper, only to slam it hastily shut with a startled and angry expression: The hamper contains a baby girl. The old man orders the child taken from his presence, and advertises for the one who presumed to leave it to take it off. But no one claims the child, whose sweetness and innocent joys soon begin to move the old fellow's heart. The baby constantly makes advances, in spite of rebuffs, until the old man succumbs and worships the child, calling her "Little Sunbeam." Sunbeam is stricken with fever. Now is the mother's chance. She comes (the old family doctor aiding and abetting her), disguised as a nurse, and with a mother's untiring love and care nurses Sunbeam back from the shadowy brink. Old Major Neal and his disowned daughter meet at the bedside of the child, and through their great and mutual love for Sunbeam become forever reconciled.
- The first story begins with a young and pretty girl named Isabelle sitting upon a hill. It is then that she is attacked by Pedro. And following the common thematic trajectory of the time, Isabelle is then rescued by the kind and brave medical student who spends his time as a minister for the poor, Alonzo. Pedro is insistent on revenge and applies to the local monastery where Alonzo works in order to frame him. He hopes to frame him for the mysterious and sudden disappearance of the church's jewels. The frame ends immediately after Pedro plants the jewels in Alonzo's home and the monks are quick to punish Alonzo and Isabelle.
- Norma, a dancer, receives many presents from admirers. Among them she finds a peculiar looking box, out of which spring several poisonous snakes. Nelson, a detective, is called upon to solve the mystery. On the box he finds a peculiar trademark, which he seizes as a clue. At his home he finds the same odd mark on an ashtray bought by his mother in a Hindu curio shop, and he learns that the box containing the snakes was purchased by a Hindu woman. Calling upon the woman, he is surprised to find himself in the home of a Priestess of Buddhism. The Priestess tries to fascinate him with her beauty and, not succeeding, drops a powder into an incense burner, the fumes of which begin to throw him into a stupor. He fights his way to a window, blows a police whistle, and is attacked by three giant Hindu attendants. But the police arrive in time to save his life, and the Priestess is arrested and thrown into prison. The dancer, Norma, is attracted to Nelson by his bravery, and they become friends. Meanwhile, the Priestess succeeds in working a psychic miracle in which she goes into a trance and, while her earthly form remains in prison, her soul is freed and appears before the horrified detective in his study. His nature is changed immediately by the Priestess's mystic influence, and his face becomes the face of a hardened criminal. Changing his clothes for one of the rough suits used in his detective work, he visits a den of crooks and aids them to rob a bank, the plans of which he has been entrusted with in his professional capacity. Later he is called to the bank to investigate the robbery and, not knowing of his dual personality, makes every effort to find the man who had committed the crime. He finds his own scarf among the scattered papers taken from the safe. A threatening letter, which he receives from the followers of the Priestess, is seen by Norma, who is so greatly concerned for his safety that when he asks her to marry him, she quickly consents to an engagement, so that she can do all in her power to protect him. His old mother is puzzled by seeing him leave his own house through the window, when he is again visited by the spirit of the Priestess and influenced to aid the same band of crooks in the robbery of his own home. When his real personality returns, he finds himself in his own office, where he has been discovered by his mother, sleeping in a chair, dressed in his old clothes. Upon discovery that his house has been robbed, he calls the chief of police and is seen by the companions of his criminal personality, who thinks that he is acting as an agent of the authorities merely to place them in the hands of the law. When he is again transformed toy the spirit of the Priestess and returns to the thieves' den, they regard him as a spy and plan to do away with him, leaving him bound and gagged in the care of an old hag, while they celebrate his capture. But Norma, who, with his mother has been watching him, follows him to the den of thieves and, overpowering the old woman, helps him to escape. Meanwhile, the followers of the Priestess succeed in rescuing her from her prison cell and are speeding away in an automobile when Nelson, who still retains his criminal personality, asks them to assist him to escape from the crooks, who are closely upon his trail. Thus, he unwittingly places himself and his fiancée in the power of the Priestess, who makes them prisoners in a temple of Buddha. Norma faints, and when Nelson's real personality returns, he finds himself bound hand and foot in the temple. Norma quickly explains the situation to him and, by burning the ropes that bind his wrists with the fire in the incense burner, he frees his companion and makes his way to the roof by the aid of a heavy chain from which a large oriental lamp is swung from the ceiling. He succeeds in helping Norma to the roof by the same method and they reach the ground with the aid of a large tree. The chief of police, who has been summoned by Nelson's mother, overtakes the crooks and arrests them after a desperate struggle. But the Priestess cheats the majesty of the law by the aid of a poisoned ring with which she does away with herself during one of her wild fanatical dances. Her death marks the end of her influence over Nelson, and he at last feels free to marry Norma.
- Clara, a pretty little school teacher, is courted by two young mountaineers. She favors Jim Mason, who is the postmaster of the village, and Harry Barford, his rival, determines to get Jim out of the way, so that he can win her. Jim and Clara decide to marry as soon as Jim has enough money. Harry sees his chance and offers Jim $500 to manage an illicit whiskey still during his absence. Clara's scruples are overcome by the thought of an early marriage and Jim reluctantly consents. Harry immediately informs the sheriff and a posse is sent to arrest Jim. But Billy, the village idiot, who has fallen asleep while playing his little tin flute, overhears the conversation between Harry and the sheriff and informs Clara of Jim's danger. Jim hides in the woods upon the approach of the posse and, meeting Clara, they flee, both riding on the same horse. A long chase through the snow-covered mountains in which they are closely pressed by the sheriff's posse, forces them to a spot among the jagged cliffs, where their only means of escaping their pursuers is a fifty-eight foot plunge into a raging torrent full of broken ice. They urge their horse over the edge of the cliff and plunge to the depths below miraculously escaping with their lives and safely reaching the shore. They take refuge in an Indian village and the chief, a giant Indian over seven feet tall, appoints himself a committee of one to compel the little fat parson to marry them. Clara returns to the village and Jim goes to New York to prepare a home for her. Barford is appointed postmaster and succeeds in intercepting Jim's mail, meanwhile forcing his attentions upon Jim's wife. Not hearing from Clara, Jim decides to take a desperate chance and return to the village by a dangerous route, which will enable him to elude the guardians of the law. In order to do this he is forced to walk hand over hand across a cable 250 feet long, placed by a lumber company over a deep ravine. Arriving at Clara's house he finds her in the arms of Barford, not knowing he has forcibly placed his arms around her. Jim leaves broken-hearted and is seen by Barford, who follows him at a distance. As Jim is re-crossing the 250 feet of cable, Barford shoots him in the arm, in spite of which he succeeds in escaping and returns to New York. A baby is born to Clara, and she determines to find Jim at all costs and tell him that he is a proud father. She goes to New York, and being in need of money, accepts the offer of a motion picture company to jump from the Brooklyn Bridge for $10,000. Jim, who is desperate and out of work, accepts the offer of the same company to also make the leap, and is horror-struck by recognizing his wife, just as she throws herself from the giant structure into the icy waters below. He leaps after her and succeeds in aiding her to reach a tug-boat, where she rests happily in her lost husband's arms. They make a new attempt to get possession of their baby, but are caught in their cabin by Barford and the posse, where a fierce fight is interrupted by a misdirected blow, which fells the poor village fool, Billy. He is revived and it is discovered that the blow has restored his sanity. He tells of Harford's villainy and produces evidence that brands him as the real criminal and leaves Jim and Clara free to enjoy each other's love.
- A man must marry by noon or lose his inheritance. It's 11:50 a.m. and he can't find his fiancée.
- A Parisian doctor, infatuated with the wife of his benefactor, drugs and kidnaps her, and tries to convince the husband that she is dead.
- A great number of prognosticators often terrify us with visions of what will be when women shall rule the earth, and the time when men shall be subordinates and adjuncts. It is rather a fine question to decide, for chivalrous men, anyway. Today, with the multiplicity of feminine activities and the constant broadening of feminine spheres, it is difficult to predict to what height women will ascend. In the Solax production of "In the Year 2000," the release of Friday, May 17th, a serio-comic prognostication is unreeled on the screen with such magnetic force, charm and rich imaginative detail that one is compelled to accept the theories advanced on their face value. The conditions are reversed. Women in this film are supreme, and man's destiny is presided over by woman. No attempt is made at burlesque, but the very seriousness of the purpose of the theme makes the situations ludicrous.
- In the eastern part of New Mexico is locate the little mining town of Gatlach. There, however, we find an active mining camp dependent largely upon the famous Gatlach mine for its existence. Living in the camp we find Florence, who is loved by Jake. Florence, too, loves Jake. A new superintendent arrives to take charge of the mining property. The new arrival meets Florence and the man and girl fall in love. Discontent among the Mexican and half-breed miners develops. They mutiny, coming to the office making demands which the super promptly refuses and orders them from the place. The ruffians withdraw to arm themselves and then plan an attack upon the office and the death of their boss. Jake overhears the plot, and while he has no love for Harry, determines for the sake of Florence to save them. He rushes to the office and warns them just as the mob appears. They are pursued and finally take refuge in a narrow pass. With only one horse, escape for the party is impossible. Jake forces Harry against his will to take the horse and Florence and escape. They depart seeking aid, which is found in the shape of a troop of cavalry out scouting. Thus reinforced, they rush back to Jake's aid, but too late, he has fought his last fight and given up his life for those dear to him.
- Old Professor Gink, delving in the debris of an old fossil bed, discovers an ancient casket containing a collection of beautiful Egyptian gems. A very curious ring contained in the collection takes his fancy. This ring is wrapped in an old papyrus upon which is the inscription to the effect that whosoever wears this ring shall be loved. Happy at his great find, he ambles slowly homeward. Upon the arrival at his home, his wife upbraids him for keeping dinner waiting. He, nervously changing the ring from one hand to the other, accidentally slips the ring on his finger. His wife's wrathy demonstrations immediately undergo a wonderful change. She falls to hugging and kissing him, much to his surprise. She leaves the room to get his slippers and pipe. Professor Gink, dropping into a chair, takes off the ring and puts it on the table. Mary, the maid, sees it and tries it on. As she stands admiring the ring the Professor steals up and, putting his arms around Mary, begins to tell her how much he loves her. His wife returns to the room and horrified to find her husband making love to the maid she immediately begins to get busy. Mary flees to another room and thence to the kitchen. The iceman, upon entering the kitchen, showers Mary, who still wears the magic love ring, with his attentions. Likewise do the butchers, bakers and butlers demonstrate their cherished love. Mrs. Gink happens into the kitchen about this time. Angered at the way the tradesmen are treating her maid, she rushes to a window and calls a policeman. The policeman arrives and disposes of the tradesmen. He gets the ring and is about to leave when to the surprise of everybody, the wrathy Mrs. Gink, beginning to feel the influence of the magic ring, throws her arms around the policeman's neck and kisses him. With much difficulty he escapes from the house, but no sooner is on the street when the girls surround him and make all sorts of fond demonstrations. In the crowd that surrounds the policeman is an old maid. She decides that she must have this ring if it costs her her life. It if is simply wearing a ring that will procure her a husband she will not let this opportunity pass by. In the scuffle that follows the policeman is pushed into the river, with the ring still on his finger. The old maid, undismayed, jumps in after him, but upon fishing him out finds to her disgust that the ring has slipped from his finger.
- Dan Wellington objects to his daughter's marriage with Richard Darlington. The father finds the letter in the arms of his daughter and puts him out of the house. The much abused lover is followed out of the house by his sweetheart and maid. The latter conceives a brilliant idea whereby the lover is to assume the disguise of a tramp and rescue the sweetheart from being ground beneath the wheels of an automobile. While the plot is being consummated on one side of a hedge fence, two tramps are asleep on the other side. The excited voices awaken them and while the maid recites the proposed plan the tramps are working on one of their own. After leaving the two girls to go in search of a costume, Darlington is overpowered by the two tramps and hustled off to a lonely hut where he is detained. One of the tramps plans to go in Darlington's stead and do the hero work. Better see the film to cap the climax.
- Bob Burton, a confirmed woman-hater, meets his chum Harry. On their way from New York Harry asks him to come to his home and introduces him to his sister. She teases the woman-hater, pins a rose in his button-hole and gets him to sit down on a sofa beside her. Harry says joshingly, "You are not such a woman-hater after all." Harry arrives at the club and tells his friends what a joke he has played on Bob. Thinking of a scheme, he makes his friend still more uncomfortable. He writes a newspaper ad saying that Bob wants a wife. Harry inserts the ad in the newspaper and two of his chums go to Bob's house to watch this out to the end. The first arrival in answer to the ad is an old maid. Harry directs her to the house, while he and his friends arrange a board so that they can look into the window and watch the proceedings. Bob Burton is very much surprised when the old maid shows him the ad in the newspaper. She tries to make him marry her but he protests. The old maid goes out and discovers the boys looking In the window, hits one of them with an umbrella, and they all fall over the bench. The second arrival is a tough girl who gets into a wrangle with Bob, and he throws her out of the window, and she falls on top of the boys who are seated on the plank. She has her scraps with them and exits. The third arrival is a very buxom middle-aged lady, who on refusal of Bob to marry her, exits angrily, discovers Harry and chum outside and gives Harry a thrashing. The fourth arrival is a young eccentric girl, who has sworn that she will never marry a man unless she falls in love with him at sight. Bob Burton has read this eccentric remark in the paper, and has seen the picture, so instead of refusing her he proposes and is accepted much to the chagrin of the boys outside. He exits from the house with the young lady and discovers the boys in the act of sneaking away. Finally he turns the tables on them. He sends Harry and Bob a note inviting them to his wedding.
- Herbert Moore leads a gang of crooks by a sheer force of mentality, while his pal Burley Butts leads by brutal force. Between them they plan to rob noted philanthropist Mr. Stanhope, on whom Moore has been spying. For their ill purposes they use little Oliver, one of Butts' unwilling pupils. On a dark night they embark on their venture. Gripping events ensue in rapid succession: Oliver enters the house. He makes his way, with a bulls-eye lantern; here we have a remarkable light effect, a sudden flash, the lights go up, and little Oliver faces the muzzle of a revolver. Mr. Stanhope is surprised to see the youthful criminal. He quizzes him. But little Oliver cries and tells his story. Stanhope is moved by the boy's tale. In taking out his handkerchief to dry his eyes, Oliver drops a silver half-dollar. Mr. Stanhope attempts to return it to Oliver, who brushes it away and tells him to keep it, informing him that the silver half-dollar is the gang's insignia and it can open in the middle and be used in an emergency as a saw for cutting rope, wire, or glass. Stanhope's interest is aroused, and he places the little souvenir in his pocket. Later this piece of metal is one of the means of saving his life. Oliver then pleads to be let free, and Stanhope allows him to go, after taking an oath that he will not attempt to steal again. This attempt failing, the gang sets a trap for Stanhope, but little Oliver passes a note and key to his benefactor when the thugs lower him into a vault. When Stanhope finds himself in the narrow vault, he struggles hard to free himself from the bonds which almost cut to the bones. He frees himself sufficiently to get the silver half-dollar, which he now puts to good use. After hours of effort he breaks his bonds. He tries to straighten himself and then finds the heavy key and the note in his coat pocket. He is scarcely able to read the instructions. The greenish light gives him the appearance of a man risen from the dead. Gradually his dulled mind absorbs the portent of the note. He desperately feels for the secret keyhole. His search is not in vain. Presently, he swings back the granite door and he is confronted with a vista of the city's filth and slime. He crawls through the outlet and makes his way through the sewer channels. The stench from stagnant sewerage pools, cesspool waste, mud and dirt, nearly suffocates him. But on and on he struggles, up to his knees through this liquid filth. Even an attack by a horde of sewer rats does not swerve him from his path. He fights the rodents off and they scamper. At last, weary and exhausted, he finds his way to the sewerage main, a ladder leading to a manhole giving entrance to the street. Bespattered with mud and filth, disheveled and bedraggled, he rushes through the streets and to the police station. The gang is soon surprised by big Colt six-shooters and little Oliver and his brother find a home in Mr. Stanhope's happy household.
- A Mexican officer is desirous of obtaining the intentions of the American troops. He converses with Decastro, who suggests that they send Juanita, a Spanish girl, into the American line. Juanita succeeds in getting acquainted with Lieutenant Harvey, of the American troops. Harvey teaches her telegraphy. Juanita, so far, has not been successful in securing any information that would be of use to the Mexican government, so she plans to admit Decastro into the telegraph office, when on one is there but the lieutenant. Decastro, after a struggle, subdues the lieutenant, and carries him to the Mexican general. Juanita, who is in love with the lieutenant, takes good care that no harm is done to her lover, and plans his rescue. The Mexican general orders that he give him all the information he can. He promptly refuses. Juanita interrupts and asks to be left alone with Harvey. Her request is granted. Now she plans his rescue. She dashes away to a telegraph pole, climbs, taps the wires, connects them with her instrument and is successful in conveying the news to the American troops. Enraged at the apparent treachery of Juanita and the persistent refusal of Harvey, the Mexican officer determines that the lieutenant be shot at sunrise. The execution is interrupted by the arrival of the American troops and Lieutenant Harvey is restored to his freedom and the loving arms of his sweetheart.