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Thornton Darcy, an idealistic poet, is at work upon an allegorical poem which he calls "Virtue." He devotes the first part of it to picturing the idyllic state of the earth prior to the advent of evil in which Virtue is the world's guiding spirit. Virtue is represented by a nude female figure, artlessly adorned with filmy drapery. In the second part he introduces the Greek myth of Pandora, who releases Evil on the world. Finishing his work for the day, Darcy falls into a light doze and upon awakening discovers that his dream girl, Virtue, has come to life in the person of a young woman clad in a simple homemade dress kneeling on the bank of the stream gathering flowers. They become acquainted and he learns that her name is Purity Worth, and that she lives near the woods in a humble secluded home. She makes an instant appeal to Darcy as he does to her and they repeat the meeting in the woods, with the result that they fall in love and are engaged, in spite of the fact that there is no immediate prospect of marriage, owing to Darcy'e reduced circumstances. Darcy is unable to sell his poems, and the publisher will not print them for less than five hundred dollars. Claude Lamarque, a painter, strolling in the woods, sees Purity bathing in a stream. He later succeeds in meeting Purity and makes her an offer to pose for him. She refuses, but accepts his card. Purity receives word from Darcy that he is ill in bed and begging her to come with him. His final effort to publish his book of poems has met with refusal. Unselfishly seeking t aid him, she goes to Lamarque, secures five hundred dollars in advance with a promise to repay him by posing for him, and earning money from other artists, and at once turns the money over to the publisher to bring out Darcy's book. She binds the publisher to secrecy. Darcy is confined to his bed with a siege of illness, and is only saved from death by the happy turn. Purity guards from him the secret of her share in it. In the meantime, she poses regularly for Lamarque. Through his interest in her he secures an engagement for her to pose in imitation of marble statuary at a fete given by a fashionable young widow, Judith Lure. No sooner is Darcy's book published than it excites instant attention and praise, and he becomes the lion of the hour. In the meantime, Luston Black, an acquaintance of Lamarque, having caught a glimpse of Purity posing for the artist, has become infatuated with her. He assumes that because of her position as a model he will have an easy conquest. But Purity, despite her innocence, sense his base motives and spurns him. Darcy, accepting an invitation to visit Lamarque, comes into the studio while Black is pressing his attentions upon Purity. He thrashes Black, who taunts the poet with the fact that his fiancée is posing in the nude. Darcy will not believe it. Purity acknowledges the truth. Darcy will not listen to Purity's explanations and casts her off. A short time later the poet sees Lamarque's finished picture of "Virtue." Darcy is quick to read the great truth that the picture is intended to convey and upon learning that Purity was the instrument through which his poems were published, hastens to her. They are happily reunited.

In the year 100 A.D., Trajanus was emperor of Rome. He was one of the great emperors of that period, and one of the great works by which he beautified Rome is known as the Column of Trajan. The emperor had prepared a "Triumph," as the ceremony was known in those days and the victims of his conquest were marched in Rome to the throne. Among them is seen Decebalus, Prince of Dacia, and his mother, Queen of Dacia. The Emperor promises the Prince his freedom if he will swear allegiance to Rome. He hesitates, but the Queen says: "In Dacia we are royal and shall not be vassals to Rome." The Emperor is angered and sends them to the dungeons of the Circus Maxims to await their fate in the arena. The arena is prepared, the Emperor is in the imperial box and all is ready for the conflict of the gladiators. At last Decebalus is told he must go in the arena and fight. He asks: "With whom?" A Dacian is pointed out to him. He says: "Why, he is of Dacia, and therefore my brother." Notwithstanding, he is forced out and we see them in the arena before the imperial box saluting the Emperor. They fight and the Dacian is thrown to the ground in battle. Decebalus does not wound him, and when he appeals to the Emperor and the court for their decision, the Emperor show by the word "Habet" and the downward turning of the thumb that death is his portion. Decebalus raises his sword as if to kill, but with the other hand extended to the Dacian, they leap from the arena into the imperial box and are about to kill Trajan, but Decebalus is made prisoner by the centurions in attendance on the Emperor. He again escapes and is brought before the Emperor just as the word is brought that the Huns have invaded Rome. Decebalus volunteers to fight the invaders and is victorious. When offered a reward he demands his mother's freedom, which is granted. Trajan also gives him Octavia to wed and restores him to his own country.

John Montgomery, young, rich and of fine family, is eagerly sought after by the elite of old San Francisco. He and Ellie Fenwick meet for a moment at a hall, and are mutually attracted. Montgomery's impulsiveness and generosity cause him to fall an easy prey to Willie Felton, leader of a fast set, who introduces the young man to Martin Rood's gambling house. Rood, seeing in Montgomery a lamb to be shorn, quickly fleeces him of a large part of his fortune and then persuades him to invest the rest in a bogus mining deal. The young San Franciscan finds himself penniless. Meanwhile, he has met Carlotta Valencia, mistress of Rood, who develops for Montgomery the first real affection she has ever felt for any man. He is infatuated with her beauty and cleverness, and when he begins to hear evil stories against her, he stoutly defends this Spanish woman of doubtful arts. Montgomery's own reputation is sullied because of his associates, and only Ellie Fenwick continues to have faith in his inherent nobility. She believes Montgomery more sinned against than sinning. Her father, however, will not permit her to have anything to do with the man she loves. Montgomery, denied the companionship of the one woman who might have redeemed him, turns for consolation to Carlotta. One morning early, Ellie is returning from the market to prepare a birthday breakfast for her father. Passing Rood's gambling house, she hears a pistol shot. Through the swinging doors of the bar-room, the proprietor of the resort falls out dead. Montgomery, with a smoking revolver in his hand, leaps out after him, and the next instant, flinging away the weapon, has fled. Ellie, panic-stricken, hurries home, where she tells her father and District Attorney Dingley what she has seen. Nobody else has witnessed the incident, and Ellie, violently against her own will, is obliged to serve as chief witness for the state. Carlotta lures the girl to her house and tries to bribe her into silence. When this fails, she attempts to induce her to drink a cup of poisoned wine. Ellie, however, is on her guard. Her father has made her feel that it is her duty to God and to society to testify against the man she loves. Montgomery is convicted of the murder. As he is leaving the courthouse a band of Mexican horsemen, hirelings of Carlotta, enact his rescue. He and the Spanish woman plot to flee the country together. A chance meeting with Ellie, however, causes Montgomery to resolve to leave the city alone and start life over again. He writes Carlotta his intention. Ellie is driving him in her carriage to the borders of the town when both are arrested by the sheriff's posse. The girl flees, taking refuge in Carlotta's house. She finds the beautiful Spaniard sitting erect in a chair, dead. A written confession in her own hand reveals that it was she who murdered Rood. Later, Perez, Carlotta's servant, corroborates the story, throwing light on Montgomery's heroism in shielding the guilty woman. Montgomery is exonerated. He begins life anew, with Ellie as his wife.

Hopelessly, Stanton works with compositions; returned manuscripts, with his sweetheart Ruth's ring which her aristocratic mother forced her to surrender, are crushing his ambition. An aged neighbor enters, seared with evidence of life's struggle and says "Tell me not in mournful numbers. Life is but an empty dream." The old man's tale of being saved by Stanton's music awakens Stanton to hope and courage and saves his life. Alone, Stanton gazes at the silent features in the bust of Mozart and recalls the tragedy of his world's master of 624 operas, Masses, etc. Mozart, in dying hours, writes the "Requiem" on special order, praying that it will bring money and fame. Mozart sings this "Requiem" with his dying breath, passes away, and is buried in an unknown grave in the Potter's Field. "Lives of great men all remind us/We can make our lives sublime." Stanton sees Mozart's feeble wife laying a tiny wreath at the foot of the cross and believes that heaven's choir is singing the "Gloria" chorus beside the brokenhearted wife. He gazes at the "Gloria" Chorus, recalls the choir which sang it as all choirs have done, takes courage, and with heart, opens his window as of old and plays his violin with all his soul. Outside the aged neighbor is waiting for these tones: "A stranger, passing, stops, is charmed; finds the originator of the marvelous music; discovers in the discarded mass that for which he seeks, and through him fortune smiles and Stanton looks up: 'With a heart for any fate.'" Ruth turns from her mother, declares she shall starve with Stanton rather than turn from him. She goes to him, declares her purpose. Stanton puts the half-eaten loaf of bread aside, shows Ruth money and his turning tide. Stanton clasps Ruth to his breast. The old man looks in and smiles his blessing as he sees Ruth take the tiny dried wreath of leaves from Mozart's picture and lay it on her lover's brow.

Lady Mayne, her daughter, and her orphan niece wired Lady Berryman that they would be glad to entertain her almost-blind son in the quiet and seclusion of their hills. Jack Berryman came and Lady Mayne tried at once to arrange a love match between the wealthy Jack and her daughter. Her plans bade fair to mature, for Jack was much in the company of the pretty daughter, much to the daughter's dismay, for be it known the daughter was much in love with Jimmy Harrison. Then suddenly Jack Berryman went stone blind and Lady Mayne's daughter eloped with Jimmy Harrison, exacting a promise from the niece that she (the niece), would impersonate her. This was done with such excellent effect that the niece found herself deeply in love with Jack and Jack continued to love the gentle presence near him more fervently. The day came when Jack's sight was restored, and he saw the pretty impostor whom he had learned to love, so he went to the shrewd mother and surprised her.

Robert Sands, a sociologist, believes that there is good in all men irrespective of the depths to which they have fallen. To test his theory he picks up Jim Marsh, a social outcast, and installs him in his home as a servant. Mrs. Sands, a social butterfly, is skeptical of her husband's theories, and predicts that his experiment will fail. Jim finds and restores to her a piece of lost jewelry, but in spite of this, Mrs. Sands remains skeptical and treats him with continual distrust. In the course of events, Mrs. Sands loses heavily at bridge and gets into debt. Fearing to tell her husband, and dreading exposure, she surreptitiously takes money from his safe and is seen by Jim. When she has gone Jim enters the library and is puzzling over the matter when Sands enters unexpectedly and discovers him under suspicious circumstances. As Jim leaves the room Sands picks up a slip of paper from the floor bearing the safe combination. His wife, in her haste, had dropped it. Suspecting Jim, Sands opens the safe and discovers the money gone. Sick at heart, he goes to his wife and admits that his experiment has failed. By a supreme effort, Mrs. Sands conceals her guilt and is silent. Summoning Jim, Sands sadly charges him with the theft and tells him to leave the house. To shield the woman, Jim assumes the blame, but betrays the fact to Mrs. Sands that he knows of her guilt. When he is gone Mrs. Sands hastens guiltily to settle the card debt. Conscious-stricken and miserable, she is about to ring for admittance to the home of her friend when the door suddenly opens and Jim steps out. Shocked and amazed by his unexpected appearance, Mrs. Sands gets control of herself and coldly demands to know what he is doing there. Jim's explanation is simple. He had answered an ad "Butler Wanted," but had found upon applying that the position required good references. "I had none and they didn't want me." Stricken by the pathos of his explanation and awakened to a fresh realization of the wrong she had done him, Mrs. Sands repents of her act.

Miriam Howell has completed her musical education and her teacher gives a private recital for the benefit of some of the greatest opera managers in the country. The wonderful power and quality of her voice thrills even their critical tastes and a contract with an alluring salary is offered her. Imparting to her professor her contemplated matrimony, she is told that she will have to sacrifice love and marriage on the altar of ambition, if she would succeed in her operatic career. She returns to her home to think it over, when her lover calls and importunes her to marry him, she is undecided and shows him her offer and requests time to think. He tells her he will call for her decision in an hour, and leaves her. Seated in the firelight's glow, she becomes drowsy and soon is fast asleep. The maid enters and softly draws the shades and turns out the light. Ambition, personified, appears to the sleeping girl, and with a majestic wave of her arm bids her look upon her alluring future as an operatic star. She sees herself upon the stage with the sea of faces upturned to her, eagerly listening not to miss one note of her wonderful selection, "The Jewel Song." A thunder of applause is sweetest music to her ears and she is forced before the curtain again and again, before the audience is satisfied. Flowers and favors are showered upon her and she retreats to her dressing-room to find the managers and her teacher there to extend warmest congratulations. She is driven from the theater in her own car and eager people line the drive to throw flowers and bestow praise upon the accomplished vocalist. Miriam stirs in her dream, her hand unconsciously grasps a pen and she is about to sign the contract, but Cupid appears and dashing the pen from her hand bids her wait and he will show her future as a beloved wife and mother. Miriam sees herself arrayed in bridal robes and about to become the wife of Ed Templeton, The ceremony is performed and she goes to her new and delightful home. As the years pass by children come to bless their home and she is "supremely happy. Cupid's picture is also alluring. Miriam finds it impossible to choose, but they are awaiting her decision and at last Miriam asks, "Show me my old age." Ambition reluctantly again takes up the thread of the future, and Miriam sees herself in her dressing-room in a desperate attempt to appear young and beautiful. From time to time her hand strays to her throat, for it has troubled her of late. She hears the cue, and appears upon the stage and tries again to face that sea of upturned faces. A hush falls over the vast audience as she begins to sing. Soon a restlessness comes over her auditors, for her voice fails. And then the long dreaded climax comes, the most dreaded and cruel taunt, "the hiss" and she is forced to leave the stage. She returns to her lonely home and while eating her dinner in solitude she receives the final blow, a letter of dismissal. Ambition gives way to Cupid and he willingly and eagerly takes up the thread of her future under his guidance. She sees herself and her lover, Ed Templeton, grown old. It is true, but the sweet old age that has come with a life of serenity and happiness. Around them are their children, grown to manhood and womanhood, and little grandchildren who worship their grandparents. Miriam awakens from her dream and love to its uttermost has awakened in her heart. When Templeton calls, Miriam gives him her answer without reserve, for after what she has seen, she knows her better future.

Jim is a fisherman, shy and gentle, and devoted to children and his flute. He lives in the attic of Mrs. Carr's cottage. Mary Price takes refuge with Mrs. Carr from Jake Price, her husband, a drunkard. Her beauty and sweetness make a deep impression upon Jim, who, on declaring his love, learns to his dismay that she is married. Later he meets Jake, and for Mary's sake determines to try to make him reform. One day Jake is swept out to sea in a small fishing boat by a heavy storm. Jim saves him. When Jake, humble with gratitude, asks Jim how he can reward him, the latter asks him simply "to go home and take care of Mary." After that, Price leads a new life, and Mary is happy.

Billy entertains a young women in a café, and is relieved of his valuables. Leaving the café in disgust he meets his father, and Dad tells him that he needs a guardian. Billy, however, can't see the joke, but when he is rescued from an automobile accident by a droll individual, Percival Somber, he sees the wisdom of his father's remark, and offers Percival the job of guardian. Together they go to the club, where Percival asserts his guardianship when Billy starts drinking too much, and finally consents to let Billy sit in at a game of poker. When the game grows interesting and the stakes high, Percival compares the two hands and stops Billy's betting with, "Don't bet. He's got four kings." Percival stops the row which ensues and takes his charge out for a stroll. Passing a garden Billy, of course, spies a handsome women. The fair one is not averse to flirtation, and under the spell of the garden, the romance progresses rapidly. Billy and the lady are about to clasp hands when Percival interrupts with "Cease, it is too soon for that." They continue their stroll, with Percival following at a distance. Again the ardent one presses his suit and is just about to win a kiss when Percival warns, "That's not sanitary." There is too much Percival for Billy, who rushes to a secluded spot with the lady of his affections. Not being able to find his charge, Percival does the next best thing and discovers a nursemaid in charge of six children belonging to the lady. Frantic search reveals Billy on bended knee for his final plea. Percival drags Billy forth to view his discovery and Billy does not comprehend until the lady overtaking them is greeted by a chorus of "Hello, Mamma." As they stand on the outside of the garden looking in, Billy views his "almost" stepchildren and then turns and gazes fondly on Percival, who is thoroughly composed.

Episode 1: Dr. Ralph Burke, a scientist and inventor, perfects an apparatus enabling submarine craft to remain underwater indefinitely without relying wholly upon compressed air stored in the boat. The discovery is perfected at the opening of the story and has been offered to the United States government. Lieut. Jarvis Hope. U.S.N., is dispatched to witness a practical demonstration of the invention. Arriving in the city where Dr. Burke lives, Lieut. Hope meets an old acquaintance. Hook Barnacle, whose life he once saved. Hook had his right hand bitten off by a shark, and an iron hook being substituted gained for him the odd sobriquet. Hook escorts the lieutenant to the Burke home and relates to Cleo, the doctor's "daughter," how his life had been saved by the young naval officer. Cleo and Hope become mutually interested. Hook is much given to talking and it is not long before the entire village knows the reason for Lieut. Hope's visit. Among those who learn the news are Sextus, a Russian, and Satsuma, a Jap, working under the orders of one Mahlin. The following day is set for the demonstration. Satsuma watching his chance has secreted himself aboard the submarine. Olga Ivanoff, head of the Russian bureau in this country, receives a visit from Sextus, who is commanded by her to obtain the secret of the submarine. Meantime Calvin Montgomery, a wealthy lobbyist, upon advices from influential friends at Washington, sends his nephew, Gerald Morton, an unprincipled rounder, to obtain the secret. Gerald is suspicious of his uncle's interest in Cleo Burke, but fails to learn anything definite before he leaves to see the inventor. On board the submarine the apparatus is being manipulated satisfactorily and Lieut. Hope is much impressed. The party repairs to the salon for lunch, affording opportunity for Satsuma to crawl stealthily from his hiding place. The Jap is examining the mechanism of the invention when he is surprised by Dr. Burke, who gives the alarm. Sailors rush in to overpower the Jap but he is desperate. Shots are fired, one of which disables the Burke apparatus. Satsuma throws over the lever opening the conning tower trap, leaps up the ladder, gains the top and dives off into the sea as the boat quickly sinking is almost lost to view. The water pours down through the open trap. The air machine is broken and with the boat uncontrollable, the inventor and his party battle for life in the watery darkness.

Rich, who is somewhat of a grouch, refuses to accompany his pretty young wife to a card party. Being a "spunky" little woman, Jane goes by herself. Left alone for the evening, Rich determines to make her sorry and hatches a scheme. Summoning Wise, his friend, he obtains his assistance. Rich goes to his wife's room, and removes the contents of her jewel case. He then gets Wise to securely bind and gag him. His scheme is to make Jane believe, on her return, that a thief had rendered him helpless. Wise goes home and foolishly confides the joke to his wife. Mrs. Wise secretly sends Jane a note, informing her of the trick. Highly elated, Jane shows the note to her friends and hastens home. Meanwhile, "Second Story" Ike, a burglar, looks in and discovers Rich gagged and helpless. Entering, he relieves him of all of his possessions, including Jane's jewels, which Rich has placed in his pocket. Delighted over the easy haul, Ike then starts out to ransack the house. While he is thus engaged, Jane comes home and proceeds to torture poor Rich, who is utterly helpless. She tickles him nearly to death. Finally she shows him Mrs. Wise's note and for punishment, decides to leave him tied up for the night. Poor Rich struggles frantically at his bonds, but owing to the gags in his mouth, is unable to tell Jane of the robbery. She bids him "good-night" and goes to her room highly amused. Entering she is horrified to discover a man in the closet and nearly faints. Slamming the door shut, she locks him in and summons a cop. Ike is dragged off to jail and when Rich gets the gag out of his mouth he solemnly swears never again to indulge in a practical joke.

When a young bride, newly entered into society, discovers she is pregnant, she consults an old friend on the most effective means of abortion. The friend gives her a potent drug, and that night the woman locks herself in her room, presses the potion bottle to her lips, falls across her bed and begins to dream. In her dream, her husband finds out about her abortion and demands a divorce. Years pass and the woman, now decrepit and alone, is visited by the ghost of her "Child-That-Might-Have-Been." The ghost takes her on a spiritual journey where she sees her husband, who is remarried and happy with his own family, hundreds of smiling babies wrapped in flowers in Babyland, and finally her own death and damnation. At her demise, she wakes from her nightmare, joyful to find the drug untouched, and rushes to tell her husband about her impending motherhood.

Hal, the rich and good-for-nothing son of a rich man, is thrown out by his father after another night out. He ends up in the West and living with a gold digger. He'll help him with his daughter and they all will become fond of each other.

Steve Frazer, a young cowpuncher on the Bar X Ranch, loved Madie, the winsome daughter of Chet Howard, the sheriff, and she was not indifferent to the manly cowboy. Loverlike, they had a post office in the mountains, among the rocks, and many little notes were exchanged between the happy pair. The mountains sheltered a pair of holdup men, who had long terrorized the country, and the cattlemen after a conference, decided to offer a reward for the capture, dead or a live, of the mysterious bandits. The notices were posted by the sheriff, but the depredations of the bandits continued, and one morning a ranchman, going home with a large amount of money, the payroll for his employees, was held up and robbed by one of the pair. The bandit escaped into the shelter of the mountain and by a strange coincidence cached the bag of gold in the lover's post office. Shortly after Steve Frazer rode up to get his accustomed note and found instead the bag of gold. Leaving the note and taking the gold, he hurries to the sheriff's home to report his discovery. A posse is formed and they start immediately for the scene of the holdup. In the meantime the bandit who committed the daring crime has sent his confederate, with minute instructions, to procure the gold cached in the lover's post office. He finds the place, but instead of the desired gold he finds a note: "If you love me as I love you, No knife can cut our love in two." Believing that his partner has duped him, he returns to the rendezvous and accuses him of double crossing him. This is denied emphatically, and together they return to the rock, but only find the note. Both are now thoroughly angry, and accusations against each other are fast and furious. "When thieves fall out, honest men get their dues," and forgetting where they are, start to fight. They are thus engaged when the posse come upon them and they are easily captured. The reward offered for their capture goes to Steve Frazer and he is now in a position to claim the winsome Madie Howard, and the culmination is a happy one.

Ole Johnson decides that he ought to marry. Decides to insert an ad. in the paper. He receives an answer from a Swedish girl in a town not far from his home. Ole answers the maiden's letter sending her a photograph of himself and requesting one of her's in return. Steena Iverson, the lady fair, is not the most beautiful lady in existence, and fearing to spoil her chances of marriage, decides not to send one of her photos but one of her mistress instead. Ole receives the photo and decides to pay a visit to Steena. Meanwhile the lady of the house, Mrs. Gaylife has been informed by her husband that he has been called away. Mrs. Gaylife intends not to be lonely during her husband's absence, so sends for another companion. They leave to spend a pleasant evening together. Ole has arrived to pay the promised visit to his unknown lady love. Steena allows him to enter, but Ole cannot see her face, which is covered by a veil. He begs and pleads with her to remove it, but she refuses. Confusion is heard outside announcing the return of Mrs. Gaylife and her vis-a-vis. Steena hides Ole in the closet as Mrs. Gaylife and gentleman enter. They are enjoying a quite tete-a-tete, when the bell rings outside announcing the return of Mr. Gaylife. Mrs. Gaylife tells the gentleman to go into the closet, but instead he hides behind the screen. Mr. Gaylife enters and embraces his wife and turns to place his grip and coat in the closet when she stops him, takes them from him and leaves the room with them. Husband becomes suspicious, turns and sees Ole's hat and cane, thanks he is wise, starts for closet when Mrs.Gaylife stops him. He accuses her and she having seen the friend behind the screen, goes to the door to prove him wrong. She opens the doors and Ole comes out. Husband demands an explanation. Ole tells him he came to marry Mrs. Gaylife, showing the photograph. Mrs. Gaylife tells him she has never seen him before. Steena has overheard the whole transaction and tells them he came to marry her. Ole gets one glance at Steena's face and makes a getaway. Mr. and Mrs. Gaylife embrace most lovingly and while they are paying no attention to him, Mr. Friend makes a getaway unseen by anyone.

John Holland and his wife Kate are happy together until his book, "The Unseen Vengeance," makes him famous. It was inspired by the story of a Russian girl whose father, a political refugee, was assassinated by government spies. She becomes a celebrated actress, and Holland, now the literary lion of the day, meets her at a social function and becomes infatuated with her. He deserts Kate for Olga, and vengeance pursues him in the guise of failure, remorse, illness, and finally abandonment by the woman for whom he has sacrificed everything. Kate learns of his plight. Her love has been constant, and hers is a big-enough nature to comprehend her husband's sincere repentance and forgive his weakness. She goes to him, and they are reunited.

The fugitive was reported in the vicinity and the sheriff, after a hasty call on his sweetheart, gathered his posse and gave hot pursuit. Over the mountains they galloped madly, the fugitive running almost in a circle. In front of the cabin sat Grace Merriwell, the sheriff's sweetheart, when suddenly before her stood the hunted one. Instantly she recognized her brother and secreted him in the house. The sheriff, tracking his man unfailingly, stopped at the cabin. He entered and the excited girl made known her brother's presence in the house. The sheriff hesitated. It was love or duty and the sheriff chose love. Taking the fugitive by the hand he made him secrete himself in another room. The posse entered and all felt satisfied with the sheriff's word but Higgins. He, suspicious, went from room to room and with lightning-like rapidity the hunted man changed his hiding place. When they had all gone, the sheriff bowed his head. Taking the star from his breast he threw it on the table for he knew that his day was over. Between love and duty he had chose love.

Keith Gordon, a young violinist, the protege of Von Ezdorf, an old music teacher, has acquired the magic touch, but lacks "the heart of flame." His teacher tells him it will surely come. Maylenheimer, the impresario, through long friendship for Von Ezdorf, agrees to hear young Keith play, and is so impressed that he offers to contract for a concert tour which will bring both fame and fortune to the young violinist. Keith, longing for the open, begs his teacher to take a trip to the ton of a nearby mountain. Proceeding on horseback, they stop at the "Silver Star Inn," a rough log cabin, conducted by Nita, an old gypsy woman. Keith, while fishing in the woods, meets Zira, a mountain girl. While roaming the woods together they meet Checo, a savage gypsy knife thrower, in love with Zira, who vows vengeance on Keith and plots with old Nita, the innkeeper, for his destruction. Von Ezdorf, coming upon Keith and Zira in the mountain wildness, is enraptured with the wild melody Keith is playing. Von Ezdorf claims it is genius, but Keith claims he is inspired by "his heart of flame" as he calls Zira. Having outstayed their time, Von Ezdorf receives a letter from Maylenheimer demanding their immediate return, and Keith reluctantly departs, promising Zira that he will return. They exchange tokens, vowing their love. Returning to the city, Keith makes his debut, playing his own composition, "The Heart of Flame." His success is assured and Von Ezdorf is happy, but Keith turns indifferent to the praise showered upon him. Continually thinking of Zira, he decides that he will return to the mountain, and so tells Von Ezdorf. Thinking only of Keith's career, Von Ezdorf determines to thwart his plans by informing Zira that his genius belongs to the public, and that if she really loves him she should give him up. This she agrees to do. True to her promise, Zira informs Keith that she has made a great mistake and really loves Checo. Keith departs, bewildered and downhearted, and Checo, who overheard their conversation, advances his unwelcome love. During a struggle Checo accidentally receives a slight knife wound, which so enrages him that he vows to kill Keith at once. Beppa, a gypsy girl, who is jealous of Zira, overheard Checo and Nita plotting, and informs Zira of Keith's danger. Zira follows Checo to the city, and at the stage entrance finds him with drawn knife making his way through the crowd of admirers which surround Keith. As he raises his arm to throw his knife Zira springs upon Checo, and in the struggle he stabs her. Keith, advancing to the prostrate form, recognizes his sweetheart, and, gathering the body in his arms, carries her to his dressing room. Overcome with grief, Keith acts as if in a trance, unconscious of all around him. Not knowing the delay, the audience clamors for Keith's appearance. Von Ezdorf and Maylenheimer plead with Keith to go on, as the audience is leaving. Von Ezdorf's pleadings stir Keith to his duty, and he consents to appear on the stage. With a heart full of sorrow he renders his selections to the delight of his audience. Returning to the dressing room, his grief is complete, and closing the door he gives vent to his sorrow over the body of his "heart of flame."

At a remote army fort in the desert, Alice Corbett--a widow with a small daughter--makes money by doing laundry and cooking for the soldiers. Sgt. Barnes, a scout at the post, gradually falls in love with her. One night at a party for the commanding officer, Col. Sears, Barnes sees Dr. Deschamps, the post physician, making a pass at Mrs. Sears. The next day he spots the two riding together, and later confronts Deschamps, demanding that he resign his commission or be exposed for his attempt to seduce the colonel's wife. Deshamps has no intention of resigning, and together with half-breed Unitah, who hates Barnes for beating him in a fight, comes up with a plan to get rid of Barnes without the crime being traced back to him.

Tom Allen, an industrious young miner, warns Beatrice, his wife, against Joe Hills, a worthless chap, who is continually hanging around their cabin. Hills steals Allen's gold, and is discovered by Beatrice hiding in a closet just as her husband comes in. Allen suspicious of his wife's relations with Hills, in a sudden fit of rage, drives her from the house. She is found many miles away, exhausted, and some time after this she gives birth to a child. Meanwhile Allen discovers in the closet the hidden nuggets and some baby things. He is convinced of his mistake and sets out in search of Beatrice. Five years later, Allen recognizes Hills in a saloon. The later fires at him and in returning the fire, Allen kills his enemy. He takes refuge in a barn, where he is found by a small boy, who leads him to his mother. Thus he finds Beatrice. She hides her husband from the sheriff, but the child innocently gives away his father's presence. Allen surrenders. Upon trial, however, he is acquitted of shooting in self-defense a man long wanted for murder. The Allens are then happily reunited.

Steve, who works for a local bank, is strolling through the park on a Saturday and meets pretty young Mary. Wanting to impress her, he tells her that he is an officer in the bank, neglecting to mention that he is actually a security officer--a bank guard. Mary, on her part, tells him that her father is an engineer, but it turns out that he's actually an "engineer" on a steamroller. They are instantly attracted to each other, though, and romance blooms, resulting in their being engaged to be married. Both, however, are worried about what will happen when they find out that each was fibbing to the other--which happens a lot sooner than they counted on.

Billy and Jim are old friends, and rivals in love. Billy takes Marion Carroll to the theater and to supper afterwards. She orders and orders and keeps on ordering, until Billy finds that he hasn't enough money to foot the bill. Hearing his friend Jim's voice in the adjoining booth (which, however, Marion cannot hear from her side of the table), he excuses himself for a moment and goes to ask his rival for a loan. Jim is determined to drive a bargain instead. He says he'll pay for the supper if Billy will let him eat it and take Marion home. Reluctantly Billy consents. He fakes a phone call and hurries away. Jim takes Marion home in a taxi, and then is driven to his apartments. There he discovers that he cannot pay the driver. He is arrested and borne off to police headquarters, whence he phones Billy to come around and pay his fine. But Billy is sore. Instead, he calls up Marion and gives her the message. But little does he know the girl. She turns up at the station house just before him, drags poor dumbfounded Jim out before his eyes, bundles him into the taxi and whisks him off. Back in his rooms, Billy has a phone call, and Marion, in sweetest tones, announces, "So good of you to let me know. I got him, and we're engaged."

Two men playing cards, the argument, flash of a revolver, and one lay dead. The murderer homeward fled, hurried his little girl baby into a west-bound train and was heard of no more. The years passed and boyish Jim Conway grew to manhood with the sole purpose of seeking out his father's murderer to deal justice to him. He went West and was one day, lost in the mountains. He called for help and help came in the form of a sweet-faced woman who led him to her home. He spent the following weeks with her and the aged father, learned to love the mountain nymph for her beauty of soul and fair face. One day she asked him his reasons for being in the hill country, and he, lover-like confided his secret. Behind the door, sat the white-haired father. He rose, shook himself like a leaf as he invited the young man into the house. And there he confessed the deed, baring his chest for the expected blow. But none fell for love had sweetened the poison of his thought.

Josiah Pringle, a benevolent old musician, who ekes out his livelihood by giving music lessons, after playing the organ for twenty years in the church of a little New England hamlet, must make way for a younger man, Gordon Howard, who comes from Boston. Faith Pringle, adopted by Josiah and his aged sister, Letitia, is leader of the choir, and when Pringle is replaced, she refuses to sing, but relents at Pringle's gentle insistence. When the new organist appears, Pringle's pupils leave him for the younger man, but he feels no resentment against Howard and compliments him on his playing. A young ruffian attacks Faith, but Howard rescues her and Pringle, deeply appreciative, invites Howard to the house. For many years Pringle has been working upon an improvement in organs. He shows the model to Howard who discovers a point that has baffled the old musician for ten years. The young ruffian, seeking a way to revenge himself on Howard through Pringle, shows Pringle a newspaper bearing the picture of a young man, resembling Howard closely, sought as an embezzler, but Pringle, in his kindly way, says that if Howard has reformed, he will not be the first to persecute him. Pringle places his model in the hands of Howard, to obtain a patent. Howard writes that he has secured an advance of $20,000 royalties and they hear nothing further from him. As the weeks drag by and Pringle's small store of money is exhausted, he and his sister are forced to the decision that Faith must be returned to the orphanage whence she came. The day of her departure comes all too soon. At the last moment, Howard comes in and explains that after receiving the money he placed it in a safe for the time being. In passing a building in the course of construction, he was injured. At the hospital to which he was taken, no means of identification were found on him, and just as soon as he recovered his memory he returned to the Pringles. The cloud on his antecedents is cleared when he looks at the newspaper pictures and says "My brother, the poor fellow is dead now." Through Howard's influence, Pringle is reinstated as organist and the friendship between Faith and Howard quickly ripens into love.

Nathaniel Pettibone is a well-to-do banker in a small town. His sister, Mehetable, keeps house for him. Nathaniel, Junior, is off at college and he and his classmate, Edgar Grayson, imagine themselves in love with Flavia Pearson, "the college widow." Edgar then decides to take matters in hand and writes an anonymous letter to Nathaniel, Senior, that his son is falling in love "with a woman old enough to be his mother." As calculated, the letter stirs the "old man" into action and he and his sister leave for the college town. Arrived, Nathaniel, Sr., leaves Mehetable at the hotel, the while he goes to, make a call on the boys, both of whom he finds engrossed in their studies. He discovers that each is the owner of a framed photograph of "the lady in the case" and asks about the original in a casual, conversational manner. Nathaniel, Junior, tells who she is, and the "old man" suggests that they call upon her. This is speedily arranged by the obliging son, but Edgar pleads studies as an excuse for not going. During their call father suggests a bite to eat, but at a sign from Nathaniel, Junior, the "widow" demurs, saying that she seldom goes anywhere. The callers leave shortly and father asks son where there is a good cabaret, but of course son doesn't know. Father is wise and doesn't say anything, but asks the first policeman he meets. Nathaniel, Junior, decides that he must hurry back to his studies and father starts for the cabaret alone, but on the way gets a hunch. He 'phones the widow and insists that he will call for her in ten minutes. Son gets a similar hunch and invites her to meet him at the Louvre Café. Then Edgar, bored with study, gets a kindred hunch and extends a similar invitation. Father arrives and escorts the "widow" to the white lights. She steers father to the Louvre Café, where they come face to face with the two boys, each seated at a separate table. Father tells the waiter to see what the boys will have, but the injured and insulted pair start out. Father suggests the opera and while he is out buying some flowers for the fair lady, Nathaniel, Junior, succeeds in becoming reinstated in the "widow's" good graces. Mehetable, hungry and neglected, starts out to get some dinner and encounters young Nathaniel at the café. He hurries her into a taxi, explaining that father will be there soon, and when father appears on the scene, Nathaniel, Junior, tells him "she" is waiting. Nathaniel, Senior, enters the taxi to find he has been fooled and Mehetable sharply reminds him that he needs a nurse.