A Diplomat Interrupted

A melodrama in which a United States colonel who has charge of fortifications loses at cards more than he can pay to a Russian count who is a spy and wants to get plans of the fortress. The count loves the colonel's older daughter. The colonel in despair, compromises with his honor and, rather than give him the daughter, prepares to hand over to him what he thinks is the plan of the fort. His younger daughter and her lover, however, have eavesdropped and change the papers. The other daughter also discovers the trouble and tells her father that she'll marry the count to save his honor. At the climax, the frustrated count snatches the envelope and hurries away. He finds worthless papers in it. The story outrages human probability, common sense and even decency. There were some very uncritical members of the audience who seemed to like it. It is well photographed. The scenes m several instances are very pretty. - The Moving Picture World, February 10, 1912