Visionary Picks Drawn from the Same DNA as Artie, the Millionaire Kid: Cult Guide

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A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of In the Shadow perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Dr. John Wright is a young, rising physician. His wife, who was raised in luxury, rebels at their present poverty. Having received an invitation to a great social event, she pleads with her husband to devise some means for obtaining finery, so as to be able to accept the invitation. He borrows two sets of jewels, one of which she loses at the ball. Both are panic stricken. He gives his note for $5,000 to cover the loss. Later he makes a great surgical discovery and becomes famous. Four crooked promoters seek his endorsement to lend legitimacy to their fake tuberculosis cure and promise him $50,000. He refuses. Later the conspirators secure the promissory note and threaten foreclosure. This, and his wife's entreaties to accept the money, influence him to do so. The promoters build a sanatorium and use their dangerous "Alligator Serum." Dr. Wright's little daughter contracts tuberculosis while her father is away at the sanatorium looking over the records. The number of deaths here astound him. Realizing the "Cure" to be a fake, he demands the elimination of his name. They refuse and a struggle ensues. The doctor is wounded and they, fearing exposure, imprison him in the sanatorium. Meanwhile the chief promoter makes advances to the shallow wife and claims the doctor has deserted her, but she repulses him and rushes into another room into the arms of her husband, who has escaped. After hearing her story, the doctor throttles the promoter and ejects him from their home. He then finds his child has been given the fatal serum. Dr. Wright hears that a warrant is out for his arrest, on account of his connection with the sanatorium. Grieving over his threatened arrest, the possible death of his only child and his future ruin, he seizes his revolver, contemplating suicide. The three promoters rush in to buy his silence, but all are filled with fear as the police approach. The doctor, followed by the fear-crazed promoters, rushes out and jumps into a launch. They are pursued by another boat containing the police, who open fire. One of the police bullets strikes the gasoline on board the doctor's boat, which explodes, blowing boat and occupants high in the air. Dr. Wright, the survivor, is only slightly injured, and being caught, he is sentenced to "Thirty Years at Hard Labor," for manslaughter. Broken and dejected from the fate which has followed her foolish vanity and her insistence upon her husband accepting the $50,000, and remorse over her fast-failing child, the doctor's wife sits and watches her baby die of tuberculosis. She earns her living by sewing, and meets him after some years of privation at the prison gate, when he has been pardoned after contracting the dread disease. She accompanies him to the famous Adirondack Sanatorium, where he is cured within one year amidst characteristic scenes in and about the sanatorium. The two, now thoroughly restored to health and sanity through their terrible experiences, find much to live for in their mutual, understanding love, though without riches.

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A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of The Path Forbidden perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Gordon, the only son of a smuggler chief, is sent with a companion from his father's stronghold to travel so that he may learn the ways of the world. At their first stopping place he falls in love with a young woman, Marion Williams, and marries her against his father's orders, keeping her in ignorance of who he is and what his past has been. Shortly after his marriage he receives a message that his father is dying, and in his attempt to visit his parent secretly is seriously injured. His wife nurses him back to health, and then demands an explanation. He confessed all, and because of the great love she bears him and their child she forgives and even consents to accompany him on a visit to his father. While there the band, including Gordon, is captured by the customs police, but Marion escapes, becomes lost in the wilderness and is found almost drowned in a mountain stream by Jim Bartlett, the paymaster of a lumber camp. As a result of her privations her memory of the past is a blank. She marries Jim. After several years Gordon and his companion are released from prison and return to the mountains. They apply to Bartlett for work, but he has no places for them. Continuing on their way they reach Jim's cabin, and Gordon, leaving his companion on the outside as a lookout, enters to rob it. Inside he sees a woman and attempts to overpower her. In the struggle he meets her face to face; it is his wife. The shock restores her memory. At this moment Jim enters the cabin and in astonishment beholds his wife in another man's arms. Not receiving an explanation, he turns to Gordon and says, "I will give you one hour to explain or fight." For Marion's sake he leaves in silence, removes the bullets from the cartridges in his revolver, and in the duel which follows is mortally wounded. His foe, learning of his act, removes him to the cabin where Gordon, with his last breath, whispers, "I married her years ago; she thought me dead."

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A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of The Question perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Tom Ward visits his college chum, Bob Bell, and while hunting, is wounded by his friend by mistake. During his convalescence he falls in love with Bob's sister, Grace. The two young men leave tor college. Bob is a model student and the leader in the college athletics, while Tom neglects his studies, spending most of his time in idleness and over the gambling table. The college authorities object to his wild ways, and he is summoned to the Dean's office, where he is severely reprimanded. An altercation follows, and the Dean orders the hotheaded student from the office. In the meanwhile, Bob, knowing of Tom's financial difficulties, posts a challenge on the board in the name of the Masked Wonder, to meet all comers, "winner take all." The notice attracts Tom's attention, and he accepts in the name of the Masked Unknown. An unfortunate blow knocks out Bob, and Tom is horror-stricken when he finds that his masked opponent is his dearest friend, and learns that the blow will probably prove fatal. To make matters worse, while the boxing match is in progress, the Dean has been attacked and robbed, and Tom is accused of this by the Dean's housekeeper. Tom's first impulse is to stand and face the music, but the students prevail upon him to hide and then flee. Tom is pursued by the police, but makes his escape, first by rail and then by hydroplane motorboat, closely followed by his pursuers. He finally shakes them off. In an exhausted condition, Tom is fed and cared for by the fisher girl whom he chances to meet. Mr. Bell, investigating an abandoned mine, takes his daughter Grace with him. While admiring the beauties of the scenery, Grace is approached by a snake, and it viciously buries its fangs in her foot. Grace's outcry brings Nellie, the fisher girl, to her aid. Grace assures her deliverer of her profound gratitude. Bob recovers from the blow received in the fight, and starts out to find Tom, of whom all traces have been lost. He is unsuccessful in this, but during his search happens upon Nellie, the fisher girl, who tells him that Tom, fearing pursuit, has wandered on. Bob falls in love with Nellie and takes her home to introduce her to his father and sister, and makes new plans to find Tom. On reaching his home, Bob finds the entire household much excited over the nocturnal visits of a mysterious "Shadow." Nellie is taken into the conference, and Grace immediately recognizes her as the girl who saved her life. Bob suspects that her "Shadow" evidently is not bent on theft, and lays a trap to ascertain why the "Shadow" prowls around the house, and distributing the members of the family in advantageous positions, turns out the lights and awaits the coming of the mysterious visitor. In due time the "Shadow" arrives. Bob springs upon him, the lights are turned on, and all present are overjoyed to find that the "Shadow" is none other than the long-sought Tom. Tom is happy to find that Bob is alive, and when Bob tells him that he is no longer under the suspicion of the assault of the Dean, Tom turns to Grace, and Bob turns to Nellie. You know the rest.

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Twenty-five years ago, a frivolous, beautiful girl, Violet Dare, created havoc among the summer boarders at an Adirondack hotel. Two young chaps, Joe Brill and Jim Kent, were the favored ones, but Joe finally married her. Later Violet travels the "Path Forbidden," carousing with male friends, and is finally driven out by the husband, Joe Brill. She wishes to take one of the twin children, but the husband forbids. So she steals one little girl and takes her away. Years later we see the twins grown to womanhood. Neither know of the existence of the other. Pearl, the stolen one, is leading the life her mother led when alive. Lucy is the aid and comfort of the father, who, through unwise investments, loses his money, the shock of which causes a stroke and is removed to an asylum. Lucy then runs a country hotel. Pearl, the evil sister, has gained the love of an honorable young lawyer, Curtis Holmes, who will not marry her unless she gives up her forbidden life. She promises, and the wedding is announced. At the last moment, a dope and race track tout persuades her to go away with him. Traveling by auto, they have an accident, Pearl is carried to the hotel run by Lucy. The sisters notice the marked resemblance but think it merely a co-incidence. Curtis, missing Pearl, follows to the hotel, where he mistakes Lucy for Pearl, but soon finds out his error. He later finds in Lucy all that he had wished for in Pearl, so he transfers his affections. The father recovers and is brought home by Lucy. Shortly after the barn dance, Pearl disguises as Lucy and in lighting a cigarette sets fire to the place and in trying to escape sprains her ankle and faints from pain. The father, Joe Brill, taking his first stroll in the evening, notices the blaze and is told by the farmers that Lucy is in there. Without thought for himself, he carries Pearl out and takes her to the hotel. There he sees it is not Lucy and memory goes back to two small cradles. Asking her name and her mother's he finds his other daughter, Pearl, discovering a father, something she had never known, resolves to leave the "Path Forbidden" and be the comfort of her father who needs her now that Lucy has married Curtis.

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Ralph Tudor, rich, and loving children, marries Grace Hamilton, a spoiled society girl, who determines to avoid maternity, and keep up her social fun. Anna Lee works for Tudor, but is blackmailed by her worthless father. Frank Gray, an artist, is in love with Anna, but she thinks she is in love with Tudor. Tudor's partner. Hyatt, is ousted from the firm because he insulted her. Tudor finds that his wife has been avoiding maternity, and she admits that she does not intend to have any children. Tudor takes to drink and his wife gives a dog party. Alone with Anna, Tudor explains matters, and they go away on an illicit honeymoon. Gray finds them. Anna leaves Tudor and he goes to Brazil. He learns that Anna is in trouble, wires Ryan, his confidential clerk, to take money from the safe and place it to her credit. Ryan is assaulted by Anna's father, and is struck by Grace Tudor's automobile. The cash is found on him. Hyatt claims it was stolen from the firm, and that he has an interest in it. Ryan is taken to a hospital, and Lee, in an attempt to kill Hyatt, is himself killed by a fall down a staircase. In Brazil, Tudor's mail tells him of the Ryan affair, and a latter from Grace which causes him to return at once. Anna dies, and her landlady advertises her child for adoption. Grace gets it and a letter which Anna left, stating that Tudor was the child's father. Tudor comes home, and Grace, a changed and repentant woman, permits Tudor to learn to whom the child belongs. She begs forgiveness, which Tudor grants as she exclaims, "It is our baby."