Masterpiece Selection Resonating with the Themes of Edgar's Little ...

Dir: E. Mason Hopper

The valet of Lord Harold Varden, on a secret mission to our Government, has been murdered. Dick Holloway, a reporter, detailed to the story, calls on Lord Varden just as the latter feels the effects of poison administered to him. He takes the place of the nobleman when his American cousins come for him, and not only saves his lordship's papers, but captures the spies detailed to get them.

Dir: E. Mason Hopper

Julie Davenant is the neglected daughter of a Parisian dancer who, tired of her life, commits suicide. With her last breath she tells Julie not to trust men. Julie begins her battle with life as a nursemaid. Sculptor John Ramsey spies the beautiful little girl, gives her his card, and when she is discharged from her nursemaid position she becomes his model. She becomes the most talked-of model in Paris, and modiste Hermineux pays her a handsome sum to have her likeness made in wax, on which he displays his gowns. Julie meets Melville Ilchester, who seems "different." He also falls deeply in love with her. Ilchester, to satisfy a query in his mind if Julie is really "different," goes to her flat at night and walks in just as she, on a dare, takes a sip of wine and lights a cigarette. He refuses to listen to her explanation. In a moment of despair, Ilchester smashes both window and model at the Hermineux shop. Julie surmises Helen (Ilchester's sister) and Ramsey's plan to elope, sends Ilchester a note to go to Ramsey's because a friend is in danger, tells Helen that Ramsey is married, and hides her as Ilchester enters Ramsey's studio. Ilchester, believing this is a ruse of Julie's, leaves, still refusing to allow Julie to explain. Heartbroken she abandons her profession as a model and becomes destitute. She sends Ilchester a last note of appeal, which Helen accidentally sees, and after hearing the truth from his sister, Ilchester hastens to Julie, explanations are made and their happiness is assured.

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

Dir: E. Mason Hopper

Charlotte Carter, a young songwriter, moves to New York and settles in the city's Bohemian quarter. When Peter Ladislaw, one of her admirers, confesses that he has forged a number of checks and is in danger of arrest, the good-hearted girl promises to help him. Olga Grey, a dishonest schemer, convinces Charlotte to marry wealthy arts patron Gerard Townshend, who has been injured in an auto accident and is near death. Charlotte consents and the two are wed, but following an operation, Gerard recovers. Ashamed, Charlotte confesses that she married Gerard for his money, and he forgives her. Olga and Peter try to frame them for a divorce, but the couple, now deeply in love, rid themselves of the crooks and begin their marriage again.

Dir: E. Mason Hopper

Colonel Dabney Mills, whose Southern plantation is heavily mortgaged, makes a trip to New York hoping to borrow money from James Adams, his granddaughter Anna Belle's husband. When the colonel arrives, he learns that Adams's entire capital is tied up in a big stock deal, and that he is therefore unable to lend the colonel any assistance. While Adams is away, one of his business partners entrusts the colonel with $5,000 to retain for his grandson-in-law. Desperate, the colonel speculates in cotton on the tip of an old friend and loses the money. Conscience-stricken, the colonel returns to his plantation determined to take his life, but Adams, successful in his deal, arrives just in time to prevent the tragedy.

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

Dir: E. Mason Hopper

Young Polly Eccles is raising her sickly young brother Billy. When her doctor advises taking Billy away from their dank slum, she packs them both up and they head for California. While hitchhiking there, they are picked up by Kirk Drummond, who just happens to be driving to California himself. Upon their arrival, Kirk's wealthy father John is horrified that he has hooked up with a "lower-class" woman like Polly and does everything he can to make life miserable for her so she will leave. However, an incident occurs at the mine John's father owns that could turn out badly for all concerned.

Dir: E. Mason Hopper

Mynderse Van Dyun, a wealthy old New York aristocrat, has one goal in life, to see his granddaughter Catherine and grandson Pell married; for, although they are cousins, the marriage would perpetuate the family name. Catherine, however, is in love with Paul La Farge and detests her drug-addicted cousin, who seduces and then secretly marries her maid, Nora Duffy. After a son is born to Nora, who dies in childbirth, the infant is taken to the Van Dyun house where, only a few days before, Pell, in a dispute involving drugs, had been thrown from a window by his valet and killed. When the old man refuses to acknowledge the child, Catherine and Paul adopt the baby, leave the Van Dyun house and are married. Five years later, Catherine comes to visit the old man with his great-grandson, and, seeing what a fine boy he is, the old aristocrat is forced to admit that the boy is worthy of bearing his name.

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

Dir: E. Mason Hopper

Dr. Manning cherishes Gloriana, his newly-adopted young daughter, but Mrs. Manning, who directs overseas charity projects, has as little concern for Gloriana as she does for the poverty-stricken people in her own city. After listening to her new mother philosophize about the importance of charity, Gloriana takes some money from Mrs. Manning's desk and gives it to Miriam, her impoverished governess. Mrs. Manning at first accuses Miriam of theft, but when Gloriana confesses, Mrs. Manning suddenly realizes that she has been blind to the poverty that surrounds her, and she vows to start devoting her energy into helping those who are closer to home.

Dir: E. Mason Hopper

Helen Ainsworth, a young philanthropist, who is interested in a prison reform movement, is engaged to Norman Morris, administrator of the Ainsworth millions and the undiscovered "man higher up," grafting through his influence with prison wardens. He is also having an "affair" with Felice, Helen's maid, an ex-convict. Governor Havens sends for Huntington Babbs, prison expert, who enters the prison as a convict, is discovered by Helen and made her secretary upon his release. Morris is jealous of the good-looking secretary and he makes Felice "plant" a necklace which he has presented to Helen, in Babbs' room. Babbs discovers the plot, and Morris, overhearing his plan to visit a certain place in the rough part of the city, for Helen, plans to get him. He orders the gang to murder him. Helen accompanies Babbs (or Conroy, as he is known). Morris learns Helen has gone and reaches the place just as the men have nearly overpowered Conroy. Morris allows the men to escape, but Helen refuses his offer to take her home, preferring Conroy. Infuriated, Morris plans to have the Ainsworth safe burglarized the night of Helen's party. Conroy discovers the burglar and that he is Gilligan, whom he befriended in prison. Conroy sends a note to the Governor by Gilligan. Just as the burglar leaves, the guests of the house enter the library. Conroy is accused, but Helen allows no arrests. She orders Conroy to leave the house. Morris betrays the girl Felice by suggesting her arrest as an accomplice. Morris accompanies Helen to the Governor's office. The Governor requests an interview with Morris and accuses him of being the "man higher up." Morris asks for his witnesses and a door is opened, disclosing Gilligan and the gang, and Felice. Conroy is introduced as Huntington Babbs, prison expert. Morris is staggered. Helen overjoyed. Morris is arrested, but just as he is leaving Felice shoots him. Unconsciously, Helen goes into the arms of the man she loves.

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

Dir: E. Mason Hopper

Quartus Hembly, a man without a conscience, is the ruler of the town of Copper City, having made himself rich at the expense of his workers. When Donald Keith, a young lawyer, arrives in town, a hidden spring within him is touched after Hembly viciously kicks his dog. Keith refuses to leave town and warns Hembly that he will fight to see that the people get their rights. Keith's only ally is Thora Erickson, the daughter of Hembly's henchman. Keith's opportunity to topple Hembly presents itself when he rescues Bill Wheeler, who, out of gratitude, confesses that it was Hembly who dynamited the log jam years earlier. With the lawyers and the courts in the palm of his hand, Hembly is acquitted, but the townspeople are so outraged that they capture Hembly and tie him to the whipping post. He is rescued by Keith, who forces a full confession for all Hembly's crimes and then allows him to leave town. Keith is then made district attorney, Thora becomes his bride, and Copper City becomes a decent place in which to live.

Dir: E. Mason Hopper

An alchemist, about to be burned at the stake, tells his captors that some day the teachings of the alchemists will be generally believed. The alchemist taught that the human character goes through a process of evolution and in the effort to conquer conditions about him, man finds his birth of character. Harry is in love with Grace. She is the good influence in his life. His companions influence him in the other direction. Large losses at cards make him desperate so that at a dance he is momentarily tempted to steal a diamond-studded hair ornament. The impulse immediately and he returns it, explaining that it dropped to the floor and he picked it up. Unfortunately a witness to both the impulse and the quick wit in pulling himself out of the dilemma was Darby, a master criminal. Later Harry is dragged to a gambling joint by his friends; the place is raided through Harry's bitter rival, Arthur Vane, from whom he rescues Alice, a girl who assists her father in the management of the place. All the boys are arrested except Harry, whom Alice saves by means of a secret door. He thus meets her father, who proves to be Darby. This leads Harry to his becoming the tool of Darby, and he is on the downward path. Harry and Grace become engaged. She does not know the life into which he is drifting. A dealer in objects shows them a valuable necklace. This latter is procured by Harry in a successful burglary. He is then sent to a fashionable house party by Darby to see what loot may be obtained there. Grace is a visitor at the same house party, and it is she who shoots him, not knowing his identity. Discovering who it is she saves him; the wound if only a scratch, but with scorn tells him she never wants to see him again. Harry then determines to make a man of himself, surrenders, and is imprisoned to pay the penalty of his crime. As an ex-convict he is welcomed only in the underworld. Alice, because she has fallen in love with him, unselfishly determines to help him, goes to Grace, pleads with her to overlook the past and give Harry a chance. Grace finally agrees to do so, and Alice sends Harry to her. He obtains a position and is rapidly demonstrating a real character. Refusing to have anything further to do with crooked work, he is threatened and only saved from trouble by the unselfish Alice. However, he repays this sacrifice with an open and cruel snub when with Grace he meets her on the street. Her love turns to hate. The master willingly lures him to his den, Alice maneuvers to lure Grace to the underworld, also so that she may be a witness to the punishment of her ungrateful lover. The situation works up to the dramatic climax where Darby is about to kill Harry when the police, summoned by Grace through a ruse, break in and she and Harry are saved.