Underground Favorites Parallel to the Artistry of Her Surrender: Cult Guide

Dir: Ivan Abramson

Despite the pleading of his wife Marion and his little daughter Vivian, Raymond Edwardes intensifies his affair with a charming adventuress named Lucille Stanton. Marion attends a reception with Frederick Barton one evening, leaving Raymond free to visit Lucille and leaving Raymond's younger sister Alice alone in the house. Bob Gardner, who is engaged to Raymond's elder sister Florence, rapes Alice, and that same evening, Raymond finds Frederick in Lucille's room. Realizing the great pain he has caused his wife, Raymond asks for Marion's forgiveness. Bob is killed in a fight with Frederick, whereupon his brother, Dick Gardner, offers to marry Alice to atone for Bob's wrong.

Dir: Ivan Abramson

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

Elderly millionaire widower Wilbur Mason, father of only child Anne, proposes to his stenographer Lillian Hill, who accepts him because he declares that he will devote his fortune to restoring her blind mother's sight. In the presence of struggling playwright Henry Parker, Lillian introduces Mason to her mother as her future husband. Parker, who thinks himself in love with Lillian, imagines that his heart is broken. After the Masons' honeymoon, Mason engaged a renowned specialist whose operation on Mrs. Hill is unsuccessful. Lillian now sadly realizes that her sacrifice was in vain and becomes cold towards Mason. Two years later Lillian and Anne meet Parker, of whose great success they have read. Parker and Anne fall in love; at Anne's suggestion, Lillian invites him to call on them. He does, hoping to see Anne, but finds Lillian alone. She gives him a rose from among those Mason plucked for her that morning because he knew she loved them. Mason, unseen, sees this gesture and concludes that Lillian's love for Parker is the cause of her indifference toward him. His jealous rage becomes ungovernable and he makes his presence known and orders Parker from the house after tearing from the latter's coat the rose Lillian gave him. Mason thereafter repeatedly charges Lillian with being false to him and in love with Parker. Parker meeting Anne, accompanies her to the gateway of her home, where she leaves him. Mason discovering him there alone believes that Parker has clandestinely met Lillian, whom he later upbraids, again thrusting the rose before her. Lillian, as the result of Mason's accusations, becomes grief stricken and ill. Despondent she leaves her husband's home and returns to her mother where she fades like roses in the autumn winds. Mrs. Hill, fearing for her daughter's life, goes to Mason who is moved by her heart-broken and anguished appeal. He accompanies her, repentant and remorseful, to Lillian's bedside which he reaches in time to receive with her expiring breath the pardon for which he pleads and to hear the doctor pronounce her dead. Crazed with sorrow, scarcely hearing the doctor's words, Mason is about to lift the coverlet from Lillian's face when he is stricken with paralysis. Later at his home he weeps in secret at sight of the now-faded rose which to him has become a symbol of Lillian. Repenting his mistake, he bids Anne send for Parker and consents to their marriage. Troubled by his conscience, Mason's overwhelming woe permits him no rest, and he goes at dead of night to Lillian's burial place, carrying with him roses which in life she so dearly loved, which he tenderly places over her dust. "Lillian, my faded flower," he cries, "you died a martyr to my unfounded jealousy. May your soul find peace in the Kingdom of Heaven."

Dir: Ivan Abramson

Wealthy capitalist, Clinton Reynolds, and his wife, Laura, have lost their son, Arthur, kidnapped and possibly dead. Attempting to write a wrong in his factory, he adopts the daughter of one of his workers who is killed on site. The girl, Rose, grows up resentful of her adoptive father and as she grows older, seduces him in order to break up his marriage. Long lost Arthur returns and, finding his parents' married life in disarray, becomes romantically involved with Rose in order to end the relationship she has forged with his father. Reynolds comes to his senses and makes amends with Laura, at which point Arthur leaves Rose.

Dir: Ivan Abramson

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

Henry Patterson, living in Chicago with his wife, Lola, and infant boy, Harold, receives disturbing news regarding his mining interests at Denver. He goes there to investigate, and to avoid publicity, assumes the name of Henry Donovan. At Denver, he finds the mine is worthless, and faces ruin. He meets Louise Douglas, a wealthy woman, who becomes attracted to him. She makes overtures of marriage, unaware of his real identity. Henry, in a wild belief that he can save his family from poverty, marries Louise. He invents excuses to Lola, whom he still loves, for his long absence. The poor woman receives his money and affectionate letters, ignorant of his folly. In due course, Louise gives birth to a daughter, Muriel. The months lengthen into years, Lola in her solitude, has formed a strong friendship for Fred Warren, an artist, for whom she poses. The artist, believing Lola to be a widow, presses her to marry him. Her refusals arouse his suspicion, until one day Lola receives a letter which, Warren notices, agitates her. The letter is, indeed, from her husband, a confession of his bigamous union with Louise, and promising to make early reparation. Taking advantage of Lola's absence from the room, Warren purloins the letter and learns her secret. Meanwhile, Louise has entrusted Henry with a large sum of money for investment in New York. He goes instead to his wife at Chicago. In a touching scene, past sins are confessed and forgiven, and the couple make preparations for a hasty departure. At the moment of leaving, Warren pays Lola an unexpected visit. Furiously Warren denounces Henry, calls him "Bigamist," and threatens to turn over his letter of confession to his wife Louise. Henry, demanding the letter, draws a revolver, and in the struggle, the pistol is accidentally discharged, killing the bigamist. With a plea for forgiveness as he dies. Henry hands over to Lola Louise's money. In order not to implicate her in the murder. Warren orders Lola away from the scene. She, having in mind the $50,000, heeds his advice and immediately leaves with Harold for New York, where she assumes the name of "Gibson." Warren telephones the police, giving himself up as the murderer. Louise, notified by the Chicago police of her husband's death, comes to Chicago. Seeking revenge, she secures permission to see her husband's murderer. She enters the cell with a concealed weapon. There she learns for the first time the truth, from the written confession of her husband which the prisoner has concealed on his person. She is prostrated by grief, and her vow of vengeance becomes a promise to help the prisoner. The trial takes place. Warren, aided by Louise's counsel and her testimony, is declared "not guilty." With gratitude on the one side, and sympathy on the other, a strong bond of friendship is formed which soon gives way to love. Warren and Louise marry and come to live in New York. With the passing of years, Lola, giving way to extravagance, becomes penniless. Harold, now at Milan studying music, requests funds, and with her son's need in mind, Lola at a dance steals a necklace. Her theft detected, she is tried and sent to prison for two years. Harold, who has made a name for himself in Milan, meets a charming student, Muriel Warren. Unaware of each other's antecedents, they form a deep attachment and finally arrange to return to America to marry. Lola's prison term expired, she comes to New York. There, sitting on a park bench, she picks up a discarded newspaper, in which she reads the wedding announcement of Harold and Muriel, to take place that afternoon. She rushes to the church, breaks through the crowd, and in a most dramatic scene, before the altar, makes her confession to the priest. Muriel now learns for the first time that her stepfather, Warren, killed her father. Her soul, embittered by the guilt of her parents, she leaves her mother's house and becomes a nun. Harold, learning that his, father's misdeeds nearly caused the marriage of brother and sister, forgives his broken-hearted mother, takes her with him and makes a home for her.

Dir: Ivan Abramson

Ada Forbes loves Eugene Cory, but she marries Stapleton, a political boss who promises Ada's father a Senate seat in return for his daughter. After several years of an unhappy marriage, Ada leaves Stapleton and returns to Cory, now married to Alice Wood, to be his mistress. Alice finds out about the affair and confronts Ada, who promises never to see Eugene again. Then, Ada learns that her mother is dying. The double shock of losing Eugene and her mother brings on a breakdown, and Ada is put under a doctor's care. Her round-the-clock nurse falls asleep, however, and a half-insane Ada wanders away, falls into a river and drowns.

Dir: Ivan Abramson

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of A Mother's Confession perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Stockbroker Henry Taylor becomes insanely jealous when wealthy South African jeweler Charles Bryant shows friendly attentions to Taylor's wife Regina and adopted daughter Vivian. Henry banishes Bryant from the Taylor home. In order to lavish riches on his wife, Henry speculates wildly and then uses a client's stocks to raise funds. The client threatens Henry with arrest, but agrees to withdraw the charge if Regina raises the appropriate funds. Bryant comes to her aid, but Henry believes another friend is responsible. When he learns the truth, Henry drives Regina and Vivian from home and they seek shelter from a heavy rainstorm in the asylum in which Regina was reared. Vivian contracts pneumonia and dies. Meanwhile, Henry seeks out Bryant and shoots him. In the ensuing trial, Bryant reveals that he is Regina's father and that he had been compelled to flee to South Africa after being accused of a murder of which he was innocent. Examination of the criminal record reveals that his innocence has been made clear. Bryant brings about a reconciliation between Henry and Regina.

Dir: Ivan Abramson

A struggling artist in Greewich Village is devastated when his wife dies. Left with two children and with little money to support them, in desperation he sells one of them to a childless but wealthy couple. When he realizes what he has done, he determines not to go through with the "deal".

Dir: Ivan Abramson

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

Ruth Ancaster is about to marry her fiance, Edward, when she discovers that he has been cheating on her with a variety of different women. Angered, she marries Henry, Edward's best friend. Edward sees a chance to take his revenge on both of them when Henry, in financial trouble, forges Edward's name on a stock certificate and is caught. He offers to drop the charges against Henry if Ruth agrees to "pay the price"--and he doesn't mean money.

Dir: Ivan Abramson

Blanche Scott, a famous actress married to rich lawyer Martin Scott, is living happily in New York, but her cousin Elsie is married to Frank Edmonds, a performer who mars her happiness through infidelity. Blanche invites Elsie to stay with her, and induces her husband to procure a divorce for Elsie. Blanche's blind grandfather George Moore lives with them. Previous to her marriage to Scott, Blanche met with an automobile accident in which both of her parents were killed, and from the shock she became mentally deranged, but shortly afterward recovered. At the birth of Blanche's first child Viola, her attack of insanity returns. Physicians declare her case hopeless, and she is confined to an asylum. Her cousin Elsie adopts Viola. Two years elapse and Blanche is still at the asylum. Meanwhile, Elsie has secured a divorce from her husband. During this time Scott makes advances to Elsie, but is repulsed. Scott's love for Elsie prompts him to bring suit for an annulment of his marriage to Blanche on the ground of her being insane prior to his marriage, and he succeeds in having his marriage annulled. Blanche, in her hallucinations, raves both of her child and of her past successes on the stage, and very often sees herself playing her favorite roles of various classic plays, in which she starred. Scott, assuring Elsie that Blanche's condition is hopeless, is successful in winning Elsie's love, and in due course of time, they are married. A year later Elsie gives birth to a boy. All are overjoyed, except the blind grandfather, who still lives with Scott. The moral wrong, though legally done to his grandchild Blanche rends his heart with sorrow. Six years later: All are living happily, having forgotten the past. One day Scott receives a letter from the superintendent of the asylum, notifying him that Blanche has unexpectedly recovered and is in a condition to be taken home. Scott shows the letter to Elsie, who insists that he bring Blanche back. Scott refuses, but Elsie fervently pleads with her husband to gratify her wish. He still remains obdurate. Moore, overhearing Elsie's plea, cautions Scott not to tell anything to Blanche for the time being, as it may cause a relapse. Scott, convinced by the prudent advice of the blind old man and Elsie's pathetic appeal, finally yields and brings Blanche home. Blanche's joy upon her return is somewhat dampened by her former husband's coolness. She suspects that there is some secret in the house, and questions Scott, Elsie, her grandfather, and the servants, but gets no satisfactory reply. Baffled in her efforts she at last questions her own eight-year-old daughter Viola, who tells her the truth. Elsie, wishing to sacrifice her own happiness for Blanche, decides to go away with her child, Eddie, but Blanche, realizing that she cannot live under the same roof with her former husband, prevents Elsie from leaving. The ex-wife then seizes a knife near at hand and attempts to cut her throat, but is prevented by Scott and Elsie. The furious rage and wild excitement again disturb her mental balance, and she is pronounced incurably insane. Blanche, while being led to the ambulance, wildly calls for Viola. Moore, sunk in unutterable grief, goes to her, but his suffering is beyond human endurance. He is overcome by his emotions, stricken with heart failure and dies. Blanche, seeing him fall, breaks loose from the physicians and rushes madly to the prostrate form of her grandfather, kneels over him, imagines that she performs the scene of La Tosca, where she kills the Baron and laughs hysterically.

Dir: Ivan Abramson

Elga Pulaski and her brother Ossip live in Warsaw. They belong to a secret society whose goal is to liberate Poland and Russia from the Romanoffs. Elga is loved by Baron Jan Slozek. But Slozek is a spy who has Ossip and other members of the society arrested. When Slozek is slain, Ossip is the key suspect. He escapes to America with his sister. There, Elga meets Norman Hutchinson, and marries him without telling him her past. When Hutchinson learns the truth, he leaves Elga. Eventually, when Elga appeals to him, he sees the light.