The Cult Collection Comparable to the Style of The Come-Back: Cult Guide

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Peggy Ainslee, the daughter of a wealthy broker, tires of the empty life of society, and determines on a mission of charity and uplift in the poor quarters of New York City. She confers with Charles Hathaway, a settlement worker, who conducts her on several tours among the needy. Peggy is engaged to marry Algie Sherwood, a social idler, and it is arranged to announce their engagement at a birthday party given in her honor. Isabelle Rawlston is also in love with Sherwood, and determines to break up his match with Peggy. On the night of the birthday party Isabelle intimates to Sherwood that Peggy's interest in Hathaway is one other than charity. He becomes jealous and tells Peggy she must give up her settlement work. She refuses and returns the engagement ring. Peggy receives from her father, for her birthday gift, stock in Consolidated Cotton, valued at $50,000. This she puts away, intending to use it in her charities. The next day her father tells her that he has just learned of the deplorable financial conditions among the owners of the cotton mills in the south, and that he has written to Colonel Robert Carter, one of the big cotton growers, and offered to aid him. Colonel Carter, who is proud and haughty, becomes indignant when he receives the letter from the Wall Street broker, and turns down his proffer of assistance. This puzzles Peggy, and she decides to go south and investigate conditions at first hand. Arriving in the south she obtains a position as a mill hand. Her beauty attracts the attention of the foreman in the Carter mill, and he tells Peggy she must remain after work, as he wishes to see her. He attempts to force his attentions upon her, and a struggle ensues. John Carter, son of the owner, enters at the critical moment and rescues Peggy. The foreman is discharged and the gallantry of young Carter makes an appeal to Peggy. The boll weevil is discovered in the cotton, and this, together with a shortage in the crop, threatens ruin for Colonel Carter. For the second time be refuses financial aid from Peggy's father, and the broker decides to crush him by cornering the cotton market. Peggy learns of her father's manipulations and hurries to New York. With her $50,000 worth of stock for a nucleus she begins a fight on the exchange, in which she is triumphant over her father. He is dumbfounded when he learns the identity of his antagonist. Peggy explains the hardships he would have worked among the mill hands had he been successful. She induces him to take a trip south with her, when they meet the Carters. The two men profit through the meeting, and come to a complete understanding on economic questions and conditions. Young Carter learns that Peggy was the one that "broke"' the corner and saved his family from ruin. The two decide to exchange cotton bolls for orange blossoms.

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

Greek Conniston, after living a life of ease and comfort, is forced by his millionaire father to get a job and earn his own living. While traveling West with his friend Roger Hapgood, Greek meets Argyl Crawford and, entranced by the girl, takes a job on her father's ranch. Greek's defeat of Brayley, the bully of the ranch, gains him the respect of the men. Crawford is about to erect a dam, an enterprise which will reclaim all of the land in the region, and Greek is given the chance to assist the foreman, Bat Truxton. Hapgood in the meantime works for the opposition which is trying to prevent the dam from being completed. Truxton is bought off and Greek takes over the job. He overcomes all obstacles and continues to work for the benefit of Crawford, even against his own father. As a last effort, the opposition blows up the dam, but Greek continues to work night and day, finishes the dam and wins Argyl's hand in marriage.

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John Cranford, a secret agent of the United States Customs service, has succeeded in unearthing a gigantic smuggling plot. The operations of the smugglers range from contraband opium to diamonds. Opium is found and confiscated, and burned in the street as a warning against future law-breaking. The men who have been handling it are apprehended, but the "man higher up" remains shrouded in mystery, free to pursue his schemes, and it becomes the purpose of Cranford's life to bring him to justice. To recuperate before entering upon his pursuit, John goes to the St. Lawrence River for a fishing trip. Expecting to hire his old friend and guide, "Uncle Billy," he is greatly disappointed at finding that worthy man's time engaged by a charming, mysterious young woman, who insists on fishing in the neighborhood of Pidgin Island. Diana Wynne, the girl in question, comes to Billy's boathouse while John is there, and Billy introduces them. They meet often, and John finds himself falling in love with Diana, but his curiosity is aroused by the air of mystery surrounding her, and he cannot understand her strange interest in the launches plying around the island. To this region comes "the man higher up," Michael Smead, his son Donald and two accomplices, to operate a great smuggling deal on the Canadian border. John recognizes Smead, having previously blocked him in an attempt to smuggle many thousands of dollars' worth of diamonds. Donald is a stranger to him, for he is new to the game. John, finding that his "vacation" has furnished him with the biggest job of his life, watches Smead closely. Complications arise from the fact that Diana also is a secret service agent, and she too is watching Smead's hand. In so doing her actions arouse John's suspicion that she is in league with the band, and the two agents suspect each other. One stormy evening Diana intercepts a telegram to Smead which reads: "Pidgin tonight at 8 without fail." She hastens to Uncle Billy, asking him to take her over to the island at once. They set out in the storm, much against the wishes of "Mr. Billy." John, coming directly afterwards, is told of their destination, and fearing for Diana's safety in the gathering storm forces young Lester, a guide, to take him in pursuit. The storm rages in fury about both boats, and the waves run high. Smead's Canadian agents are in an aeroplane coming toward Pidgin. They are smuggling the gems, which are concealed in the hollow butts of two fishing poles, but the aeroplane is lost in the storm near Pidgin Lighthouse. Billy's boat is dashed to pieces on the reef and Billy and Diana are thrown into the water. They manage to reach an isolated rock, wreckage-washed, to which they cling in momentary fear of being washed shorewards, where the waves are smashing against the reef. Finally Diana is swept from the rock, and Cranford swims to her assistance. Lester, after a struggle, rescues Uncle Billy, and the keeper of the light on Pidgin Reef gives them all a shelter. Next morning Cranford finds the Smead telegram in Diana's coat pocket, and with it a letter from the customs department establishing her identity. Diana surprises him going through her effects, but he convinces her that he too is a government agent. Uncle Billy finds the fishing rods on the island and brings them to the lighthouse, where Cranford discovers their contents to be a fortune in pearls. He hastens to the village and arrests Smead, Donald and their accomplices almost before they know they are suspected. When John proposes to Diana she refuses him, telling him she is the daughter of a criminal and the sister of a criminal. Smead is her father, and she has engaged in the service and come to Pidgin to try to prevent her brother from engaging in his father's scheme. But John Cranford refuses to take "No" as an answer, and the sincerity of his wooing wins him Diana's consent to become his wife.

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

The Earl of Gilleigh, whose dyspepsia has been severely aggravated by the news that his ill-tempered wife Sophronia is due to arrive from abroad, is startled by the noise of a burglar and enters the room to find his long-lost brother, Warren Ellis, voraciously helping himself to a meal. Warren accepts the Earl's proposal that the two trade identities, and while he remains in Gilleigh, the Earl retreats to his country estate. After meeting Sophronia, however, Warren quickly follows his brother to the country, where he is entranced by a lovely shepherdess named Rosalind. Sophronia also travels to the estate, and mistaking the lovesick Warren for her husband, believes that she has lost the Earl's love. Through her change of disposition, she regains her husband's affections, while Warren wins Rosalind.

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Multimillionaire Billy Van Dyke, pursued by fortune-hunting women, longs to meet someone who will love him for himself alone. When social climber Mrs. Pugfeather moves to town with her daughter Celia and penniless ward Beatrice, she begins a campaign to marry her shallow daughter to the millionaire. Beatrice is sent to town to hire a chauffeur and when Billy sees her, he immediately falls in love. Donning his chauffeur's uniform, Billy applies for the position and is hired. Beatrice falls in love with him, too, and later, when Billy quits over the Pugfeathers' mistreatment of Beatrice, the girl offers him her meager savings. Realizing that he has finally found a girl who loves him for himself, Billy proposes. Returning home to hear Celia accusing her parents of sheltering a pauper, Beatrice resolves to run away. As she is about to leave, Mr. Pugfeather informs her that she has inherited a fortune from her father. When, after her marriage, Billy informs Beatrice that he is also a multimillionaire, the last laugh is on Mrs. Pugfeather and Celia when they pay a visit to Mr. Van Dyke and discover their former chauffeur and his new bride.

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A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Lend Me Your Name perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

As the government of Alpania, a seaside European republic, is threatened by revolutionary monarchists, three American adventurers--Jack Perry, Dick Sayre, and Lyn Brook--arrive in the country and immediately become embroiled in the civil strife. Perry offends the monarchists, who capture him and sentence him to death before a firing squad. Brook rescues his compatriot by bombing the complex, thus killing Perry's captors. Disguised as a woman, Perry infiltrates the royalists' circle where as "Fedora" he quickly becomes a court favorite and earns the love of Zana, an Alpanian woman. While Perry carries news of the monarchists' plot to the republicans, Brook, donning feminine attire and calling himself "Thelma," diverts Grand Duke Nebo. Perry is recaptured, but commandeers an enemy airplane to safety. After an automobile chase, Perry eludes the revolutionaries and escapes to America with Zana.

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Bruce Edmunds takes a place in the revenue service to help rout the moonshiners in the hills of North Carolina and to avenge the murder of his brother, George Edmunds. George, who was a landscape painter, had selected the picturesque locale in the south for his work, and while there became infatuated with Jill Jamison, a mountain girl, and daughter of Jimmy Jamison, owner of the Bat Cave Hotel. The friendship between the girl and George aroused the enmity of Squid Archer, boss of the moonshining gang. On two occasions Squid and George quarrel over the girl. George is found dead with a bullet wound in his head and his body buried in the mountains. Bruce arrives at Bat Cave disguised as a parson. Jill's father is away, when Bruce arrives and the mountaineers headed by Squid are taking advantage of his absence. Bruce quells a disturbance they have started and immediately wins the respect and favor of Jill. After that Jill and Bruce are often seen together. Squid only hides his anger at this situation because of Bruce's ministerial garb. The following day Jill takes Bruce for a walk, during which he learns much of his brother's life there. He does not disclose his identity and has difficulty in controlling his emotions. One night, soon afterwards, the moonshiners are startled by the appearance of a mysterious masked rider, dressed in a white buckskin suit and riding a white horse. By his actions the moonshiners know he is not a bandit. They fire at him and give chase, but he eludes them. While Jill is riding near a mountain stream she surprises the masked rider who is watering his horse. The masked rider is so startled that he covers her with his revolver before he realizes who she is. Recovering quickly he bows and profusely begs her pardon. Jill's fears are allayed, and she smiles when she finds the terrible masked rider so gallant. Touching her golden curls Bruce tells her she can have her freedom for one curl. The next day Jill learns the parson and masked rider are the same person, when she finds her lock of hair in the parson's room behind his mother's picture. That night Bruce leads a group of government agents in the moonshining district. The illicit distillers take refuge under ground through secret passages. They are driven out when Bruce explodes a heavy charge of dynamite, blowing up their catacomb. Squid manages to escape. He hurries to the Jamison Hotel, the proprietor and attempts to force Jill to accompany him in his escape. Bruce arrives in time to prevent him and a terrific struggle between Bruce and Squid follows. They roll down a flight of stairs and Bruce loses his revolver. Squid, retreating toward the door, fires at Bruce, who is prostrated upon the floor. The bullet enters his right shoulder and disables him. As Squid starts to fire a second time Jill crashes a chair over his head and sends him unconscious to the floor. The moonshiners are made prisoners and Jill nurses Bruce until he recovers sufficiently to accompany her to a real parson.

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

"Broadway Bill" Clayton, a New York playboy and heavy drinker, takes a job at the Maine lumber camp of John Underwood hoping to reform himself and regain the affections of Muriel Latham. Foreman Buck Hardigan, who has been stealing and selling Underwood's maple syrup, suspects that Bill has been sent as a spy and decides to get rid of him. Bill survives several plots on his life and finally defeats Buck in a fight and is elected foreman. His struggle with alcohol is nearly won, but when he reads a newspaper item erroneously stating that Muriel is engaged to another, he decides to drink again. Muriel visits the camp with Underwood, and everything is cleared up after Bill rescues her brother Jack in a snow storm.

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Jerry Benham, the ten-year-old heir to a vast fortune, must remain on the Benham estate, where he has no contact with any female, until his twenty-first birthday, according to the will. Ten years later, while fishing, Jerry meets beautiful Una Habberton, who has wandered through a broken gate onto the estate. She returns many times to their "Paradise Garden," and an affection grows between them. However, when Jerry's kindly guardian, Roger Canby, finds them together, he sends Una away. Upon reaching twenty-one, Jerry, curious to see New York, goes there with another mentor, Jack Ballard, and is introduced to the business and society life. Despite Roger's warnings, Jerry becomes infatuated with Marcia Van Wyck, an idle-rich temptress who teaches him how to kiss, but thoughts of Una still linger. At a party, when Jerry catches Marcia kissing Ballard, he throws Ballard over a banister, thus disrupting the evening. Jerry repulses Marcia's advances, tears her dress down the back, and returns home. Roger arranges for Una to appear at the spot where they first met, and they are reconciled.

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On a treasure hunt in the tropics, adventurer Mortimer Gregg discovers beautiful Horse Island, and upon his return to New York, forms a partnership with Christopher Beaumont, allegedly to develop the island's resources. Just before his death, however, Gregg reveals to his assistant manager, David Smith, that the Tropical Products Company was formed for the sole purpose of swindling the stockholders. A highly principled man who believes in the island's potential, David refuses to tamper with the company's financial reports, which so angers Beaumont that he visits Horse Island to deliver David an ultimatum. When the young man learns that he is about to be fired for his persistent honesty, he refuses to allow Beaumont and his daughter Christabel to leave the island. Caught in a tropical storm one afternoon, David and Christabel take refuge in a cave, where they fall in love and, incidentally, uncover a store of pirates' gold. After the Beaumonts have departed for New York, David invests the treasure in Tropical Products stock under Christabel's name, whereupon old Beaumont, finally beaten, agrees to run the company honestly as the partner of his future son-in-law.