Editor's Top Picks Following the Footsteps of The District Attorney: Cult Guide

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The world's finest ruby was stolen from the bride of Prince Kassim's great-grandfather several generations ago in India by a marauding rajah. It's now several decades later and the British have conquered India, and one day the ruby shows up for sale by a wealthy London jeweler, Sir John Garnett. Garnett has his own problems--there have been a rash of thefts of his wife's jewels, and he hires a private detective named James Brett to investigate. An agent for the Russian czar expresses interest in buying the ruby, but he's actually a member of a gang that specializes in jewel thefts and steals the ruby, hiding it in a box of chocolates belonging to Garnett's wife. Unbeknownst to Garnett, the jewel thieves and even Garnett's wife, she is actually involved in the theft of her jewels. Complications ensue.

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McTeague begins life in the mines. He later becomes an unlicensed practicing dentist. He is a man of violent physical passions, but until he meets little Trina, who visits his dental office, his love instincts have never been aroused. McTeague induces Trina to marry him through the sheer force of his domineering personality. The couple are not happy. Trina develops miserly instincts and when she wins a $5,000 lottery prize, she hoards the money and grows more and more avaricious. McTeague quarrels with Marcus, his former rival for Trina's affections, and the ill feeling between the two men leads to a fierce combat in which McTeague proves the victor. In revenge Marcus has McTeague prevented from practicing dentistry because he has no diploma. McTeague leans on Trina for support but she turns him away. Trina has a severe illness and while recuperating develops a mania for fondling her hoarded gold pieces. McTeague returns to find Trina showering handfuls of gold upon her bed. After a terrific scene he strangles her and steals the money. Marcus, determined to avenge Trina's death, trails the fugitive McTeague into the heart of Death Valley, where the two men come at last face to face in a final battle to the death under the blistering desert sun.

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Walter Norman, a wealthy member of the smart set of a small city, becomes an habitual inebriate. His best friend, Richard Grant, makes every effort to bring Walter to his senses, but has no influence until one night, when Norman, under the influence of liquor, attacks James Harker during a party at a fashionable restaurant. Grant takes Norman away on his yacht, and succeeds in curing him of all desire to drink. Norman takes up a new life in New York and becomes socially popular and successful in business. He falls in love with Julia Landis who considers drinking to excess an unpardonable sin. She returns Norman's love, thereby arousing the intense jealousy of John Royce, a successful Wall Street man. In the meantime Harker has married the girl over whom he and Norman quarreled, and has come to New York to raise funds for a questionable business enterprise. He meets Royce in a business way, and at a reception discovers Norman and his fiancée and learns the reason for Royce's hatred for Norman. From Harker, Royce learns of Norman's former indulgence in drink. He promises Harker to back his enterprise if he will get Norman drunk and bring him before Julia, knowing that she would break the engagement if she ever saw Norman in such a condition. Harker succeeds in getting Norman to take the first drink he has had since the sea voyage. With the first drink Norman's weakness returns, and Harker parades him before Julia in a drunken condition. Julia breaks her engagement to Norman, who plunges into the wildest dissipation until, money gone and friendless, he is forced into the streets to make a pitiful living as best he can. Royce at length prevails on Julia to marry him. He is blackmailed from time to time by Harker, who threatens to tell Julia the trick by which Royce and he shamed Norman before her. Norman learns of the trick played upon him and inspired by revenge decides to reform. Under another name he gambles on a careful system and wins. With his winnings he goes into Wall Street and steadily piles up his capital until he becomes a formidable figure in the market. He then turns his financial guns on Royce and brings him to the verge of failure. Julia at length overhears a conversation between Royce and Harker and learns how Norman was tricked by the two plotters. Infuriated, she seeks out Norman, pledges her love to him. Norman tells Julia to return to her home and forgive Royce, and in turn permits Royce to recover from the financial trap in which he has caught him. Desperate for money, and maddened by Royce's final rejection of his demands, Harker waylays Royce and shoots him. On account of the known enmity between Royce and Norman the latter is accused of the crime, brought to trial and convicted. He is sentenced to die, but at the last moment Harker's wife discovers that it was her husband who shot Royce and gives the news to the police. Out of the shadow of death Norman comes face to face with Julia and a new life.

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Lord Desborough and Captain Mostyn, both officers in the same regiment, are suitors for the hand of Muriel. Desborough wins and marries her, and thereby incurs the everlasting enmity of his rival. Their regiment is ordered to India, where Desborough falls under the wiles of an adventuress named Vivian Darville. His flirtation is duly reported to the absent wife by Mostyn, and the resultant future trouble between husband and wife, is fanned into flame by the jealousy of Rupert Lee, a young officer whom Vivian has driven to drink by her broken promises. On the return of the regiment to England the Desboroughs open their magnificent home, Desborough Hall, where in spite of the fact that Desborough is on the verge of bankruptcy, expensive entertainments are given under the patronage of the Countess, known as "The Sporting Duchess," because her aspirations are in the direction of hunting, horse racing and other phases of sporting life, rather than the less exciting functions of society. She is a woman of great wealth, keeps a large racing stable, and her liking for Desborough causes her to back his horse, Clipstone, for the Derby, as against King of Trumps, who is Mostyn's entry. Deciding to take unto herself a young husband, she selects Dr. Streatfield, a young army surgeon of fickle temperament, who has become engaged to Vivian Darville on the voyage home from England, and whom he introduces into the Desborough circle, only to find that his true affinity is Annette, daughter of Colonel Donnelly. Vivian's interest, however, goes no further than to be introduced into society through her engagement to Streatfield, and once under the Desborough roof, she begins to aid the villainous Mostyn in effecting a separation between the Desboroughs. This will open the way to Mostyn's attentions to Muriel, and at the same time secure revenge for Desborough's casting her off in India. But there is in the household, as nurse for the Desborough heir, Harold, Mary Aylmer, daughter of Desborough's stable trainer, whom Mostyn has betrayed under promise of marriage. She exacts fulfillment of that promise, and the plotters decide to remove her from the field of action at once. Mary reveals her condition to Muriel, who consults Desborough, and he writes her a letter stating that he will provide for her future, but cannot, of course, retain her in his household as preceptress to his own son. At the same time he also writes a letter to Vivian Darville, asking that their former relations be forgotten, and that she no longer should remain in his home, to disturb the restored tender relations between his wife and him. Mary shows the Desborough letter to Mostyn, who promises to do what he can for her in a secret way, at the same time retaining the letter. Going with it to Vivian, she shows him the letter she has received, and the method of parting the Desboroughs is at once revealed. The headings of both letters are torn away, substituting for each other, and two letters are the result, which furnish evidence of Desborough's guilt both with Mary and Vivian. Muriel already prepared by Mostyn for certain compromising disclosures, is shown the letter, believes that her husband is doubly false to her and accepts Mostyn's offer to act as her escort to London, followed by the irate husband. Mostyn takes Muriel to an out-of-the-way inn, where his perfidy is revealed, for she now discovers that his only motive in removing her from her home was to further his own evil designs. She tries to escape from her prison, and a struggle between them is interrupted by Desborough, who administers a severe beating to Mostyn, and informs Muriel that he will at once begin an action for separation. This action results in a sweeping verdict for Desborough. In spite of the earnest efforts of "The Sporting Duchess" and other good friends, and he is given the custody of the child. Harold, a heart-breaking interview taking place in the court chambers. Following his event the affairs of Desborough grow from bad to worse, and even his stable is to be sold. Including the great Clipstone, favorite for the Derby. Believing that Desborough is the betrayer of his daughter, the faithful trainer, Aylmer, deserts him, taking with him Dick Hammond, the lover of Mary, who was to be the mount for Clipstone. The days of sale for the Desborough stable is announced, and to save for Desborough his one hope to recoup his shattered fortunes, his friends decide to raise a fund for the purchase of Clipstone. But their efforts are unavailing, the sum subscribed is not sufficient, and "The Sporting Duchess" is appealed to by Doctor Streatfield and Annette Donnelly to buy the horse herself. Replying that she buys expensive horses only for her husband, the young people magnanimously decide to break the engagement of marriage between them, and the doctor becomes the affianced husband of the Duchess. At the sale the Duchess buys Clipstone; he wins the Derby and nothing is left for Mostyn but to leave the array and retire into solitude with his fellow plotter, Vivian Darville. The unfortunate Rupert Lee, In the cottage where he has been living with Vivian, overhears the interview between Mostyn and Vivian and determines to revenge himself by making atonement for his share in the plots against the Desboroughs, which is done by producing the two Desborough letters with the proper headings supplied. Accordingly the Desboroughs are reunited, the erring Mary is forgiven by her faithful lover, and "The Sporting Duchess," deciding that it is best to be the doctor's mother instead of his wife, restores him to the unhappy Annette Donnelly.

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Marion Livingston, daughter of the boss of the Elsinore coal mines, rescues a young superintendent of the mines, from a mob of miners. Jack's brother, Harold, comes to visit him and falls in love with Marion.

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David Spencer falls in love with actress Babbie Norris, but his wealthy, propriety-conscious father John Spencer makes him marry aristocratic Janice Lane. After five years with Janice, David is so miserable that he goes to the river to drown himself. When he sees a corpse floating in the water, however, he decides instead to change clothes with it and leave his own identification cards on the dead man. Then, starting life over, David gets work as a laborer. He meets Babbie again, and soon moves to the Northwest with her. Meanwhile, after the dead man has been identified as David, Janice marries Dr. Stone, whom she has loved for several years.

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When Jules Beaubien's father died, the young man found himself heir to the stout old mansion in Montreal and the big fortune the family had made in the lumber of the great Canadian forests. But on his deathbed his father made a confession: 20 years ago he met a squaw of the Ojibway tribe and a girl child was born to them; she was now up in Nipissing country with a French-Canadian family who adopted her by arrangement with the father. Old Beaubien's last words to his son exacted a promise that the boy would find his half-sister, educate and care for her, and give her a liberal share of the estate. As soon as affairs were settled Jules started on his quest to find Annette. Arriving in the Nipissing country, he found that the family had moved from the valley, but he was informed that a woodsman, Baptiste Le Grande, could tell him all about her as he had been her sweetheart. He loved the girl with all the strength of his rough manhood, but a city man came along and betrayed her. Baptiste tried to tell the story, but his rage would not permit him to be coherent and Father Paul continued. He told Jules that the seducer had abandoned the girl and gone back to America. Annette, knowing she was disgraced, ran away from her foster parents and wandered to the camps where the women of the trappers tried to care for her. She became delirious, but she never mentioned the man's name. When her child was born she wandered out into the storm with her babe in her arms, lay down in the snow, and died, and the wolves ate her and the child. The rage of Jules and Baptiste was terrible. They swore to find the man and kill him. Baptiste took a crucifix from his bosom, both men kissed the symbol, and for two years the quest of vengeance continued. In the Indian summer Jules heard that frequently parties of engineers would quarter at Andrew McTavish's house in the forest. Here Jules and Baptiste resolved to put up for a while. Two other men arrived, civil engineer Mr. McDonald and his assistant Mr. Huntley, who were surveying for a Canadian railroad. McDonald was a splendid specimen of physical manhood, about 40 years old and very entertaining. His ability at his profession made him rich and with all he was a man of courage and likable. McTavish's daughter Hilda, a fascinating girl, did the cooking and housekeeping, and it was not surprising that McDonald and Jules soon noticed that each were contesting for the smiles of the Scotsman's daughter. Hilda was not adverse to the pleasantries of the good-looking boarders, for her life was far from happy; her mother, not being able to stand the irascible McTavish, had run away when Hilda was a child, and the father vented his revenge and hatred upon the daughter. Soon the rivalry between Jules and MacDonald became an open book. Jules loved Hilda, while the other man was simply playing for a dishonorable advantage. One day the men admitted their rivalry face to face. Jules was willing to play the game fair. The rogue laughed in the other man's face, admitted that he had a wife in America, but boasted of his power over women. In his bravado he told of an affair some years ago with a little girl up in the Nipissing country. It was the story of Annette. Jules would have killed him on the spot, but he was a man of honor; he could not assassinate, he must fight this fiend. Then he must tell also Baptiste, who would also want to kill him, and commit this deed he would if Jules fell in the fight. McDonald, feeling he was losing ground with Hilda, planned to work her ruin through the father. He told McTavish that he had a good mother in America that would care for and educate Hilda and that then he would marry her. The old Scotsman was only too willing to get rid of the girl and demanded of her that he would go with McDonald. Jules had told Hilda of the good love and the bad love and she learned to love Jules. When McTavish ordered her to go with McDonald she resisted. The old man in his rage would have seized her by the throat and strangled her, but Jules bore him to the floor of the cabin, while Baptiste from outside the window covered MacDonald with his Winchester. The fight was desperate and long, but Jules seized Hilda and, with Baptiste and Huntley, who discovered his master's villainy, the four hastened to the creek and in a canoe which had been furnished with supplies for the trip, made towards the Canadian railway for Montreal. McDonald followed and Jules left the party at a landing to meet him. A desperate duel was fought, in which McDonald was killed, and after burying the body, Jules and his party hastened to home and happiness.

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Anna, a young shop girl, is urged by her rather disreputable stepmother, Mrs. Biddle, not to be so particular, to liven up and get presents and favors from rich young fellows. Lena Schmidt, a co-worker at the store, "stands in" with the manager and lies to her mother about the jewels and dresses. Lena's affair is cut short when the proprietors find her telling the manager about her delicate condition. She believes Anna has told on her and threatens revenge for her discharge. Anna attracts the attention of John Stevens, a salesman, who believes her to be like Lena, but when he attempts advances after a dinner, he finds out his mistake. His respect is aroused and he begs Anna to marry him. For a while the young couple are happy, but Mrs. Biddle's nagging gradually gets on John's nerves and he begins to seek amusement outside of his home. Mrs. Biddle tells Anna she is a fool to stand for this treatment; John is having a good time, why doesn't she go out and enjoy herself. Lena, who still harbors a resentment against Anna, plays on the girl's loneliness when she learns from Mrs. Biddle of the conditions in Anna's home. After long miserable waiting for John's homecoming, Anna decides one night to stand it no longer and accepts Lena's invitation to a party. Arrived at Lena's apartment she is somewhat surprised at the people she meets there, and later in the night, when the men arrived to carouse and make free with the girls, she awakes to a full realization of the nature of the party she is attending. She tries to get away, to flee from the repellent advances of the "Deacon," one of the guests, but Lena tells her there is no escape. As the Deacon seizes Anna in his arms the door bursts open and Dr. Goode enters; he had been a sweetheart of Anna's before her marriage and had never ceased to care for her. He had learned of her presence at the party and had determined to ascertain the reason fro it and to save her if possible. Anna gladly goes with him from the place. At home John is watching over Nanny, the little neglected daughter of the unhappy couple. Nanny is ill and is crying for her mother. He is overjoyed when Dr. Goode leads Anna in. Explanations and reconciliation follow and over their baby's bed they plan for a new and better life.

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The disowned son of a wealthy family is tried for the murder of a college friend who killed himself after his failure as an artist.

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Janet Hall begins a romance with Dale Overton, a small town minister, after the death of Henry Dalton, with whom she had an illegitimate child. At first, because of her past, she refuses to marry him, but then, after listening to his sermons about forgiveness, she consents, although she makes sure that he knows nothing of her history. Finally, however, he does find out about her relationship with Henry, and just as Janet feared he might, he renounces his wife. Defending Janet, Dale's friend, Stuart Doane, accuses the minister of spreading the word about tolerance without actually believing it himself. Dale realizes his hypocrisy, and then, after forgiving Janet, sees through her recovery from a breakdown brought on by the sudden disclosure of her past and by the subsequent strain on her marriage.