The Global Archive For Devotees of The Dividend: Cult Guide

Dir: Walter Edwards

After her family dies in the jungle, Ollante is raised by Brazilian Indians, and, from her rugged lifestyle, she grows into a woman of uncommon strength and courage. Then, she rescues Ridgeway Webb, an explorer lost in the wilderness, and he soon discovers, through papers left on Ollante by her parents, that she is worth a fortune. As a result, the unscrupulous Ridgeway starts courting Ollante, and after she has fallen in love with him, he marries her and brings her to New York. At a society party, however, which Ridgeway turns into a drunken orgy, Ollante hears her husband boast of his cunning in catching a millionaire for a wife. Suddenly aware of his motives, Ollante takes off her American high society outfit, puts on her jungle costume, and strangles Ridgeway.

Dir: Walter Edwards

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

Alma Clayton is a butterfly type of girl. She is being wooed by a gilded youth, Neil Webster, whom she likes to a degree. At a public banquet Alma becomes acquainted with Wayne Burrous, a brilliant criminal lawyer, and won by the man's eloquence, she casts Neil aside and eventually marries Wayne. Her husband's strict attention to business piques her, and it results in Wayne leaving her use of their large mansion while he takes up his residence in the club. Alma, while out shopping with a friend, meets Neil, who tells her that his love for her is gone. At home she calls him by telephone. He arrives at Alma's home, and informs her that what he said about his love for her is not true, and that he is actuated by the desire of revenging himself on Wayne for winning her away from him. She is undetermined whether to elope with him or not. Meanwhile Jim Sims, a burglar, breaks into Wayne's room. After taking a number of gold and silver pieces his eye fixes on a portrait of Wayne. He recognizes it as representing the lawyer who had once saved him from jail, although Sims was penniless: He carefully replaces the articles from his sack to the dresser and is about to leave empty-handed on account of respect for his benefactor when he hears the excited conversation of Alma and Neil. He steals down the stairs and suddenly confronts them just as Alma is about to yield and go away with Neil. At the point of his gun he makes Neil sit quietly, while Alma is compelled to tie him with a rope to his chair. Then Sims makes the woman go upstairs to Wayne's room, where he shows her the picture of her husband and tells her of his saving Sims from jail. The burglar insists that such a man could not be the brute that she thinks him. He is so forceful in the presentation of the claims of Wayne and of the penalty that she would have to pay if she should break the laws of society that the woman is won over. Then Neil manages to drag himself, still securely bound to the chair, over to a telephone. He gets the receiver off the hook with his teeth and calls the police. On their arrival Neil is released. Alma hides the burglar and tells the officers that the burglar escaped through a window. When they are gone she rejects Neil. Neil goes out the back door, is mistaken for the burglar and is badly beaten up by an officer. Alma gives the burglar the picture of her husband as a souvenir of gratitude for his aid in setting her right. She then calls up her husband, and on his return there is a happy reconciliation.

Dir: Walter Edwards

Paddy O'Hara is the star reporter on the London Blade. Rumors of impending warfare between two Balkan principalities reach London, and Paddy is dispatched to the seat of action. Before leaving he comes across the photograph of a military officer. Count Ivan of Darbaya, and his niece, the Lady Maryska. Two weeks later Paddy reaches Tarozza, the seaport capital of Ideria, and finds that the army there is preparing to invade Darbaya. While waiting at Tarozza he forms the acquaintance of a Captain Raoul du Plessis, of the Iderian Huzzars. Raoul is charged with an important mission to Darbaya, and carries on his person documents to be delivered at headquarters. In order to obtain these and delay the Captain's departure, a spy insults him and forces a duel. Du Plessis, who chooses Paddy secretly transfer the documents to Paddy, who leave Tarozza disguised in the uniform of Captain Raoul. Although the spies are hot on his trail, Paddy reaches a castle perched high on the cliffs of Darbaya. The castle is deserted, as its men folk are fighting in the valley and its women have been sent away to a place of safety. One inmate alone is left, the Lady Maryska, the girl of his dreams. Maryska sees in Paddy an intruder in the hated uniform of Ideria and treats him with scorn. At the time of the meeting the Iderians are sweeping all before them, and Colonel Ivan retreats to the castle. The Colonel's one anxiety is to get his niece away from the danger zone. As the castle is about to fall into the hands of the enemy, the only way to escape is to place her in the care of Paddy. By a slight alteration, the passport is made to read Patrick O'Hara and wife. Circumstances make it imperative for Paddy to go through the marriage ceremony with Maryska, who only consents on the condition that she is to be freed from the marital yoke as soon as they reach safety. Passing through innumerable adventures and hardships the couple at last gain the frontier. Paddy sends his dispatch to the Blade and while dictating to the operator leaves Maryska asleep under shelter. The message sent, he returns just in time to see Maryska seized and borne away in an aeroplane by emissaries of the enemy. Paddy returns to London. When all hope is lost, he receives a summons to a foreign embassy, where a proposition is made to him to relinquish his wife in order that she may wed a great personage. He is assured that a divorce can easily be arranged and is offered a handsome monetary bribe and other considerations. O'Hara refuses the proposition, and his refusal is overheard by Maryska, who is hiding in the council chamber. Maryska has learned to love the gallant Irishman during the stormy days of battle and flight, and convinces him that the hurried wedding in the Balkans will stand good for all time.

Dir: Walter Edwards

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Paddy O'Hara perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

After discovering her husband Roger has been unfaithful to her, Angela De Haven sets out to make all men pay for his deceit. Roger, despairing of ever winning back his wife, sails for the South Sea islands and is lost during the voyage. Meanwhile, Angela establishes a salon where prominent men vie for her attentions. One of the members of her court, Bragdon Brant, controls the Bob Cat mine, but not the railroad extending to it which is owned by Bob Spalding. Brant sends Angela West to buy the controlling interest in the railroad and she meets Bob, who falls in love with her. Angela refuses to marry him and flees after securing control of the road through Bob's partner, Durant. She returns to New York, intent upon ruining Brant, but is prevented from carrying out her plans when Bob appears and forces her to realize the destructive path that her life has taken. Angela then restores the railroad shares to Bob, and thus reconciled, they travel West to spend the rest of their lives together.

Dir: Walter Edwards

Millicent Drake's mother, a woman of social ambitions, has decided that her daughter should marry the socially prominent Van Tyle. Millicent thwarts her mother's plans, however, when on a visit to Van Tyle's mountain lodge, she meets gold miner Carson Stewart and falls in love. Soon after, Stewart comes East to see Millicent and the two are married. Marital discord is injected by Mrs. Drake, who attempts to convince her daughter not to give Stewart the child he so desires. Upon learning that his wife is pregnant and his mother-in-law is advocating an abortion, Stewart leaves home in disgust. Millicent, finally realizing the error of her ways, follows her husband out West with the new addition to their family, and a reconciliation is effected.

Dir: Walter Edwards

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

Parker, an Army lieutenant at a Western outpost, falls in love with Barbara Taylor, daughter of his commanding officer. But when Barbara rejects him, Parker fights with another soldier and deserts. An Indian attack gives him a chance to redeem himself.

Dir: Walter Edwards

Jules Ingram ( William Desmond ), the sole survivor of an old Puritan family, seeks solace and forgetfulness in drink. Unable to pay his debts, Jules is driven from his house when banker Rufus Moore ( Robert McKim ) forecloses on the mortgage. Offered shelter by Mercy Reed ( Margery Wilson ), a woman who in her youth naively sinned and has remained rejected by the community ever since, Jules begins to reform. Climbing his way back to respectability, Jules attends church with Mercy, causing a storm of protest. Moore's wife Agnes urges the mob to violence, and as they attempt to tar and feather Jules and Mercy, Mercy delivers an eloquent speech condemning Moore as her betrayer. The mob then takes Moore as their victim, leaving Jules and Mercy in peace.

Dir: Walter Edwards

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

When prospector Harry Webb returns to town from the Funeral Range, he falls in love with cabaret singer Janice Williams. Mark Brenton, an unscrupulous lawyer, lures Janice to his room but is shot by his jealous former sweetheart Dixie. Harry, rushing into the room, believes that Janice is guilty and assumes the blame in order to shield her. During the trial, Brenton's partner, Frank Beekman, holds Janice prisoner to prevent her from testifying; consequently, Harry is convicted and sentenced to death. En route to prison, Harry escapes into the desert, and some time later, he returns to town to sell one of his mines to Freddie Leighton. Despite Harry's disguise, Beekman recognizes him, and when they fight, a gun is discharged, mortally wounding Dixie who has been standing behind a screen. Before her death, she confesses that she killed Brenton, which clears Harry's name and allows him finally to marry Janice.

Dir: Walter Edwards

Paul Boudeaux shares lodgings with Richard Landers, his business partner, and Richard's young wife Matilda. Paul and Richard are in deep financial trouble, but when Paul's wealthy uncle, Batiste Boudeaux, comes to visit for a night, Matilda suddenly is inspired with a plan to save the business. Knowing that Uncle Batiste will give Paul $50,000 if the young man marries, Matilda introduces herself as Paul's wife, which greatly pleases the old bachelor. Complications arise, however, when Batiste decides to stay for a month, and the situation gets worse when early one morning, he sees Paul sleeping on the sofa and Richard stealing away from Matilda's room. Because Paul falls in love with Batiste's nurse Rose, the partners finally get their money, and even the old uncle gives up his bachelorhood by marrying fashion model Mme. Julie.

Dir: Walter Edwards

Dr. Dudley Duprez is a well-known Louisiana physician. His beautiful but wayward niece, Rose Duprez, is abducted by Paul Crenshaw, a friend of the doctor, and to prevent her shame from becoming known, Rose kills herself. Dr. Duprez learns her secret and determines to make Crenshaw expiate his crime. While traveling on a Mississippi River steamer, the doctor wins Mercedes, a beautiful slave, at cards. He takes her home and, passing her off as a distant relative, arranges it so that Crenshaw falls in love with the girl. A wedding is arranged, and immediately after the ceremony Dr. Duprez announces to the assembled guests that Mercedes is a slave and that he considers he has punished Crenshaw sufficiently by making him the husband of a "nigger." A yellow fever epidemic breaks out shortly after, and Crenshaw is shot when attempting to evade the quarantine. Dr. Duprez is told by a dying overseer from the plantation where Mercedes was born that the girl is of Spanish and American ancestry, without a drop of negro blood in her veins, and was made a slave through a conspiracy. The doctor returns home, confesses his wrong to Mercedes and is forgiven by her. In the end they are married.