Visionary Picks Drawn from the Same DNA as The Masked Heart: Cult G...

Dir: Edward Sloman

In the parched West, Louise MacLeod works as a secretary for Robert Powell, a lawyer defending businessman John Phelan, whom ranchers accuse of monopolizing water rights. Gordon, Louise's father, is one of the ranchers, and so Louise keeps him informed of Robert's strategy, with the result that the ranchers win their case. John, however, remains determined to control the area's water, and so he hires an engineer to dynamite a river in order to divert it from the ranchers and onto his own land. Robert then realizes the unscrupulousness of his former client, and defuses the engineer's bomb. Afterward, with the ranchers victorious, Robert concentrates less on water rights and more on Louise, with whom he soon begins a romance.

Dir: Edward Sloman

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

Loath to leave her pet dog in the baggage car, the wealthy Norah McDonald dresses the animal in baby clothes and carries him into the Pullman coach. There she meets millionaire philanthropist Paul Howell, who remarks that she seems rather young to be married. When Norah responds that she is unwed, Paul assumes that she has been betrayed and sympathetically offers her a position in his charity organization. Attracted to Paul, Norah accepts the job, but she disapproves of his bureaucratic methods and soon establishes a rival organization based less on efficiency than on charity. Norah's success and a few glaring failures of his own finally convince Paul that red tape and philanthropy don't mix, and after he learns that her "baby" is a Pekinese, the two become engaged.

Dir: Edward Sloman

"The Woman" is brought up on a farm by a miserly uncle who denies her the company of other young people. It is no wonder then that she is introduced by a traveling mining stock broker. When the uncle learns her plight, he puts her out. A storm is raging. The girl seeks shelter in the same place as the man who has seduced her. He persuades her to go to a nearby town and marry him. She does, but shortly after the ceremony she discovers that he is already married, when his wife and the police come and take him. Deserted and alone, the girl finds out that her uncle has been killed in the storm, and has left her his money. She takes it and goes to a small city where she lives. Five years later her little son is quite a lad, and they are living happily. The woman is known as a widow. Two men fall in love with her, a prominent physician and a broker. The broker wins his suit. Later her husband engages a chauffeur for the woman. When the man arrives at the house she discovers that it is the man who betrayed her. He threatens to expose her unless she keeps him supplied with money. She dares not refuse. He treats their son cruelly. One day the broker sees the chauffeur hit the lad and discharges him on the spot. The chauffeur again threatens the woman, this time telling her that if he does not get his job back he will reveal the truth about her. The woman goes to her husband's office when he is not in, and meets the chauffeur there. He flourishes a gun and a struggle ensues. The man is shot and the woman runs away. The coroner finds a locket in the hand of the dead man that belongs to the woman. He keeps the incriminating bit of evidence for the trial. The woman hides herself, unknowing that her husband has been arrested for the murder. A vision of the penitentiary causes her to hasten to court where she tells of the man's attack upon her. This testimony clears the husband, and both are discharged. She determines to have her mind free of the shadow of her secret, and tells her husband the true story of her life when they return home. She is forgiven.

Dir: Edward Sloman

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

During lunch, Cuthbert King asks his sister Phyllis for a loan to pay off his gambling debts. Upon leaving the restaurant, he accidentally takes the overcoat of antique jewelry dealer Grayson Blair. When Phyllis is unable to pay her bill, Grayson, attracted to her, picks up the check, but after he arrives home and discovers that a valuable Hindu necklace he had stored in his coat pocket is missing, he suspects Phyllis as the crook. Dressing up in her brother's clothes, Phyllis finds the necklace, suspects her brother, and seeks out Grayson, whom she has discovered to be the jewel's owner. After a series of mix-ups during which Rhi, who has been trailing the necklace to return it to the Hindu idol from which it was stolen, tries unsuccessfully to kill Grayson, the overcoat is recognized, everything is cleared up, and Grayson and Phyllis become engaged.

Dir: Edward Sloman

Millionaire Jack Woodford, who loves a good mystery, seizes an opportunity to play Sherlock Holmes when he overhears pretty Alice Moreland, the daughter of Rev. Robert Moreland, discussing a jewel robbery in her home. Posing as detectives, Jack and his valet, Jasper Stride, visit the reverend's home, where Jack's suspicions are aroused first by Moreland's secretary, Harvey Faxon, and then by Alice's brother Harry. During the night, however, he sees Alice herself take a set of jewels from the safe, but when he tries to retrieve them from her room, Faxon enters and accuses him of robbery. He is imprisoned in the basement but soon escapes, and that night, he again sees Alice carrying jewels. As Jack approaches, he realizes that Alice is sleepwalking and that Faxon is waiting to take the jewels from her when she reaches her room. Jack and Stride capture Faxon, and Alice demonstrates her gratitude to the amateur sleuth by confessing that she loves him.

Dir: Edward Sloman

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

A southerner who fought with the Union army regains the confidence of his his community after the war.

Dir: Edward Sloman

For advice on making money, down-on-her-luck Margery Smith visits Franklyn Smith, a lawyer who, although he appears prosperous, is equally hard-pressed for funds. Franklyn is struck by Margery's beauty and devises a plan whereby her services as a chaperoned partner at dances and teas may be purchased; however, because he believes her brainless, he forbids her to speak with the customers. The "Beauty to Let" corporation is a success, and soon two millionaires, Henry P. Rockwell and "Diamond Tim" Moody, ask to marry Margery. She has fallen in love with Franklyn and is distressed to learn that he has purchased bachelor's quarters from Tim. Diamond Tim forged the deed to the house, but when Margery sneaks into his room to retrieve Franklyn's money, her partner sees her and misconstrues her intentions. In the end, Margery and Franklyn outwit Tim, and Franklyn, realizing that his partner is bright as well as beautiful, proposes.

Dir: Edward Sloman

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

Young Jeffrey Claiborne, the son of a wealthy father, comes to the aid of pretty Betty Jane Moir, who is being bothered by a lecherous chauffeur. He accepts Betty's grateful offer of employment in her mother's taxi company. Smitten, Jeffrey proposes to her, but her mother, not knowing who he really is, dismisses him as not worthy of being her daughter's husband. Determined to prove his worth, he gets his chance when he discovers that Betty's mother is being blackmailed by a criminal gang.

Dir: Edward Sloman

To maintain order aboard the Southern Cross, Bull Dorgan, its fierce captain, beats Pedro, a trouble-making sailor, who swears revenge as he steers the boat toward the wild Barbary Coast. While on shore, Bull hears the cries of Emily Gordon coming from a saloon, rescues her from the owner, and drags her and Hugh, a minister, to his departing ship. Bull refuses to believe that Emily came to the cabaret to visit a dying friend, but overcome with desire for her, he forces Hugh to marry them. Nine months later Emily gives birth, but Pedro, still bent on revenge, insinuates that the baby actually belongs to Hugh. When Bull goes to confront Emily with this accusation, he finds her in a compromising position with the minister. Taking advantage of Bull's confusion, Pedro foments a mutiny, but Bull and a devoted shipmate defeat the traitors. Eager to compensate Emily for her hardship, Bull allows her to return to land, but seeing his love for their child, she chooses to remain with the sea master.

Dir: Edward Sloman

Dr. Grant, in charge of a leper colony in the far Pacific, had once loved a beautiful girl, Myra Hamilton. Then she met Harry Elliot, a dissipated young society man. Dared by the boys, Harry proposed to Myra. Grant warned her of Harry's character, but she would not listen. Myra and Harry visit Grant's laboratory, where she learns of the vivisection experiment Grant was working on. She bitterly berated him for his cruelty to his canine subject. While Grant explained to her, Harry chloroformed the dog. Grant, furious at this ruthless destruction of his months of labor, resolved that Harry would pay. Myra announced her engagement to Harry a few nights later. Myra soon found that she had a hopeless task before her in trying to reform Harry. One day she overheard Grant remonstrate with him for his actions in causing her pain, and she began to appreciate his nobility. Again she saw Harry with a cabaret singer. Overwhelmed with grief, she determined to see Grant and obtain comfort from him. Myra noticed that Harry was inclined to be jealous, and discussed with Grant a plan to bring him to his senses. Grant was to pay ardent court to Myra. Soon Harry began to notice Grant's attention to his wife. He found them together one day, and wild with rage, left a note stating that they would find his body at the country home. Grant raced after Harry to the country house. Harry, with an oath, rose and struck him, and cursed Myra. Grant, bleeding, made his way to the telephone, called up Myra, and told her he would bring Harry back to her a man. Grant then brought him to an insane asylum and showed him the ruin drink caused. After weeks of hard work Grant felt that Harry was ready for the test. He deliberately placed temptation in his way, but Harry conquered. And so Grant brought him back to Myra. She forgave him. Grant then quietly left. Soon Myra looked for him to thank him. He showed her a letter which stated that his application as physician at the leper colony had been accepted, and he left at once. Sometime later Grant received a letter from Myra asking him to come back to her as Harry had died. His first impulse was to go, but when he realized his mission he burned the letter.