The Cult Collection Comparable to the Style of The Masked Motive: Cult Guide

The The Masked Motive Phenomenon

Few films from 1914 manage to capture to leave an indelible mark on the history of France film.

Two girls in entirely different stations in life are very fond of each other. Sophie, the daughter of rich parents, and Marie Jean, her maid. Both are engaged to be married, Sophie to Count Rene and Marie Jean to Bertrand, a workman. Philip, the secretary to Sophie's father, is in love with Sophie, but dares not tell her of it. Finally the two girls are married the same day and are very happy. Count Rene, however, falls under the spell of Dr. Renault, whom he thinks a very good friend of his. In reality, Renault is in love with Sophie and is planning to have Rene put out of the way so that he can press his suit. He invites Rene to a dance and there has him meet a duelist who insults him. Rene to vindicate his honor meets the duelist and is killed. Bertrand, Marie Jean's husband, has also fallen into evil ways and is led to drink by a friend. In course of time a child is born to both the girls. Sophie's daughter is very sickly and the doctor advises that the child be sent to the country to be nursed by an old lady, but the child dies. Doctor Renault sees an opportunity to get into Sophie's good graces and when Marie Jean becomes poverty stricken, owing to Bertrand's actions, he advises that her child be sent to the care of some institution. On the way there he contrives to steal the child from its guardian. He takes it to Sophie and tells of the care he has taken of her child in order to restore it to health. Sophie, not knowing that her child had died, believes him and is very grateful. Philip, the secretary, who had been in love with Sophie before her marriage, hears of the death of Count Rene and returns to Paris to see if he can be of any aid to Sophie. When he hears of the loss of Marie Jean's baby he decides to help her recover it. While on the search he finds the death record of Sophie's daughter. This arouses his suspicions of Doctor Renault and he has the doctor watched. The shock of the loss of their child and the realization of the trouble he has caused forces Bertrand into a different mode of life. He swears never to touch another drop of liquor and gives every assistance to Philip in his quest. They are finally successful in running down several clues, and as a result of their efforts the lives of the two girls take a turn that assures happiness.