The Definitive Guide Inspired by the Vision of The Master Hand: Cult Guide

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Richard Barton, a prosperous manufacturer, has an accomplished wife, Helen, and Bess, a child of five. Richard has in his employ a man addicted to gambling. After repeated warnings, he discharges him, fearing that some day he may have a losing streak and take some of the firm's money. Being of a moody, vindictive turn of mind, he vows revenge. The same evening the Bartons are giving a party and it is arranged that Mrs. Barton will recite for her guests. Charles Burham, a theatrical manager, is present and, charmed with her elocution, tells her there is always a position waiting for her should she ever desire to go on the stage. The party is abruptly ended when Richard receives the news that his plant is on fire, having been set by the discharged employee. Richard assists the firemen, gets drenched and catches a severe cold, which turns to tuberculosis. The litigation over the insurance of the plant has forced the little family to hard circumstances and they are compelled to seek cheaper quarters in which to live. During all this time, Howard Barton, a wild young brother of Richard's, who has been seeking his fortune in Australia, has at last achieved success, and decides to return to New York. He has written Richard at the plant, but when he arrives there, finds the place in ruins. He tries in vain to locate his brother's present whereabouts. Richard is discouraged, and during this strenuous time, his wife is like a guiding star, taking discomforts cheerfully and giving him the loving care, tender sympathy and moral support that only a good woman can give. He, however, has not much moral stamina, and adversity breeds peevishness and irritability. After a time they are so impoverished she has to pawn her jewelry. While in the pawn shop one day, she meets a stranger, who is greatly impressed by her beauty, and listening to her pitiable tale, tells her that if she will but let him entertain her that evening, she will not have to want in the future. Helen rebukes him, but not until he has given her his name and address. When she finds later that she cannot raise any more money and must have money to buy medicine, she dresses up for the sacrifice, and goes to Howard's apartment. A few days later, Howard's letter reaches Richard, who sends for his brother. Both brothers are happy at seeing each other, but when Richard introduces his wife, Howard recognizes her and she meets his brother's wife as well as the visitor to his apartment. Howard arranges for the little family to go into the mountains. He sees them off and makes all sorts of excuses for remaining away, until Richard insists that he come, as he has been injured while out sleighing. The presence of Howard is a trying ordeal for Helen as well as himself. Being unable to quell his passions, he resolves to leave for Australia, but while talking about the past, Richard steps into the room and hears the terrible truth. Angry, he turns his wife from the house. She goes to Burnham and obtains a position on the stage, at the same time caring for her child. She is cast in a play very similar to that in which she has figured in real life. Richard and Howard, now both in New York city, are present at the first night. When he sees Madame Bondorti on the stage, Richard is by her resemblance to his own wife, but when he hears her speak, he is sure it is her. A few days later, after Richard learns the great depths of the sacrifice his wife made for him, he realizes how he had been unjust to her, and through Howard's efforts, they are brought together through the pleadings of their child, Bess, who has been in an orphanage during these years of estrangement. After the loving union of the three, Howard leaves for Australia, never to return.

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In the little kingdom of Balkany lived a king and queen who were not liked by their subjects. His Majesty was King John the Fifth, and Her Royal Highness was Queen Vesta. To them was born a daughter, the Princess Honore, who was placed in the convent of the Holy Sisters. The little kingdom rebelled against the extravagance of King John, and an attack was made upon the castle. Both the king and queen were assassinated. Princess Honore succeeded to the throne. In love with her and coveting the crown was Baron Stefano, Prime Minister, but his love was not returned. This incurred the ill-will of the Prime Minister, who set out to overthrow the little kingdom and turn it into a republic with himself as ruler. Prince Boris renounced his title and cast his lot with the peasantry. He was loved by the common folk and proved a leader. During the annual fair people gathered in the capital from far and near. There were rumors of an uprising. The young queen had not brought about much change in the conduct of the official household. The extravagance had continued to eat up the revenue raised by the heavy tax, and the people were protesting and demanding that something be done for their relief. These rumors reached the girl queen, and clad in the garments of a peasant girl she went forth during the fair to learn what she could. In this way she soon learned of her disfavor. One day she met Prince Boris, who told her of conditions that existed. One of the government spies, overhearing his conversation, suspected that he was forming a plot against the young queen, who was not recognized by the spy because of her disguise. The spy hastily informed the Prime Minister, who ordered the arrest of Prince Boris. The soldiers were dispatched, and Prince Boris was placed under arrest. The young queen protested. She as his companion was also confined to the prison. The chief of the Royal Guard notified the Prime Minister of the arrest, telling him that during the struggle with the queen she defied him by proclaiming that she was the queen, and this aroused the suspicions of the Prime Minister. Alone he went to the dungeon and discovered that Boris's companion really is the queen. It dawned upon him that now he had her in his power, he will force her to make him her king consort, or bring about conditions that will speedily overthrow the government. Meanwhile Lesbia, a peasant girl, learns of the conspiracy and through her love for one Ivan, sergeant of the Royal Guard, she secured the release of the queen, who escaped in safety to the Royal castle. Next morning the queen heard the tolling of the prison bell. On asking her secretary what it indicated, she was told that her sweetheart, the Prince Boris, was to be executed at sunrise. She rushed into the office of the Prime Minister and forbid the execution. He laughed at her. Back in the village, outside the prison wall, the soldiers were drawn up to execute Prince Boris. But the people saw their beloved leader. rushed forward, overpowered the soldiers and released him from his bonds. An attack was then made on the castle. Prince Boris discovered his peasant girl companion to be none other than her Royal Highness, Queen Honore. The people were for revenge, but the queen told them of the Prime Minister's conduct and followed by her the crowd attacked Baron Stefano, which resulted in his death. The queen accepted Prince Boris as her beloved king consort.

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Neglected by her grief-stricken father, a doctor, after the tragic death of his wife, little Eileen Homer changes the wording of her father's ad for a governess to read: "Wanted, a mother." A laborer named Giuseppe asks Dr. Homer to operate on his ailing son, but when the boy dies, the enraged father attacks the doctor. Eileen meets her father's friend, Dr. Thelma Winter, and that night, while dreaming that Dr. Winter has become her fairy mother, she walks in her sleep to the edge of the lake. Wandering aimlessly in his grief, Giuseppe rescues the girl and takes her home to fill the void left by the loss of his son. In trying to return home, Eileen falls from the fire escape and is rushed to the hospital, where Dr. Winter saves her life. Afterwards, the grateful Dr. Homer becomes a more loving father with the help of his new wife, Dr. Winter, and Giuseppe becomes the family's gardener.

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Evelyn Carmichael, a poor widow aware that she is about to die, writes to her wealthy father-in-law Lord Carmichael, who had disowned his son years earlier, pleading that he rescue his granddaughter Geraldine, known as Jerry, from a life in the slums. Lord Carmichael, an avowed woman-hater since his wife disappeared years earlier with his brother, expects Jerry to be a boy and is appalled to find otherwise. However, the lord is won over by Jerry's sweetness, and when Jim Dawson, a neighbor of Jerry's from the tenements, arrives at Carnimore Castle with his daughter Sophia, whom he is trying to pass off as Jerry, the lord exposes them as impostors and then expels them from his castle. Meanwhile, Jerry has also won over the hearts of the servants, whom she is drilling into a play army. One day, while on an excursion into an unused tower of the castle, they discover a locked room in which reside two skeletons. A note near one of the skeletons explains that Lord Carmichael's wife and his brother had been exploring the tower when the lock sprung and trapped them, causing their deaths. Lord Carmichael, realizing that his wife didn't betray him, has his faith in women restored and makes Jerry mistress of the castle.

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Myron Leeds and his brother Roger are both in love with Mary, but when Myron wins her, his father disowns him. While Myron struggles as an artist to support his wife and little daughter Beth, Roger marries and settles into his father's sumptuous estate. Roger's maid Norah, concerned when the death of his little boy causes him and his wife to shut themselves off from all society, invites Beth to visit the estate posing as her niece. Beth endears herself to the couple, but Myron, driven to desperation by his poverty and his wife's ill health, decides to rob the estate. Roger hears that someone is breaking in, but in attempting to shoot the intruder, he wounds Beth instead. As a result of this unhappy incident, Roger resolves to share his fortune with his brother, and the family is reunited.

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A social-climbing young woman marries Robert, a rich alcoholic, for his money. Although basically a good man, when drunk Robert treats her as if she's just one more thing he owns, and not his wife. Realizing her mistake, she leaves him. Her brother-in-law believes that the two of them actually do love each other, and sets out to bring them back together.

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Agatha, called "Miss Petticoats," is daughter of a French nobleman and an American woman, lives with her grandfather, Captain Joel Stewart, since the death of her mother years before. Knowing nothing of her royal heritage, Agatha gladly takes a job as secretary to the wealthy Sarah Copeland, whose nephew, Guy Hamilton, immediately begins pursuing the new employee. Jealous of Agatha, one of Guy's former sweethearts, Mrs. Worth Courtleigh, starts spreading rumors about her, and when Joel hears a particularly scandalous one, he dies of shock. Taking Agatha away from all the gossip, Sarah sails with her to Europe, where Agatha finally learns about her bloodline, and also discovers that she is the heiress to a fortune. Then, when she and Sarah return home, Agatha forgives all the people who believed the rumors, and marries the Reverend Ralph Harding, who was always certain of her innocence.

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When untalented artist Wilfred Barsley is eager for success, he sells his soul to the devil, who first has him kill his uncle for an inheritance. Then, the devil instructs him to commit the sickly, struggling artist Paul La France to a sanitarium and exhibit Paul's paintings as his own. After doing so, Wilfred becomes an overnight modern master, while Paul, during his convalescence, loses his memory and also his sweetheart, Helen Danver, who does not know that he has been hospitalized. Then, when Helen sees one of Wilfred's paintings and recognizes it as Paul's, she bluffs an interest in the fake artist to get information about the real one. After she succeeds, she goes to Paul, and the sight of her restores his memory. Meanwhile, having returned to the vault where he had stashed his uncle's body, Wilfred dies when the door slams shut on him.

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David Clifton is blinded while rescuing Katharine Lambert, the girl he loves, from a fire. Caring nothing for David, Katharine pursues her pleasures while Joan Merrifeld, who loves David, takes her place by his bedside. Believing that Joan is Katharine, David marries her and it is through her support and cooperation that he becomes a noted author. Upon regaining his sight, David is more than surprised to learn the identity of his wife. He is content, however, until Katharine reappears, bored with her husband Brooks. David's old love for Katharine returns and Joan, crushed, offers little resistance until Brooks, in anger, vows to kill Katharine if he discovers her unfaithful. It is only through Joan, who enters into a battle of wits with Brooks, that a catastrophe is averted. Then David at last realizes that he loves Joan, but at her command, leaves her for a year's time.

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Following the death of her father, a Maine trapper, Jennie Cox moves to New York to earn her living. She is aided by a close friend, Professor Rolfe, who secures a typing position for her, but just as she loses the job through the schemes of a jealous co-worker, Rolfe dies, and Jennie is left alone and nearly penniless. With her last three dollars, she decides to have a good meal at the elegant Claridge, and there she meets Billy West, a wealthy man who is in the process of obtaining a divorce. Billy offers Jennie a job as his housekeeper, and soon she learns that he is an avid gambler. Billy is accustomed to losing moderate amounts of money, but when Henry Walker fleeces him out of $12,000, both Jennie and Billy's ex-wife Cora come to his rescue. After Cora hands him the money and departs, Billy proposes to his housekeeper.