The Global Archive Complementing the Tone of The Plunderer: Cult Guide

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Captain Gray, of the United States Army, detailed to quell the Indian uprising, is wounded. A courier is dispatched to Gray's home with the news. Mrs. Gray, about to become a mother, receives a violent shock at the recital of the details of her husband's injury by the courier. The child born at this inopportune time is Wallace Gray. The prenatal influence exercised over the child at the time of his mother being informed of her husband's injury marks him as a coward. The report of a shot or the sound of an explosion throws the lad into spasms of fear. He is sent to college and there forms a strong comradeship with Swiftwind, an Indian, sent by his tribe to be educated. Wallace also forms a strong attachment for Florence Dunbar, a ward of his father, who is now Colonel Gray. Swiftwind is made acquainted with the moral defect inherent in Wallace and pities and protects him whenever the lad is made the subject of the jeers of his friends because of his born defect. Swiftwind becomes a graduate physician and receives a commission as assistant army surgeon, detailed to Fort Terry, in command of Colonel Gray. His immediate superior is Dr. Sherwood, an unscrupulous man. Florence Dunbar and Wallace Gray, traveling in a stagecoach to Fort Terry, are attacked by Indians. Wallace, with a cringing fear, deserts his companion, who is saved only by the timely arrival of Dr. Sherwood and troops. Sherwood marries Florence, nothing more being heard of Wallace, who, however, enlists in another regiment under General Crook, deserts under fire, and ultimately surrenders himself to his father, in the hope that he will be condemned to death. The boy, however, is sentenced to the "pyramids." While working under "ball and chain" he hears that his father and a small band of Americans are hemmed in a canyon by Indians with no hope of relief. The latter, having observed the Northern Lights in the heavens, follow their belief that the "Lights" foretell victory in battle and start on a massacre. General Crook calls for a volunteer to pass through the Indian lines to deliver a message to Colonel Gray. Swiftwind volunteers, but being weak from exhaustion and privation, falls as he is about to commence his ride. Wallace begs for the opportunity to redeem himself, and mounting his horse, arrives with the message to the besieged band just as they are about to recognize a false flag of truce of the Indians. Sherwood attempts to kill his wife by substituting cholera germs in a bottle labeled morphine. He is injured, however, and Swiftwind, intending to alleviate Dr. Sherwood's suffering with morphine, inoculates him with the cholera germs, unwittingly putting an end to him. Wallace's redemption restores him to the affection of Florence, whom he marries.

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Philip Morrow grows to manhood in the belief that the blood in his veins is the most aristocratic in the South. "Clif" Noyes, a distiller of whiskey of the fiery brand manufactured for consumption, persuades Morrow to run for Governor. Upon his election to the Governorship he decides to sign a Prohibition Bill which means the ruin of Noyes' business. Noyes visits Morrow. He has found papers proving that Morrow has blood in him. Morrow, undaunted, makes the Prohibition Bill a law, and resigns his office and sacrifices his love to devote his life to the uplift of the Negro.

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The scene is set in the Pennsylvania petroleum region. Oil worker William Brett has used his scanty hoard of savings to send his daughter Jane to the city to secure a higher education. Completing her course as a trained nurse, Jane visits her old home. Amid the settlement's corroding influence, her brother becomes a thief. Jane's sister Annie falls a prey to the blandishments of a tempter from the city. Fired with indignation against the injustice of affairs, Jane devotes herself to the double mission of avenging and of righting the wrongs of which her family and the community in general have been subjected. Her father is seriously hurt in an accident at work, and his pay is stopped. Jane hastens to the city, determined to make an effort to awaken William Jameson, the millionaire owner of the oil field, to a realization of the wrongs imposed upon the workers. She arrives at a time when the millionaire's son John Jameson, who glimpsed the light of uplift, is vainly pleading with his father to listen to his plans for the betterment of the workers' conditions. Jane is compelled to force her way into the Jameson mansion during the progress of a bal masque given in aid of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. She accosts William Jameson in his study, and wild with anger and further maddened by the millionaire's gibes, she tries to kill him and is arrested by detectives. Although she and young Jameson have not met, the latter is instrumental in obtaining her release. Jane goes back to the workers and a secret strike is formed, Jane being the ring-leader. They determine to fire the wells to teach Jameson a lesson. It is at this time that John Jameson comes to the oil wells to investigate conditions. His identity is not known by anyone except the superintendent. Morgan, the ringleader of the workers, is in love with Jane, and on the eve of the firing of the wells he learns of Jameson's identity by breaking into his cottage. The same evening, to save the property, young Jameson goes to Jane, confesses his identity, and pleads with her to help him save the property. Jane is in a quandary. She has fallen in love with the man, whom she believed to be a workman, and he with her. Finally, when she goes to the meeting place of the strikers and pleads with them to hold off, Morgan, who has just broken into Jameson's hut, rushes in, and accuses her of being a traitor. There is a fight. They trample over Jane and rush to the wells. Jane, realizing that they will turn to her unsuspecting lover and try to kill him, drags herself to him and just in time throws herself in front of him as the strikers rush to kill him. However, John Jameson bares himself to the strikers, asks them to listen to him, and proves to them that he is there on their behalf. He then goes to his father and forces him to give in to the strikers, and all ends happily.

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After Sheridan Redpath, known as Sherry, squanders the last of his inheritance on drink, he plucks up his courage and decides to go to work. Employed as a bodyguard by Andrew Gilman, the richest man in town, Sherry is on duty one night when he discovers burglars ransacking the neighboring Compton residence. Entering the house, he captures two men, one of whom proves to be Gilman's stepson. Subsequently, the two rogues break jail and are pursued by the sheriff's posse, of which Sherry is a member. Gilman's stepson takes refuge in his mother's apartments, and in the ensuing gunfire, both son and mother are killed. Sherry then becomes a power in the Gilman business and, once again solvent and sober, marries his sweetheart, Morna O'Brien.

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In order to avoid exposure attendant upon the birth of Harold Gage, the fatherless son of Constance, he, through arrangements made by Lady Staunton, the haughty sister of Constance, is placed under the care of Mr. and Mrs. Marshall, who are paid to rear the boy as their own, cautioned against revealing to him or the outside world his true identity. Mrs. Marshall's real son, in the early years of his life, acquainted with the doubtful parentage of Harold, taunts him. The two engage in a boys' fight, Harold being severely cut on his left arm by a scythe in the hands of his young foster brother, the wound leaving an ugly scar. The lad, sensitive of the treatment of his foster brother, finally migrates to Australia as a stowaway, where, by reason of forced circumstances and his near starvation to death, become a bush-ranger. Because of the rapidity of his operations, and his ability to escape detection and arrest, he, as the unknown bushranger, received the sobriquet of "Capt. Swift." He attempts to hold up a traveler, George Gardner, who is willing to suffer death rather than part with his gold. "Capt. Swift," hesitating to take a human life, compels him to alight and rides away with the wayfarer's mount. Swift, after having robbed the Queensland bank, suffers remorse, and determines to reform. Under the name of William Wilding, being the name of his companion in Australia, who died of starvation and thirst on the desert, he returns to London, where, at an opportune moment, he saves James Seabrook. whose life is in jeopardy by reason of a runaway horse. "Capt. Swift," invited by Seabrook to his home, there meets Mrs. Seabrook, their daughter Mabel and their niece Stella Darbisher. Harry Seabrook. brother of Mabel, a whole-hearted but impetuous young man, takes immediate dislike to Swift, whereas Stella Darbisher, a girl of romantic disposition, admiring the brave spirit inherent in Swift, becomes strongly attached to him. Marshall, the foster brother of Swift, is now employed as butler in the home of the Seabrooks. At a gathering the conversation is directed toward the escapades of one, "Capt. Swift," in Australia, whose name had become almost a household word throughout England. In the course of conversation, George Gardner, who is a friend of the Seabrooks, having returned from Australia, calls at their home, and there identifies Wilding as the notorious "Capt. Swift," and is in turn recognized by Swift, but his identity is not revealed to the others. Mrs. Seabrook recognizes a strong similarity between the man Swift and her boy, given away in adoption to the Marshalls. Her fears are later justified, when, at a dramatic and tense moment, she proves the fact to him. Swift, however, in order not to stigmatize his mother, determines to leave the household of the Seabrooks. Stella Darbisher's infatuation for Swift has progressed to such a point as to cause a strong reciprocal feeling on his part for the girl. The rivalry of Harry Seabrook for the hand of Stella causes a violent quarrel between him and Swift, the consequences of which are avoided by the timely intervention of Gardner. Marshall, eavesdropping during a conversation between Swift and his mother, Mrs. Seabrook, learns of the identity of Swift, and further proves it by a scar on Swift's arm, the result of the wound inflicted by Marshall when the two were boys. With this knowledge Marshall attempts to blackmail Swift, and being repulsed, acquaints the police with his whereabouts. A detective from Australia has arrived in London to apprehend Swift, having traced his movements to that place. Gardner, strongly admiring the manhood of Swift, determining if possible to save him, warns him. Swift, cornered in the home of his mother, rather than suffer arrest, together with the attendant exposure, and the possible revelation of his real identity, and to save the girl he loves and his mother the disgrace that would necessarily follow, jumps out of a window, knowing that the possibility of escape is meager. Marshall, working in league with the detective, is hidden in the shrubbery, and seeing Swift, fires, mortally wounding him, at the same moment that the detective from a window above shoots, the cross shot which strikes Marshall, puts an end to him. The denouement ends without the identity of "Capt. Swift" being revealed to the others.

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Vladimir Krestovsky, a Russian peasant of unusual physical and mental prowess, hearkens to the call of America, and leaving his wife, Nataska, and his year-old baby, Olga, behind, makes the journey and secures work in the steel mills of Pittsburgh. From a position as a laborer, he finally works himself up to be one of the great financial factors of the world. His wife in Russia has not heard from him for many years and knows nothing of his success. He shortens his name of Krestovsky to that of Krest. Then commits bigamy by marrying the daughter of one of the social leaders in the country. In the meantime, over in Russia, his daughter, Olga, has grown to womanhood. She is wooed and won by Nicholas, a kindly young Russian peasant. Krest's American wife dies. His mind, as he sits by her bedside, takes him back to the Street of Forgotten Days when he bid Nataska good-bye. The voice of conscience preys upon him and he endeavors to seek diversion in art. He purchases the original of Hoffman's famous painting of "Christ and the Rich Young Man." Arriving in America, Nicholas and Olga secure work in one of Krest's mills in Pittsburgh. They live with Nataska in a miserable tenement house. A baby is born to Olga, and she, in her weakened condition, returns to work. One day she is severely injured. Nicholas sits beside his wife. He realizes that with her death will also come the death of their offspring. A peasant from another part of the tenement urges Nicholas to appeal to the "Big Boss" Krest himself. Nicholas determines to do so and starts out. In the meantime, Krest has arrived home. The painting has been hung, and he is puzzled as he studies the face of Christ; he wonders where he has seen it in real life. Without a storm has begun to gather, and far up on a distant hill, the stranger appears in a silhouette against the threatening sky. Slowly and peacefully he comes down into the house of Krest. To Krest's startled questions the Stranger replies that he is one who has come to show him the error of his ways. The Stranger takes Krest into the tenement house, shows him the living conditions of the people who work for him. Then the Stranger shows him into the home of Nicholas and shows him Olga and the baby both dead in bed. Then they go back to the home of Krest. On entering, Krest struck by the Stranger's manner and appearance, compares him to the figure of Christ in the painting, and the sub-conscious mind within him forces him to tell the Stranger that it seems he knew him in the long ago. Then the Stranger informs him that he did know him, and asks him if he cannot remember, centuries ago, and the scene goes back to Jerusalem. Krest is the reincarnation of the Rich Young Man, the Stranger is the same Christ, who, centuries ago, had urged the Rich Young Man to go sell all he had, give to the poor and to follow him, but the Rich Young Man could not think of giving up his immense wealth and had left Christ with the beggars. Then the scene comes back to Krest's library. Christ, for the Stranger is Christ, then tells the penitent Krest that, though he did not heed him then, to heed him now, and he tells him that perhaps he did not understand him then, that he did not mean for him to sell everything he possessed, but rather that he should take that which he did not actually need and use to benefit his fellowmen. The Stranger makes the sign of the cross, and disappears. In the meantime, Nicholas has been hastening to Krest's home. The storm breaks without and Krest awakens with a start. He crosses to the windows to shut them. Nicholas has arrived, but the butler refuses him admittance. The rain has drenched him and he stands there. Krest, who has crossed to shut the windows, peers at him. The sight of Nicholas, who looks so much like Christ, staggers Krest, who wonders if it has all been a dream, and watches Nicholas disappear into the storm. Realizing it is really a human being, he calls the butler and bids him bring Nicholas back. Krest questions him and then tells him that he is anxious to see conditions as they really are. He goes back with Nicholas to his home. On the way Krest secures a doctor to care for Olga, never suspecting that it is his own daughter and son-in-law whom he is benefiting. Arriving at the house, the doctor and Nicholas cross to the bedside of Olga, who, much to Krest's relief, is still alive and has a chance to recovering. Krest notes the terrible living quarters of the people, and determined to investigate farther. He starts into the kitchen, where he comes face to face with his wife. Without a word, Nataska crosses to his side, and he takes her into his arms, and so the rejuvenation of Vladimir Krestovsky takes place.

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In Oklahoma, kindhearted outlaw Brick Willock rescues little Lahoma Gledware and her father Henry from certain death at the hands of his outlaw band. In the course of the rescue, he kills Kansas Kimball, the brother of the outlaws' leader Red Kimball, who vows vengeance against Brick. Brick renounces his life of crime, and after Gledware relinquishes custody of his daughter to marry an Indian princess, the old cowboy gives refuge to the little girl, raising her with the help of neighbor Bill Atkins. Years later Easterner Will Compton comes to Oklahoma to homestead, meets Lahoma and falls in love with her, but is forced to leave by Brick. While visiting Kansas City, Lahoma overhears Kimball plotting to kill Brick by swearing out a phony warrant for his arrest, but she foils his plan. Outwitted, Kimball takes revenge into his own hands and shoots Brick, only to fall in his tracks from Brick's own gun as the old outlaw breathes his last breath. Will returns to console Lahoma and the couple are married.

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Rosa is looked upon as an outcast, and is always in the shadow of her spoiled younger sister Rita.

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A barrier stands between Lt. Meade Burrell and Necia, the woman he loves. That barrier is the fact that she's a "half-breed"--half-Indian and half-white, with an Indian mother and John Gale, a white trader, for a father. Although he has proposed marriage to Necia, she releases him from it when she realizes the damage that marrying a half-breed would do to him personally and professionally. One day a man arrives in town with information that could solve everyone's problems.

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Dr. Robert Winston loses faith in himself and his religion when his own mother dies under his scalpel. Abandoning his profession, he moves to the Canadian Northwest, where he avoids companionship and drinks constantly. Despite Robert's atheism, he attracts the interest of Jeanette Mercier, the minister's daughter, and under her gentle influence, he is slowly regenerated. In the meantime, an Indian named Lone Deer bids a temporary farewell to his sweetheart Winona, whose father wishes to die among his own people, but when he finds her canoe overturned in the water, he assumes that she has drowned. Later Lone Deer saves Jeanette from Lou Baribeau, the brutal and lecherous company agent, but is seriously wounded in the struggle. Rev. Mercier convinces Robert to operate, and because the procedure proves successful, the doctor regains his faith and marries Jeanette. Winona finally returns to aid in Lone Deer's recovery.