The Recommended Vault Parallel to the Artistry of Their Own Desire:...

Dir: E. Mason Hopper

Weak-willed Roy Hanford, driven from his father's house by the coldness of his stone-hearted wife and the sanctimonious attitude of his father, the deacon, flees to the city. There he is befriended by Breeze Ballard, a salesman for the Ajax Hardware Company who arranges for Roy to work in the office. Roy falls in love with the firm's secretary, Jeanie MacGregor, and the two are married. A year later, Roy is happy with his wife and newborn child when his father appears, accompanied by an officer carrying a warrant that charges Roy with bigamy. To save himself from the penitentiary, Roy denies the marriage and deserts Jeanie. Jeanie follows her drunken husband, who falls from a cliff and dies. She then becomes a target for the hypocritical deacon who attempts to rally the villagers to drive her from town. The deacon is defeated by the appearance of Breeze, who produces proof of Jeanie's marriage and pledges his own love to her.

Dir: E. Mason Hopper

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of The Prison Without Walls perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Helen Ainsworth, a young philanthropist, who is interested in a prison reform movement, is engaged to Norman Morris, administrator of the Ainsworth millions and the undiscovered "man higher up," grafting through his influence with prison wardens. He is also having an "affair" with Felice, Helen's maid, an ex-convict. Governor Havens sends for Huntington Babbs, prison expert, who enters the prison as a convict, is discovered by Helen and made her secretary upon his release. Morris is jealous of the good-looking secretary and he makes Felice "plant" a necklace which he has presented to Helen, in Babbs' room. Babbs discovers the plot, and Morris, overhearing his plan to visit a certain place in the rough part of the city, for Helen, plans to get him. He orders the gang to murder him. Helen accompanies Babbs (or Conroy, as he is known). Morris learns Helen has gone and reaches the place just as the men have nearly overpowered Conroy. Morris allows the men to escape, but Helen refuses his offer to take her home, preferring Conroy. Infuriated, Morris plans to have the Ainsworth safe burglarized the night of Helen's party. Conroy discovers the burglar and that he is Gilligan, whom he befriended in prison. Conroy sends a note to the Governor by Gilligan. Just as the burglar leaves, the guests of the house enter the library. Conroy is accused, but Helen allows no arrests. She orders Conroy to leave the house. Morris betrays the girl Felice by suggesting her arrest as an accomplice. Morris accompanies Helen to the Governor's office. The Governor requests an interview with Morris and accuses him of being the "man higher up." Morris asks for his witnesses and a door is opened, disclosing Gilligan and the gang, and Felice. Conroy is introduced as Huntington Babbs, prison expert. Morris is staggered. Helen overjoyed. Morris is arrested, but just as he is leaving Felice shoots him. Unconsciously, Helen goes into the arms of the man she loves.

Dir: E. Mason Hopper

Abby Lou is the niece of the crabbed old antique dealer, Richard Cobb. Old Richard Cobb has a son who possesses all the qualities that his father seemingly was born without. This son, Tom Cobb, loves Abby Lou and is working on his great invention, a kettle that will not boil over. Finances are the only drawback to its successful achievement. Tom approaches wealthy old Joseph Snow for assistance but is turned down. Snow, though a hard man in money matters, in private life is also an unsuspected follower of Romance. In his home he has a secret chamber from which through the eyes of his portrait he can observe what goes on in his absence. Snow sees Abby in the antique shop and his charity offering of money to the ragged little girl is scorned. It amazes him; for the first time in his life his money is refused. It puzzles him and that night he decides on an eccentric test. The next day Abby Lou is notified that she is the heiress to deceased Snow's wealth. The lawyer takes her away to the mansion and she is surrounded by the parasitical Mrs. Rollins and her son Percival, relatives of Snow. Percival is in love with Marguerite D'Arcy but is as poor as a church mouse. Snow from his point of observation through the eves of his picture watches Abby set up Percival in business, secretly finance Tom's invention to success, reinstate his old and faithful employee Mace, and seemingly make everyone happy with his money. A new understanding of life and its meaning comes to Snow and the night of the mask ball Snow steps through the secret panel in costume, masked and apparently a guest. Then the denouement happens in a marvelously happy way and the Spirit of Romance, her mission finished, disappears forever.

Dir: E. Mason Hopper

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

Quartus Hembly, a man without a conscience, is the ruler of the town of Copper City, having made himself rich at the expense of his workers. When Donald Keith, a young lawyer, arrives in town, a hidden spring within him is touched after Hembly viciously kicks his dog. Keith refuses to leave town and warns Hembly that he will fight to see that the people get their rights. Keith's only ally is Thora Erickson, the daughter of Hembly's henchman. Keith's opportunity to topple Hembly presents itself when he rescues Bill Wheeler, who, out of gratitude, confesses that it was Hembly who dynamited the log jam years earlier. With the lawyers and the courts in the palm of his hand, Hembly is acquitted, but the townspeople are so outraged that they capture Hembly and tie him to the whipping post. He is rescued by Keith, who forces a full confession for all Hembly's crimes and then allows him to leave town. Keith is then made district attorney, Thora becomes his bride, and Copper City becomes a decent place in which to live.

Dir: E. Mason Hopper

Boston Blackie, a gentleman crook, and his accomplice, Mary, plan to rob the Wilmerding mansion while Mr. Wilmerding is out of town. Mary is hired as a nurse to Martin Wilmerding, Jr., and after Mrs. Wilmerding has gone to a ball, she admits Blackie, who starts to open the safe. Just then little Martin enters, and he and Blackie play and become fast friends. Mrs. Wilmerding returns with her lover, Donald Lavalle, and when Blackie overhears their plans to elope together with her jewels, he tricks Donald into giving him the jewels by posing as the jealous husband. Through several telegrams, he effects the reconciliation of his little pal's parents but cannot decide whether or not to return the jewels.

Dir: E. Mason Hopper

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

The valet of Lord Harold Varden, on a secret mission to our Government, has been murdered. Dick Holloway, a reporter, detailed to the story, calls on Lord Varden just as the latter feels the effects of poison administered to him. He takes the place of the nobleman when his American cousins come for him, and not only saves his lordship's papers, but captures the spies detailed to get them.

Dir: E. Mason Hopper

Charlotte Carter, a young songwriter, moves to New York and settles in the city's Bohemian quarter. When Peter Ladislaw, one of her admirers, confesses that he has forged a number of checks and is in danger of arrest, the good-hearted girl promises to help him. Olga Grey, a dishonest schemer, convinces Charlotte to marry wealthy arts patron Gerard Townshend, who has been injured in an auto accident and is near death. Charlotte consents and the two are wed, but following an operation, Gerard recovers. Ashamed, Charlotte confesses that she married Gerard for his money, and he forgives her. Olga and Peter try to frame them for a divorce, but the couple, now deeply in love, rid themselves of the crooks and begin their marriage again.

Dir: E. Mason Hopper

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Boston Blackie's Little Pal perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Young engineer Tom Morley is building a railroad through Imperial Valley. Tom's father also wants the job and tries to persuade his son to give up the work, but Tom refuses. Tom falls for a society girl named Alice Hale, who marries him to bring prestige to her family. Initially, Alice plots against Tom, but Tom wins her over and they work together to defeat those who are plotting to destroy Tom's work.

Dir: E. Mason Hopper

Young Polly Eccles is raising her sickly young brother Billy. When her doctor advises taking Billy away from their dank slum, she packs them both up and they head for California. While hitchhiking there, they are picked up by Kirk Drummond, who just happens to be driving to California himself. Upon their arrival, Kirk's wealthy father John is horrified that he has hooked up with a "lower-class" woman like Polly and does everything he can to make life miserable for her so she will leave. However, an incident occurs at the mine John's father owns that could turn out badly for all concerned.

Dir: E. Mason Hopper

Dr. Manning cherishes Gloriana, his newly-adopted young daughter, but Mrs. Manning, who directs overseas charity projects, has as little concern for Gloriana as she does for the poverty-stricken people in her own city. After listening to her new mother philosophize about the importance of charity, Gloriana takes some money from Mrs. Manning's desk and gives it to Miriam, her impoverished governess. Mrs. Manning at first accuses Miriam of theft, but when Gloriana confesses, Mrs. Manning suddenly realizes that she has been blind to the poverty that surrounds her, and she vows to start devoting her energy into helping those who are closer to home.