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From the Ground Up Synopsis

Refusing her father's request to marry young Carswell, daughter Philena can't stand him, but in order to insure a loan Mr. Mortimer needs to complete construction of an office building. As a result, her father is ruined financially. While the building site is being excavated, Philena is attracted to Terence Giluley, a pick-and-shovel man who is forced to exchange with her his harmonica for a dollar bill. The act inspires him to work harder and rise to her social level, and soon he is promoted to contractor. Philena decides to sell her horse to aid her parents, and Terence offers her $500 for it, but on a last ride the horse is injured and has to be killed. Philena and Terence meet again while attending night school; she appears among applicants when he advertises for a stenographer; Terence proposes marriage to her and is accepted.

The Spirit of Romance Synopsis

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.