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Love's Pilgrimage to America Synopsis

Lulu is the daughter of an English bishop and she loves and is loved by Tom, nephew of the Duke of Bilgewater. Lulu and Tom finally decide to tell their folks that they have become engaged. They expect a little opposition, for their respective fathers and uncle are enemies, but bravely hope to overcome it and make things right. Lulu leaves Tom at her door and goes in and gladly announces that she is to marry the duke's nephew. A scene ensues and in the duke's castle a like scene is going on. The bishop insists that Lulu marry his curate, whom she despises, while the duke insists that Tom marry his cousin, Lady Mary, who has more brains than beauty. Tom refuses to marry his cousin and is ordered to leave the house. He and Lulu plan to elope. So they leave England to seek their fortune in America, confidently hoping to marry as soon as this is accomplished. Arrived in New York, Tom finds that the only thing he can get to do is peddling books. Meanwhile Lulu attracts the attention of an old chap into whose office she goes, and he at once engages her to be his typewriter. Tom puts up $70 for his books and starts out to sell them. But it seems that "The Lives of the Saints" are not popular that year, and so he meets with nothing but failure. He happens into the office where Lulu is at work and there finds her struggling in the embrace of the old man. He fights with the old man and this interference causes Lulu to be "fired." They are unable to pay their hotel bill, and stealing away they seek refuge in the park. In the morning they see an advertisement for a maid and butler, so, pretending they are married, they apply for the jobs and luckily get them. To their consternation they find that the man of the house is the same old fellow in whose office Lulu worked for a few hours. Tom, in his utter surprise, drops a whole tureen full of soup over his master. Lulu warns the old man that if he fires Tom she will tell his wife all. So he agrees to keep his mouth shut. That night Tom and Lulu are shown to the same room. This will not do, so Tom takes his belongings and camps out in the hall. Feeling a bit cold, he steals into what he supposes to be an empty room, only to find it occupied by the cook. She chases him downstairs, where he has a bout with a burglar, who disappears leaving Tom with the bag of loot in his hands. The master and mistress come down. Tom and Lulu are taken for thieves and sent to the police station. Next morning, however, the old man is afraid to prosecute, so they are set free. This time in their search for work they are less fortunate. The only thing they can get is a very menial job called help's help in a large hotel. Here they wait upon the cooks and waiters and are treated with much disdain by their fellow servants. Tom is soon fired, but Lulu keeps the job. In the park Tom is accused of stealing a purse from a fiery old man to whom he was about to restore his property. The old man jails Tom. An old friend of Tom's comes to the hotel and visits the fiery old chap who jailed him. Lulu, who has been forced to don the attire of a bellboy to escape the attentions of a French cook, happens to be sent to their room with some drinks and hears them discussing Tom. Then she hears Tom's friend say that the Duke of Bilgewater is dead, and that his son has been killed in the trenches. She steps forward and discloses her identity. The old man, who proves to be a lawyer who is searching for Tom, asks where his lordship is. Lulu tells the old man that Tom is in jail where he put him. Tom is released and told of his good fortune. He and Lulu lose no time in getting home to England. There they are married at once and go to the castle.

Under the Gaslight Synopsis

Judas, the Courtland family servant, is discharged for stealing and returns to her husband William Byke and her baby daughter, who is being cared for by girl waif Blossom. Judas, eager for revenge, plans to substitute her baby for the Courtland infant, confident that she can carry out her scheme as the babies bear a striking resemblance to each other. The change of babies is successfully made. A few years elapse and Pearl, Byke's daughter is raised as Courtland's, while Laura, the Courtland child, is brought up as Byke's daughter and taught to steal. Laura is caught stealing by her own father and mother, the Courtlands. Laura's tale of how her "papa" makes her steal touches the Courtlands and they adopt her (their own child) after making a money settlement with Byke. Laura and Pearl are about 20 when the Courtlands die, leaving their fortune equally divided between the two girls. Pearl is secretly in love with Ray Trafford, Laura's suitor. Byke plans to blackmail Laura and gets Snorky, an ex-soldier to deliver her the following note: "My darling daughter, I think it's about time you had a talk with me. I am outside waiting to see you. Your own father. Wm. Byke" Laura faints and Pearl reads the note. Byke enters the house but is thrown out by Ray. Pearl tells Ray Laura's story and hands him the note Ray gives vent to his shocked feelings and Laura interprets his action to mean that he is ashamed of her. Laura takes off her engagement ring and goes to her room. Through the prevarications of Pearl, Laura is led to believe that Ray does not care to see her again, and Ray likewise believes that his dismissal is final. Ray writes Laura that he loves her although her parents are of low origin. Through Pearl's craftiness this note is never delivered to Laura. Byke and Judas attempt to kill Blossom, as she knows the truth about Laura and Pearl, but they are frustrated by Snorky. At the Rensaeller reception, Pearl plans Laura's disgrace. She drops Ray's note to Laura, which is found by Mrs. Rensaeller, whereupon Laura is snubbed by all. Humiliated, Laura goes away, leaving a note saying that her share of the estate goes to Pearl. Ray at once begins a search for Laura and engages Snorky to assist. Byke and Judas, seeking to obtain hush-money from Laura find Laura's note, stating that she leaves her money to Pearl. They discover Laura's lodging-house and abduct her. Laura is taken to Byke's den on the riverfront. Unless Laura agrees to sign over her fortune, her chances of living are dubious. Blossom discovers Laura's plight and notifies Snorky. Through Snorky, Laura is saved, but Snorky is caught by Byke. Snorky, firmly bound to the piling and left to drown by inches, is rescued by Ray and Blossom. Laura, escaping across the river, is found by Snorky. She seeks safety in a tool house by the railroad track. Snorky is again caught by Byke and bound to the track, and left to his fate. Laura, observing, is frantic when she finds the tool house door locked. With the aid of an axe, she breaks open the door and reaches Snorky just in time to save him from certain death, as the train is bearing down upon him. Byke and Judas go to Pearl at the Courtland's summer home and Judas tells Pearl she is her mother. Pearl realizes the bitter truth of her parentage when Blossom confirms Judas' assertion. Pearl upbraids Judas and turns her from the house. Snorky brings Laura to Ray at the Courtland home, where they meet Byke. Snorty shoots Byke, who staggers out and falls dead at the feet of Judas. Judas, widowed and disowned by her daughter, leaves in despair. Pearl confesses that she and not Laura is the daughter of Judas and Byke and begs Laura's forgiveness for the wrong she has done, which Laura in her newfound happiness readily grants.