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The Builder of Bridges Synopsis

Edward Thursfield, chief engineer of the bridge building firm of Henry Killick and Company, is building the largest concrete bridge in the world. Employed in the New York office is a young man named Arnold Faringay. Arnold sees an opportunity of using money from the payroll for a big deal. He takes the money, but the market goes against him. He seeks to borrow the $20,000 from Walter Gresham, his sister Dorothy's fiancé. Dorothy learns from Arnold that Thursfield is the big power in the firm and decides to follow him to Atlantic City where he has gone to look over the site for a new pier. She meets Thursfield at Atlantic City, and playing upon his sympathy leads him to propose to her. The confidential clerk of Henry Killick, has become suspicious of Arnolds accounts, and when Thursfield arrives he finds the errors, and Arnold is forced to confess before Thursfield. Thursfield is stunned at the thought of his fiancée's brother being a thief and to save her the disgrace he pays over the $20,000. Arnold thanks him and is sent home by Thursfield. He meets Walter Gresham and tells him that his shortage has been made good by a friend. Gresham returns to his house and receives a note from Dorothy breaking their engagement because of his selfishness. He bursts into the parlor as Thursfield holds Dorothy in his arms and demands to know from Dorothy who Thursfield is. Dorothy introduces him as her fiancé, whereupon Walter, realizing who the friend was who paid the money, denounces her before Thursfield. Thursfield demands the truth, and she admits that she did have that purpose, but that she really loves him now. Thursfield refuses to believe and leaves her. Next morning, Arnold sees that copper has made a tremendous jump. He finds that his money has made enough to pay back his stealings. Thursfield, his love for the girl overpowering his resentment, forgives her and calls her back to him.

Dan Synopsis

Loyal slave of the aristocratic Dabney family, Dan is overjoyed when Raoul becomes engaged to Northerner Elsie Hammond and his sister Grace becomes engaged to Elsie's brother John. When the Civil War breaks out, the heartbroken Hammonds return North and John joins the Union army. Raoul joins the Confederacy, but his vindictive overseer, Jonas Watts, becomes a Union officer. Watts takes Grace prisoner, but before he can act on his desires, John rescues her. He then encounters Raoul and is obliged to arrest him, but Dan comes to his aid by throwing red peppers into his captors' eyes. When John is arrested by Confederates, Raoul frees him for Grace's sake, but when his superiors discover his treason, he is sentenced to death. Stonewall Jackson, a family friend, tries to obtain a stay of execution for Raoul, but in the meantime, Dan visits him and convinces his master to blacken his face and take the slave's place. He does, and Dan is executed. After the war, Raoul and Elsie, and John and Grace marry and settle on the Dabney estate.