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The Eternal Question Synopsis

Ralph Courtland and Pierre Felix are sitting in their Fifth Avenue Club discussing the eternal question, woman. Ralph contends that it is birth and breeding that make the gentlewoman, but Felix, who is a designer of fashionable apparel, claims in three months he can make a lady of any one he may happen to pick up on the street, simply by dressing her properly. An old organ-grinder and a young woman, leading a monkey by a string, stop in front of the club to gather some pennies, and Ralph and Felix decide to make her the subject of the test. The wager is for $25,000 and expenses and stakes are placed with Allen Tait, a young lawyer. Ralph goes to California, where his aeroplane is to be entered in a race, and Pierre, fitting out Bianca with beautiful clothes and installing her in a handsome apartment, begins his experiment. Bianca wears her new garments as if born to the purple, and is soon introduced to society at a charity ball and bazaar given by Ralph's mother, Pierre introducing her as a Russian Countess. Ralph returns in time to meet her, and not knowing her identity, is delighted with her. He pays her so much attention that Pierre's jealousy is aroused. Pierre, maddened by her exotic beauty attempts to embrace her, when he escorts her to her new apartments after the ball. She is so infuriated that she returns at once to the old organ-grinder. Pierre apologizes profusely, and persuades her to return, so that he may win the wager. Ralph and Bianca spend a great deal of time together. They are out horseback riding when Ralph's horse becomes frightened and he is thrown. Bianca is so overcome with fear that she rushes to him and pours forth her love in a torrent of words. Ralph is not badly hurt, and returning to consciousness, hears her and is overjoyed. He proposes marriage to her, and she accepts at once. Later Pierre reminds Ralph that he has lost the wager, since Bianca has been accepted by society. Ralph's affairs are in a precarious condition, and this threatens to ruin him. Then Bianca tells him her real identity. She is the daughter of the King of Montenaro. Being ordered to marry the Grand Duke Seridan, she has escaped to America, taking Carlo, an old servant, with her. Ralph rushes back to the club and prevents Allen from paying over the money to Pierre, since he is the one who has lost. Pierre, infuriated, vows revenge. He hurries to Bianca and forces her into an automobile. The Grand Duke has come in search of her, and Pierre promises to deliver Bianca to him. He takes her to the Duke's ship, which is in the harbor. Ralph, who has been notified by Bianca's maid that her mistress has been kidnapped, at once follows in his aeroplane, and Allen Tait gets into communication with the government officials to have the ship stopped within the three-mile limit. A cruiser is sent after the boat and stops it, but not before Ralph has dropped to the deck from his airship and fought his way to Bianca. Their immediate marriage puts a stop to further persecution from the Grand Duke.

Man and His Angel Synopsis

Sonia Demitri, daughter of an exiled Russian nobleman, comes to this country almost penniless, teaches a while, and then, being a lover of books, starts a little second-hand bookstore. Sonia grows to womanhood unaware of her noble birth, she has a great singing voice. In an old Bible which her father treasures are the documents which will establish her claim to large estates, but her father tells her she will learn it all after his death. David Tryne, living in the same neighborhood, deformed and with a twisted mind, is a remarkable penman and a lover of the beautiful. He forges a letter of recommendation given to one man. The second man uses it and as a result the first man is accused of forgery. The neighbors try to mob Tryne, who takes refuge in the bookstore. Sonia pities his deformities, aids him, and wins his adoration. To the bookstore comes Sutton, a society man, with Kitty Fish, and an impresario. Later, with Schuyler, they all go to hear Sonia sing. She succeeds and it is planned that she shall go abroad and study. Tryne is with her father while she is away and when Demitri dies Tryne learns from the papers in the old Bible of Sonia's high birth. Sonia makes a great success, Schuyler falls in love with her, and Tryne, crazed with jealousy, forges a note which he places in the old Bible, saying that Sonia is the daughter of a disreputable woman. This he signs with Demitri's name, and gives the book to Sutton to give to Sonia, asking him to say that he found it in an old bookshop. Schuyler's mother asks Sonia about her ancestry, and learning nothing, decides to institute inquiries in Russia. Sutton sprains his ankle on his way to Sonia, and sends for her to come and get the book. Tryne learns of this and sends a note to Schuyler, telling him of her going to Sutton. Schuyler meets her there. She shows Sutton's note, and while Schuyler declares his trust in her, she feels that she cannot marry him with the stain on her birth, and sends him away. Sonia gives up everything, and with Tryne as her servitor, awaits only death. Kitty feels for her, and sends for Schuyler to come and see her. The day he is to come, Soma finds the genuine documents regarding her birth which had fallen from Tryne's coat pocket. Tryne sees the papers in her hands, and tries to get them back, but she holds him with her eyes, and as Schuyler enters the room, Tryne sees that he has lost and quietly slips away. With the barrier to their love removed, Sonia and Schuyler find their happiness.