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The Flaming Sword Synopsis

After a life of dissipation, Steve, a young college chap who has been unfortunate in his business career, concludes that life is not worth living and contemplates suicide. Among his associates is a girl named Maisie with whom his name has been coupled by his intimates. Steve gives a banquet and announces that he is bankrupt and that his friends are looking upon him for the last time. After the affair Steve goes to his apartment, puts his affairs in order and slowly walks to the waterfront where he hires a small boat and the last seen of him is his boat, sail set leaving the inlet for the open sea. Maisie, realizing that Steve intends to injure himself, attempts to follow, but is too late. Steve drifts out to sea and after days of misery is washed up on a beach of a small island where he is found by a girl named Meera who lives there with her father and several servants. Meera's father had suffered a great wrong in his early life and took the position as lighthouse keeper on this island where he could live as a hermit and forget his troubles. Meera has never seen anyone except her father and the servants, and to her Steve appeared as a Viking. A strong attachment springs up between the two. Meera's father, who has refused to allow anyone but Government officials to enter the island, takes a liking to Steve and is prevailed upon to allow him to stay there. However, when Calhoun learns that Steve is the son of the man who wronged him, his sentiment takes a different turn. In the meanwhile Maisie learns from a traveling beachcomber that Steve is safe and living with Meera's father on the island. Engaging a boat, she follows him and in her awful rage and jealousy tells Meera's father that Steve is her husband. Calhoun, shouting "Like father, like son," convulsed with anger, falls into an unconscious state and Maisie, realizing that she has caused enough trouble, confesses that she falsely accused Steve. Calhoun recovers and Steve and Meera sail for New York, where the story ends as it should.

Wildfire Synopsis

The story relates how Bob Barrington conducts a racing stable on Long Island without the knowledge of his daughters, Henrietta and Myrtle. Barrington is traveling in the west and meets John Keefe, a gambler. They play cards alone and Keefe kills Barrington and steals the bill of sale to his racing stable, leaving a sheet of the inventory on the floor, together with a curious cigarette holder, taking all the papers of the dead man. There is an inquiry as to the cause of the death conducted by John Garrison, the young sheriff. The verdict is suicide, the body being unidentified. Gorman, a pal of Keefe's, is the only person who knows the truth. Keefe goes east and claims the stables, but Matt Donovan, the trainer, suspects foul play. Keefe changes his name to Buffy and becomes infatuated with Henrietta. John Garrison also goes east and sees Henrietta and thinks he recognizes in her a striking resemblance to the picture found in the watch of the dead man. Keefe and Garrison meet at the home of Henrietta. Keefe denied his identity, but Garrison incidentally shows him the curious cigarette holder and Keefe betrays himself. Garrison sends west for the watch and the missing sheet of the bill of sale. He starts with the watch for the home of Henrietta but loses it en route. It is found by a street beggar and pawned. Henrietta happens to be passing the pawnshop and is attracted by an article in the window. She enters and finds her father's watch with her picture in it. She overhears Keefe tell Donovan that he bought the stable of her father and her suspicions are aroused. She shows Keefe the watch and picture and he again betrays himself and she is certain her father met with foul play. While playing tennis with Henrietta the missing sheet of the bill of sale falls from the pocket of Garrison and she finds it and the mystery deepens. Henrietta resolves to take no one into her confidence. She visits the office of Keefe, secretes herself outside the window, and overhears a conversation between Keefe and Gorman. They leave the office and she finds the complete bill of sale and compares it with the missing sheet. Ralph Woodhurst, the fiancé of Myrtle, has been induced by Keefe to bet large sums at his pool room. The day of the big handicap is approaching and Wildfire, the crack filly in the Keefe stable, is being backed to win. Keefe sends Donovan to rob Henrietta of the missing sheet, but she covers Gorman with a gun and the plan is frustrated. Henrietta, on the day of the big race, seeks out John Garrison, and accuses him of being in collusion with Keefe or Duffy. She shows Garrison her proofs, the watch and the missing sheet. Garrison tells her the truth. Keefe realizes that he must flee the country and he prepares for a final coup. He backs another horse to win, bribes Chappy Raster, the rider of Wildfire, to use the whip on the mare, which will cause her to sulk, if the flag on the racing stable is up when the horses start. Henrietta overhears the plot and goes to the office, where she has a terrific struggle with Keefe. She succeeds in pulling down the flag while fighting Keefe, Garrison coming to her assistance and dragging Keefe down the stairway, where a furious struggle ensues. The story closes with Henrietta on the roof, the flag down, in the arms of her lover, Wildfire having won the race.