Compare Films

The Hidden Children Synopsis

Two women unknown to each other, in the early history of the nation, decide to make of their babies "hidden children," in accordance with the Indian custom of giving children to foster-parents until maturity. A girl and a boy thus "hidden," when informed of the truth, returned to their people and were expected by marrying to bring a fresh spirit into the tribe. Marie Loskiel, hard beset by the St. Regis Indians, gives her child, Euan, before she dies, to Guy Johnson, an English Colonial officer. He and Mayaro, a Sagamore of the Mohicans, who is Johnson's chief scout, take charge of the child. Jeanne de Contrecoeur, wife of the commandant of the French garrison at Lake George, amuses the officers and their wives by her gift of clairvoyance. She implores her husband not to go out to battle with the Indians, as she has a premonition that he will be killed, and that the child to be born will never know a father. But duty calls Capt. de Contrecoeur, and he is slain by the Iroquois. Jeanne herself is captured by them, and taken to the stronghold of the Six Nations at Catherinestown. The Erie sorcerer Amochol is about to sacrifice Jeanne's new-born daughter, Lois, to the Moon Witch, but she makes of Lois a "hidden child," sending her to a colonist named Calvert. Jeanne is about to be killed by Amochol when she correctly interprets a dream for him, and she becomes the White Sorceress of the Iroquois. Each year Jeanne sends secretly to little Lois a pair of moccasins, embroidered with a symbol indicating that she is a hidden child. Calvert cannot read the inscription, but when he dies he tells Lois of her origin, and it becomes the girl's one thought to find the trail to Catherinestown where her mother is held captive. Euan Loskiel, grown to manhood, is given a commission in Morgan's rifles as Lieutenant and Chief of Indian Scouts. General Sullivan wishes to crush the tribes of the Six Nations in the "Long House" of the Iroquois Confederacy, and the only man who can lead him to Catherinestown is Mayaro the Sagamore, whom Euan brings to the General, and the Sagamore becomes the trusted messenger of the northern Colonial army. Lois disguises herself as a camp-follower in rags to follow Euan, Mayaro and Lieut. Boyd to Catherinestown. Mayaro saves her from the insults of a drunken officer, and though she has thus far distrusted all men, she has complete faith in the Sagamore. He reads the message of the moccasins, discovering that she is a hidden child, and protects her from all the mischances of the journey. Euan Loskiel falls in love with this strange girl in rags, but it is with difficulty that he wins her confidence, since, wandering alone since Calvert's death, she has seen nothing but the baser side of men's natures. Finally, however, her fears are stilled by Euan's nobility of character, and she, Euan and Mayaro, become close friends, the red man and Euan going through the sacred ceremonial of the blood brotherhood. Lois at last confesses her love for Euan, but will not permit his caresses until she has found her mother. She undertakes the perilous journey into the heart of the Iroquois empire, following the army secretly, since they will not consent to her accompanying them on such a dangerous mission. Mayaro, who shares the secret, blazes the trail so that she may find the way. When she overtakes them, the Indians insist that the ceremony of the White Bridal be performed over these two sacred "hidden children," Lois and Euan. They reach Catherinestown in time to witness the Feast of the Dreams. Amochol is about to put the White Sorceress of the Iroquois (Jeanne de Contrecoeur) to death for interpreting ill fortune. Her prediction comes true when the warriors of the Six Nations defeated by Sullivan's men return. The executioner is about to strike her when his arm is transfixed by a shaft from Mayaro's bow. The priests take Jeanne prisoner, but Euan and Mayaro, following them to the Vale Yndaia, kill them and rescue her, and Mayaro slays Amochol in hand-to-hand combat. Lois is at last folded in the arms of the mother who has watched and waited for her all these years, and then Jeanne de Contrecoeur, having been reunited with her "hidden child," puts her hand in that of the gallant scout, Euan Loskiel, and their White Bridal is completed.

The Last Volunteer Synopsis

While traveling incognito through his kingdom, Prince Ludwig of Saxe-Tholberg becomes infatuated with Katrina, the daughter of innkeeper Hermann Ardelheim, but their idyll is interrupted by the arrival of a courier bearing the news that Austrania has threatened war. Katrina is heartbroken to discover the identity of her sweetheart whom she can never hope to marry. After Ludwig's departure, Katrina overhears the plotting of two spies and with the help of her brother Raolf, she confronts them. In the ensuing struggle, Katrina kills one of them, who turns out to be the Austranian ambassador. Although Katrina admits her crime, Marshal von Trump plans to execute Raolf in order to pacify the Austranians. Katrina appeals to Ludwig, who pardons Raolf over the advice of his counselors causing Austrania to declare war. A crucial battle is fought near the Ardelheim inn, during which Katrina becomes a heroine by signaling the advance of Ludwig's troops. She is fatally wounded by the Austranians and is then brought to the inn where she dies with Ludwig at her side. He then eulogizes both Katrina and Raolf, who has also died in battle.