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Under Southern Skies Synopsis

Lelia Crofton, although she knows there is some mystery concerning her mother, whom she has not seen for years, and about whom she has made many unsuccessful inquiries to her father, Major Crofton, and to her Aunt Doshey, determines that, inasmuch as her eighteenth birthday is now being celebrated on her father's vast plantation in Louisiana, that she shall insist upon her parent revealing the secret surrounding the disappearance of her mother. Although the Major is pressed hard to tell, he again refuses but in a vision he sees how, years ago, it is the year 1860 now, he lived happily with his wife and baby girl in Savannah, when their happiness is blighted by the elopement of his wife with a young man who had been importuning her to flee with him. Unnerved by the attendant humiliation and desiring to keep the mother's indiscretion from his daughter, the Major goes to Louisiana, where he lives on a big plantation. As the party is in progress Lelia's mother, who years ago had been deserted by her lover, arrives at the Crofton estate and is seen by Steve Daubeney, a suitor who has been rejected by Lelia in favor of Burleigh Mayor. She is brought to the cabin of Aunt Doshey, who recognizes her. Lelia gives a Hallowe'en party, and invites Steve, who has returned from Savannah. He, resolving to make Lelia his wife, tells her that while he was in Savannah he discovered that her mother is not dead and that he has learned all about her, but that if she will marry him he will keep the secret. Lelia agrees. Later, when everything is ready for the wedding Lelia declares that she will not marry Steve. Almost immediately after this utterance Lelia's mother, who has been looking in the window to see her daughter marry, rushes into the house and falls at the feet of Lelia, pleading for forgiveness. In answer to Lelia's request as to who the woman is, Major Crofton tells her that "she is your mother." The Major is greatly surprised at hearing his daughter remark that she is a white woman and asks her who told her that she wasn't. In answer to her father's request, Lelia declares that Steve informed her, promising to keep the secret if she would marry him. Before anyone can lay his hands on Steve he disappears, and Burleigh Mayor, whom Lelia really loves, comforts her. They later become engaged. Fort Sumter is fired upon. Steve is made a private while Burleigh is given an officer's position. Steve, who has an intense hatred for Burleigh, has a gang of toughs capture the officer with the intention of subjecting him to the tortures of being tarred and feathered. Anner Lizer has witnessed the abduction and informs Lelia, who, after searching the woods for her sweetheart, discovers him tied to a tree. While the attention of the gang is engaged in preparing the tar, she releases Burleigh, but before they have gone any distance Steve sees them. He orders the gang to go in pursuit and the lovers, being cornered in the middle of a bridge by a section of the gang at each end, jump over and swim ashore. The gang, frightened, retreat. Although Burleigh is Steve's superior officer, the former's good nature will not permit him to punish the culprit. Before the armies leave for the front, Lelia and Burleigh are married and just as the minister is ending the ceremony, which is taking place on the lawn in front of the Crofton home, Steve, who had determined that Burleigh shall not marry Lelia, raises his gun in his place of concealment to kill the officer when a bullet from the gun of a member of the squad, who had proclaimed Steve a deserter and had gone after him, kills the vindictive man. After the war the Major and his wife are seen seated on the veranda of his home with Lelia and Burleigh, who have just returned from their belated honeymoon.

Salomy Jane Synopsis

The story opens with the arrival in Hangtown of Madison Clay and his daughter, Salomy Jane, who have emigrated all the way from Kentucky. Straightway the young men and bachelors of the camp fall desperately in love with Salomy Jane. Her preference at first is for Rufe. Almost simultaneously with Clay's arrival the "Man" comes to Hangtown via the overland stage coach. He finds his way to the town bar and there recognizes Baldwin, who before coming west, had betrayed the "Man's" sister. The "Man" following comes upon him just in time to save Salomy from his insult. They grapple, but Baldwin breaks away and runs through the woods to his cabin where he begins packing with intent of leaving the community. Meantime Salomy. outraged at the insults of Baldwin, offers to marry Rufe on condition he kills him. Rufe demurs, but, passing Baldwin's cabin a short while afterward, hears noise of a fight inside and looking through the window sees the "Man" kill Baldwin. Remembering Salomy's promise, Rufe tells her that the crime is his, whereupon they become engaged. While this has been happening. Red Pete Heath, a worthless inhabitant of Hangtown, and a partner hold up the stage, wounding Yuba Bill, the driver. This crime, together with the murder of Baldwin, occasions a meeting of the vigilantes, who begin to scour the countryside for the offenders. At the same time these guardians of the law are given another source of worry. A letter from a kinsman has advised Larabee that there is a blood feud between his and Clay's family. The two antagonists meet and each declare that he will kill the other. In the midst of this excitement Salomy meets the "Man" on the road. She thinks at first that he may be one of the robbers. He however disabuses her in this respect, but admits that it was he who killed Baldwin. She brings the "Man" provisions and bids him good-bye with obvious reluctance. Then, acquainted with Rufe's deceit, she breaks her engagement with him. With the booty taken by Red Pete from the stage was a bracelet which falls into the hands of his little girl. She in turn gives it to Salomy. Yuba Bill sees it, recognizes it; thus the responsibility of the hold-up is fixed. In the chase that ensues Red Pete is taken after a sensational tumble over a cliff and his partner killed. Meanwhile one party of vigilantes have taken the "Man." thinking him Red Pete's accomplice. Red Pete's word and the report that the real accomplice has been killed, rights this mistake and the vigilantes are on the point of releasing the "Man," when Rufe declares him Baldwin's murderer. It is decided to hang him alongside Red Pete. Red Pete's wife bids him a tearful farewell. When it is asked if there is anyone to tell the stranger good-bye. Salomy embraces and kisses him. The Man" makes his escape a little later and returns to Salomy, who, to protect him from Rufe. disguises him in her father's hat and coat. Larabee. seeing him thus dressed, mistakes him for Clay and shoots at him. The bullet hits the brim of the stranger's hat. The "Man," in his turn, shoots and kills Larabee. Clay is suspected of this crime. He is forewarned by Starbottle. Thinking that Salomy has killed his enemy, the father assumes the guilt, saddles his horse and rides away. Meanwhile Salomy has joined the man and the two of them make their escape after a sensational fight, including a ride down the river on a log. Hangtown left far behind. Madison Clay meets his daughter and her lover. The whole tangle is explained away by the "Man's" admission that he killed Larabee. Thus reconciled to Salomy, the father finds another horse that the three may ride toward a new home. The stranger and Salomy ride together.