Summary
An aspiring actress, Elizabeth Dalston, finds her nascent career abruptly curtailed by the machinations of Sylvanus Power, a Wall Street magnate intent on transforming her into his paramour. Dismissed from a film set at his behest, Elizabeth is dispatched to England under the pretense of theatrical education, a lavish scheme designed to facilitate Power's predatory intentions. During her European sojourn, fate intervenes when she stumbles upon a violent altercation between the Romilly brothers, Philip and Douglas, culminating in what appears to be Douglas's demise. Aboard a transatlantic steamer, Philip, assuming his brother's identity, confides in Elizabeth a fabricated narrative of fraternal conflict rooted in Douglas's abandonment of a pregnant lover. Captivated by his tale and burgeoning affection, Elizabeth becomes entangled in his deception. Upon their return to New York, their bond deepens, leading Elizabeth to leverage her influence with Power to stage Philip's play. The production, a resounding success, propels both Elizabeth's star and Philip's creative vision to critical acclaim. However, Power, emboldened by their shared triumph, renews his unwelcome advances, swiftly discerning Elizabeth's profound devotion to Philip. His subsequent call to Scotland Yard for Philip's arrest is dramatically preempted by the unexpected reappearance of Douglas, who unmasks the intricate web of deceit and exonerates his brother. Faced with the undeniable truth and the depth of Elizabeth and Philip's genuine connection, Power, with a surprising display of grace, concedes his defeat.
Synopsis
Aspiring actress Elizabeth Dalston, after rehearsing a murder scene for a movie, is fired by her director at the request of the company's Wall Street backer, Sylvanus Power. Although married, Power plans to make Elizabeth his mistress and offers the unsuspecting girl a dramatic education in England, to be followed by his building a theater for her. Traveling across England after school, Elizabeth witnesses a fight between two brothers, Philip and Douglas Romilly, which ends in Douglas' supposed death. On the steamer to America, Philip, disguised as Douglas, confides in Elizabeth that he was fighting to persuade Douglas not to leave his pregnant lover. Elizabeth believes him and in New York they fall in love. After she convinces Power to produce Philip's play, both the play and her acting are hits. When Power propositions Elizabeth and discovers her passion for Philip, he summons Scotland Yard detectives, but Douglas reappears and clears Philip. Power then graciously admits his defeat.
