Summary
Helen Steele, a determined ingenue with a burning desire for the theatrical spotlight, orchestrates a cunning gambit to secure the lead in Sidney Parker's upcoming production, "The Siren." Rebuffed due to her inexperience, she leverages her fiancé, Henry Tracey, to bring the influential manager to a lavish social gathering. There, Parker, a man of peculiar challenges, presents Helen with an audacious test: she must elicit a marriage proposal from Jack Craigen, a notoriously misanthropic Patagonian expatriate with a profound aversion to women. Helen, a master of artifice and allure, brilliantly succeeds, drawing a reluctant proposal from the bewildered Craigen. The triumph, however, is short-lived; the eavesdropping party guests emerge, revealing the entire charade as a cruel jest. Enraged and humiliated, Craigen retreats to his secluded mountain abode, a sanctuary for his wounded pride. Meanwhile, Tracey, returning from a business trip, erupts in a jealous fury upon learning of Helen's manipulative exploit. His subsequent confrontation with reporter Keen Fitzpatrick, whom he mistakenly identifies as Craigen, adds a farcical layer to the unfolding drama. Desperate to salvage her theatrical dream and perhaps a deeper connection, Helen intercepts Craigen’s departure, provocatively suggesting he adopt a "Patagonian savage" approach – to abduct her and "study" the enigma of womanhood in his wilderness retreat. Craigen, embracing this dark suggestion, whisks her away, imposing a harsh, almost primitive regimen upon her in his isolated cabin, even resorting to chaining her. The bizarre tableau is further complicated by the arrival of "Boney," a delusional escapee convinced he is Napoleon. Craigen, with surprising tact, manages to contain the raving lunatic. Seizing an opportunity, Helen renders Craigen unconscious with a telephone, liberating herself and fleeing into the dense woods. Craigen, upon regaining consciousness and discovering her note of remorse and call for help, is consumed by genuine fear for her safety, initiating a frantic search. Fitzpatrick, ever the persistent journalist, stumbles upon "Boney" in the cabin, mistaking him for the elusive Craigen, deepening the comedic confusion. The asylum authorities eventually reclaim their errant "Napoleon." Tracey, armed with a revolver, reappears, demanding Helen’s whereabouts, only to be disarmed by Craigen’s earnest plea that she is lost in the wilderness. Helen, witnessing Tracey’s car heading towards the cabin, returns, driven by a premonition of conflict. The saga culminates with the arrival of the original party guests, intending to escort Helen back, but she, having traversed a profound journey of self-discovery and perhaps a nascent understanding of Craigen, steadfastly chooses to remain with her erstwhile captor.
Synopsis
Helen Steele, who has theatrical aspirations, has been told by Sidney Parker that, owing to her lack of stage experience he cannot entertain her proposition of giving her the leading part in his new production, "The Siren." Believing that she can get Parker to consent if she is persuasive enough, Helen has her fiancé, Henry Tracey, invite the theatrical manager to the party to be given by John W. Cannell so that she may work upon him. At the affair Helen manages to obtain Parker's consent to give her a trial it she is successful in having Jack Craigen, a friend of Cannell, who has been living in Patagonia for a long time and who is a woman hater, propose to her. Helen works her wiles upon the adamant Craigen and finally elicits a proposal from him. The guests in the next room, who have been listening, come out at the critical moment, and congratulate her. Craigen demands an explanation, and he is told that it is all a joke. He refuses to accept the incident in such a light, however, and makes preparations to leave for his home in the mountains. At this juncture. Tracey, who had been called out of town on important business before the commencement of the party, returns. When told of Helen's episode with Craigen he becomes very angry and upbraids her. Tracey then goes in search of Craigen, whom he does not know, and mistaking Keen Fitzpatrick, a reporter, who has been waiting in the next room for an interview with Craigen on Patagonia, for the man he is in search of, he starts to pour a scathing indictment upon him. The guests hear the tirade and inform Tracey of the identity of the man to whom he is speaking. Meanwhile Craigen, having packed his belongings, is leaving in his auto. As he is passing the back entrance, Helen jumps in front of his auto and tells him that, inasmuch as he does not know anything about women he should adopt the Patagonian savage method and carry her off to his home where he could study her. He puts her suggestion into effect and Helen is carried off in the auto to his home in the woods, where he brutally orders her about. She attempts to escape, and Craigen chains her to the floor. While he leaves her for a moment to put his car into the garage, "Boney," an escaped lunatic, makes his way into the cabin. He styles himself Napoleon Bonaparte, and raves about his armies. As he is swinging his sword about the room, Craigen appears, and by diplomacy succeeds in getting "Boney" upstairs to review his armies where he is locked in a room. Craigen returns to Helen. His back is turned to her and she knocks him unconscious with the telephone. Taking the keys from his pocket, she releases herself and escapes into the woods. Craigen recovers his senses and, finding the note Helen left informing him that she feels sorry for her action and has gone for help, fears for her safety, and goes out in search of her. During his absence Fitzpatrick, who was trailing, arrives. On searching through the house for Craigen, he comes upon "Boney," whom he takes to be the man he is searching for. He demands to know where the girl is, but "Boney" only raves about his armies. The two are just on the point of clashing when Craigen returns. He reveals his identity to the reporter, and tells him that Helen has fled into the woods. The asylum keepers trace "Boney" to Craigen's home, and take him away. Tracey, who has also been following, arrives at the cabin and confronts Craigen with a revolver. He demands Helen or his life. Craigen manages to convince Tracey, after an argument, that Helen has fled into the woods. Helen has seen Tracey's car going in the direction of Craigen's home, and fearing trouble, makes her way back. She arrives just after Tracey has left. The other members of the house party arrive to take Helen back, but she refuses to leave Craigen.
