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- Dr. Henry Jekyll experiments with scientific means of revealing the hidden, dark side of man and releases a murderer from within himself.
- About 1722, Spain, in her command of Texas (named from a confederation of Indians, who called themselves Tejas), established the Franciscan mission of San Antonio de Valero (The Alamo). Around this mission was built the pueblo (village) and presidio (barracks), which formed the nucleus of the present city of San Antonio. In 1824 Texas withdrew from Mexico and formed a separate republic, and the Mexican general Santa Anna, the self-styled Napoleon of the West, was sent to force her back into allegiance. At San Antonio in 1836 Col William B. Travis was in command of the fort. With him was Col. William Bowie, David Crockett, Lieut. Dickenson and a small force. He received word that Santa Anna, at the head of a Mexican army of several thousand, was advancing to take the city. Travis dispatched a message to Gen. Sam Houston for aid, sending Lieut. Dickenson and taking his force of 140 men and women of the city, among whom was Dickenson's wife, Lucy; he retired to the Alamo. On February 23, Santa Anna sent a message to surrender, and upon the brave refusal of Travis, he attacked the place. Travis held the Alamo until March 6, 1836, his little force constantly diminishing. On that day, when all seemed lost, Travis drew a line with his sword down the center of the room and asked all who would die with him to cross to his side. All crossed save one, Rose, who announced his determination to try to escape. He succeeded in leaving the building but was never heard from again. A breach was made in the wall by the cannon of Santa Anna, and the Mexicans entered to find all the men dead except Travis and four companions. These were immediately slaughtered on the spot, and Lucy Dickenson, with two other women and three children, were all to leave the Alamo alive.
- Frank Watson was spending a month in New York when one day he receives a letter from his father requesting him to come home and also that a surprise awaits him on his return. This aroused Frank's curiosity, so immediately he made preparations to leave at once. One arriving home he went at once to the drawing room and there to his surprise he saw a very attractive girl sitting by the fire-place seeming to be perfectly at home with her surroundings. Frank coughs. The girl turns around and then nods to him but leaves the room at once. Just then his mother and father come in and greet him. At once Frank begins to question them about the girl. For an answer Frank's father walks to the desk and brings Frank a letter. There he learns that this girl is the daughter of his father's best friend who has just died and has made his father guardian. The girl's name is Peggy and she has been left a large fortune. Frank does not approve of this and begins to offer his objections. At the same time Peggy is seen coming down the stairs at the back of the room and accidentally overhears what Frank is saying. She then comes into the room and they are introduced. Six months later we find Frank in bad company. He has started gambling and has hard times settling all his debts. At present he owes $500 to a very miserly Jew who has Frank's promissory note to pay in a week's time. Poor Frank is almost a nervous wreck, for he has no means by which he can lift this debt. The day has come and we now see Frank nervously awaiting the Jew's arrival. The Jew is ushered in and at once starts business. He then learns that Frank is unable to pay and then swears that he will go to Frank's father for payment. Frank pleads not to tell his father. The Jew looks around the room in order to find some plan with which to force Frank to pay. Suddenly he notices a small safe in the desk marked EMERGENCY SAFE. He calls Frank's attention to it. After much arguing the Jew has persuaded Frank to get his payment from this safe with the hope of winning it back and then replace the money before the father finds it out. Frank takes the money, gets a receipt from the Jew and orders him out. Frank leaves the room at once. Suddenly we see Peggy getting up out of the large chair by the fireplace. She has accidentally overheard all that has passed between them without their knowledge and she realizes Frank's position at once. She decides to help Frank out of his trouble and starts to think of a plan. Later we see her coming into the drawing room all ready for a journey, carrying a suitcase in her hand. She puts a letter on the table for Frank's father and then leaves the house. The girl makes a splendid sacrifice to save Frank and later, in an impressive scene Frank admits his guilt and asks for forgiveness of the girl he has grown to love.
- The story of a man's gratitude to a snake for saving his life: He takes the snake home to live with him and then conceives the idea of having the snake kill the man who stole his sweetheart. He places it in the other man's bed. But when the little daughter of the girl he had once loved creeps into the bed, he has a change of heart.
- Bob Watt's father wants him to marry Mabel Dean, but Bob can't see her, because he is strong for Ruth Harris. Pa Watt tries to break up the combination by offering Ruth a diamond ring in exchange for the gold seal ring Bob has given as a love token. Bob hiding behind a tree sees the negotiation and motions Ruth to take the diamond, which she does. A week later Pa Watt is threatened with a lawsuit by Ruth, for breach of promise. The ring being the prime exhibit, then he switches and wants Bob to marry Ruth. The boy, however, also switches and pretends a liking for Mabel, it takes a $25,000 check for Ruth to settle the tangle. Father thinks he has done a pretty good day's work, as the money is still in the family. Ruth and Bob are satisfied and Mabel has to be content with her second best boy.
- Hiti was a little Japanese maid, but her feminine heart was the same as that organ of any other woman in the world, and it played the same tune. Hiti had big black eyes, soft olive hands and a stubborn will. Hiti fell in love. He was only a poor little Jap, but a manly chap. It was just like in your own little town; the more Hiti's parents objected to the fellow, the more determined was Hiti to marry him. Then a wealthy Japanese merchant came a wooing Hiti. Many miles he came, advising Hiti's parents that he was en route to bid for the hand of the enchanting Hiti. The parents were filled with joy, which of course Hiti didn't share. There was a little American girl in Hitl's town, the daughter of a consul or something, and the two girls had long been friends. It was the East's appeal to the Western, and the Western heart's silent response to the East. So Hiti went to the American girl and told her of her great sorrow, and American strategy and Oriental sagacity combined to defeat the logic of the old. It was thought of by we don't know whom; it might have been Hiti, or it might have been Elsie; but at any rate, when the mighty merchant reached the house, he found a very ugly Hiti indeed. Her face was enough to stop a Japanese automatic toy, and the merchant fled. Hiti married the right man. Hiti and Elsie often talk about the stunt that made her sweetheart her husband, and sometimes they laugh so loud that they wake the little Jap baby, who evidences his displeasure at the interruption of his siesta with a very ordinary baby wail.
- Jack Gray borrows $50 from his friend the doctor. He gives the doctor his I.O.U. On the reverse side of the card is a message to Jack from some chorus girl, asking Jack to meet her at the chorus girls' ball. The doctor's wife, while sewing a button on the doctor's coat, finds the card and thinks it is meant for her husband. She determines to disguise herself as a chorus girl and meet her husband herself. This she does, but on her way to the ball her auto runs into a post and she is rendered unconscious. Jack sees the accident and he carries her into his house. She revives and he induces her to take a few drinks. Meanwhile Jack telephones his friend the doctor to call at once, believing her seriously injured. When the doctor calls he finds his supposed patient doing a bear dance with Jack. He recognizes his wife in the chorus girl, and proceeds to give Jack a very artistic beating. His wife, having gone home, awaits his return, showing him the card as the reason for her actions. He shows her the reverse side of the card, with Jack's I.O.U., and serious complications are thus averted.
- A mother with two young children survives the San Francisco earthquake disaster.
- Proud old Major Neal disowns his only child, a beautiful girl, because he considers her marriage a misalliance. Years pass. The old major becomes a recluse feared by all. One Christmas morning, a hamper is found beneath the Major's covered driveway. The butler and housekeeper (in the secret), carry the hamper to the library and present it to Neal. He is greatly puzzled and finding a card attached inscribed "To Major Neal," he opens the hamper, only to slam it hastily shut with a startled and angry expression: The hamper contains a baby girl. The old man orders the child taken from his presence, and advertises for the one who presumed to leave it to take it off. But no one claims the child, whose sweetness and innocent joys soon begin to move the old fellow's heart. The baby constantly makes advances, in spite of rebuffs, until the old man succumbs and worships the child, calling her "Little Sunbeam." Sunbeam is stricken with fever. Now is the mother's chance. She comes (the old family doctor aiding and abetting her), disguised as a nurse, and with a mother's untiring love and care nurses Sunbeam back from the shadowy brink. Old Major Neal and his disowned daughter meet at the bedside of the child, and through their great and mutual love for Sunbeam become forever reconciled.
- Rastus Johnson, a happy-go-lucky coon, after eating a large meal, lies down on the dock to take a nap. While he is slumbering three roughs happen along and see him, and knowing a sea captain who is in need of men to fill out his crew, they seize Rastus and shanghai him. He is placed aboard the ship and the voyage started. The vessel is wrecked off the African coast, and poor Rastus is the only survivor. While wandering along the beach he is seen by the Zulus, who immediately give chase. Rastus runs through the jungle, but is compelled to give up. They capture him and take him before their king, who orders him to be cooked. One of the women of the tribe, who happens to be present when Rastus is brought in, knowing the king's daughter is ambitious to be married to some man outside of her own tribe, runs off to tell her of the captive. Rastus is led to the royal kitchen, where the cook pot is prepared. They are just about to thrust him in, when the daughter pleads with her father, for Rastus' life. This he grants on one condition, that Rastus must marry the daughter. This he tells to Rastus, and Rastus, after a good look at the daughter, decides to take to the cook pot. This enrages the king so that he orders Rastus to be seized and given a sound beating. They seize him and throw him on the ground and commence. They beat him so hard that he wakes up to find a policeman tapping him with his club. The blue coat orders Rastus to move on his way, which he does, little the worse for his terrible dream.
- When Bob Stanley from New York arrives in Sulphur Mountain he gets mixed up in a fight with Jose, a Mexican, and is injured. Joe, a miner, takes Bob home where his wife dresses the wound, and offers him shelter until he shall become well. Joe mistakes Mary's sympathy for Bob for love and decides to put himself out of their way. He causes an explosion, at the mine, leaves his hat and coat and makes it appear as though he has been killed. But Mary loves Joe, and her grief at his apparent loss is great. Six months later Joe, in rags and with beard, comes back to the scene of the explosion. But his mind does not recall everything perfectly, for in his brooding he has become mentally deranged. Miners see him, and believing him a ghost, flee in fear. Bob heads a party to investigate the place of the reported apparition and in a most unexpected manner comes face to face with his old benefactor. The man's mind slowly regains balance and he remembers that he has a wife. Bob persuades him to come back, but as they approach the house they discover a doctor just leaving. Joe enters to find his wife still longing for him, and to share with her the joy that has just come to them both, an offspring.
- He has fought his last fight and the prize-ring will know the old pugilist no more. Knocked out by an organic disease, he is in a bad way not only physically but financially. He has an interesting daughter, a bright boy and a good wife who are well thought of by the people of the neighborhood in which they live, among whom is a young minister. The doctor who attends the old boxer sees that nothing but a complete change to some warmer climate will benefit the patient and also recognizes that under the circumstances the change would be impossible unless someone comes to his assistance with the necessary money to defray the expense. The physician writes a note to the young clergyman telling him of his diagnosis of the case and his conclusions. The young divine hastens to see the sick man. On his way he passes a theater in front of which there is this announcement: "$500 will be given to any middleweight who will meet the middleweight champion. Denny Dooley, and last five rounds; bout immediately after regular performance to-night." An idea comes to the minister, who has been a noted college athlete. If the worst comes to the worst, he will meet the champion and try to win the five hundred dollars and give them to the old pugilist to defray the expense of sending him away for treatment to some health resort. Changing his general appearance, laying aside the evidence of his calling, the young man attends the show that evening and impatiently awaits the appearance of Denny Dooley. The manager announces the champion middleweight and makes the five hundred dollar offer to anyone who will meet him and last five rounds. The minister steps on the stage and says he would like to try. The contest begins and the first round is an even break. Round after round is fought. In the third the minister gets warmed up, shows his class, and in the fifth round gets one over on the jaw of his opponent, knocking him out, winning the bout and the five hundred dollars. The next day he goes to the sick man's home, presents him with the money, thus giving his friend a chance for health and life and gaining the gratitude of the family as well as the hand and heart of the daughter.
- Dick, an easterner, comes west to try his luck at mining. No sooner does he arrive than Hartley, the local gambler and all-around villain, commences to make sport at his expense. Dick endeavors to bear it patiently, but a clash is inevitable, until the arrival at the village store of Mary Brown, one whom all held in respect, excepting Hartley. The latter grabs the girl and endeavors to steal a kiss, which she struggles to resent, aided by Dick. In the fight Dick is knocked unconscious. The men become frightened and slink off. Mary is favorably impressed with the stranger and aids him back to consciousness. Dick is also impressed and accompanies her home. Mr. Brown, hearing of Dick's bravery, is only too pleased to give him pointers on mining, and every day they start out together to prospect for the precious metal. A month passes with no results, and Dick is downhearted. Were it not for the encouragement of Mary he would quit. On one of these days he strikes the vein, discovers a great mine, but when he has the dust in his hand, Hartley and his men appear, overpower and bind him and hasten to register the claim for themselves. Meanwhile, Mary at home has discovered a photo in Dick's coat of a woman and two children, with an inscription on the back that leads her to believe Dick is married. With a broken heart she seeks him at his work, only to discover Hartley's dastardly trick. For the love she bore Dick, she herself mounted a horse and rode like mad for the claim office, just in time to foil Hartley. Dick, of course, is pleased, and with the prospect of wealth, expresses his love. Mary produces the picture, which, however, he is able to show is that of his sister, after which all Mary's objections are for naught.
- The newly elected sheriff posts reward for the capture of a bandit camping out on Devil's Rock. When she approaches his hiding place, she is injured by the bandit. Ruth, the sheriff's daughter, takes up the trail single-handed.
- Two men are released from prison after having served their sentences. One is determined to go straight and stay out of trouble, but his fellow ex-con has other ideas, and his plans wind up spelling trouble for both of them.
- The workingmen were discontented. They had read how trades had secured an increase in wages by striking, and decided to use the same tactics if necessary. A committee was chosen and went before the owner of the mine, but he would not grant their demands. Then the foreman was chosen to intercede for the men, and his failure to obtain the raise in salary led to a tragedy, for it was known that he cherished a secret love for the mine owner's daughter, and his failure was mistaken for false play. Accordingly, the foreman was made a prisoner and the men instigated a hunt for the owner, who by the way, had refused his consent to the marriage of his daughter and the foreman, believing that the latter was in leagued with the workingmen. The owner was dragged from his home and both he and the foreman were taken to a lonely spot in the woods. They were bound and gagged and tied to a stake. A powder keg was placed beneath them with wires running to a battery, by which it was to be set off. Meanwhile the mother, who had passed her husband on the road in the hands of the villainous miners, rushed to her house and arrived exhausted, only able to tell Edith the daughter, what was happening before fainting. The plucky little girl knew what well to do. She mounted hastily and rode with all speed to save her lover and her father. On the hill the men were drawing lots to determine which of them should set off the dynamite. Bill Ford drew the marked paper, but was not overzealous about his task. He delayed, delayed. His hand was clutching the igniter, but still he delayed. A drink of whiskey, he asked, but the men refused, and soon there was a fight. Edith rode like mad, and had just untied and released the prisoners when the charge exploded. The men, in their struggle, had fallen upon the battery. They fled. In his flight, Ford came upon the foreman and the owner. He was stupefied. He could not believe his eyes, but when finally convinced of their reality, begged forgiveness. The men were pardoned their villainous acts, for the father had learned that the foreman was a square man and as such, deserving of his daughter. If not of salaries, there was a raising of hats at the Gringo Mine at news of the betrothal.
- A father is greatly beloved by his two children and it is a bitter blow to them when they learn from their nurse that they are to have a stepmother. They decide to run away, leaving an affectionate note for their father, in which they explain that they don't want a "stepmother," so they have "runned away." They pack their toys together and make their home in a huge piano packing box. The father returning with his pretty young bride finds the note, and immediately starts a search for them. They come upon the packing box and the children reading "The Story of the Cruel Stepmother." The stepmother asks her husband to leave her alone with the children. They ask her if she is running away from a cruel stepmother too, to which she answers "Yes." Of course they take her into their confidence. The wife finds a better story in the same book, entitled "The Story of the Fairy Godmother," and it is while reading this to the little ones, that they fall asleep. The husband now returns with some men, and they carry the children asleep in the packing box, back to the garden of their home. Here he awakens them, after he has sent his wife to the house to be ready to receive her stepchildren. They do not like the idea of having to meet the stepmother, but the father persuades them, and gently takes them to the room. They are astonished to find it is the lady who read them the story of the "Fairy Godmother."
- Far from the maddened throngs of the city, far from the teeming, seething city streets, in a little fishing town, lives Tess and her half-witted brother, Sam. By clam digging they earn a simple living, but life is sweet in spite of its simplicity. Right near their hut lived a young fisherman, handsome, brave, and bold, who sympathized with the girl because she had to support her semi-demented brother, who took an interest in her, a friendly interest, and no more. But the maid, in the manner of woman misconstrues his attitude and takes his friendly interest and concern for the divine spark. So she learns to love him as a woman can only love once in her life, and he is ignorant of the romantic relations she has assumed this simple friendship to be. Often human hearts suffer, and this time the warm, young heart of Tess is to feel the pang and anguish of a love in vain, for there comes to the fishing bank a city girl, accompanied by her mother and father. They meet the young fisherman and the girl is impressed by his clean-cut form, his robust health, his winning ways. She asks him to take her about the place, which he obligingly consents to do, and as they are laughing, talking and smiling, Tess follows them. Once, to avoid detection, she slipped into the icehouse, leaving the door open, intending to stay there until the two got out of sight. But Jed, seeing the door open, closes it, locking it after him. When Tess realizes her predicament, she shouts, but her calls bring no response. However, her half-witted brother, with the intuition that is a gift of all mentally effected, feels a presentiment of danger to his sister, whom he idolizes, and going to look for her, hears her cries, and going to the icehouse makes a vain effort to unfasten the door. At last he runs to the beach, where some fishermen are talking, and tells them of his sister's dilemma, and they, thinking it merely some of the boy's wild talk, refuses to assist him. Then Jed, coming ashore, hears the story and goes with Sam to see how much truth there is in it. He opens the door, and into his arms falls the unconscious form of Tess, resting at last in the arms of him whom the god of hearts had destined for the task.
- Robert Hart meets Rose Hunter, a well-known singer; they are mutually attracted and marry. Only a few months elapse and Robert's wife shows her true colors. She is extravagant, fast and has an uncontrollable temper. They quarrel; she strikes him. Finally she leaves him and goes away with a former friend named Allan. Robert secures a divorce and decides to enter the ministry. Five years later he accepts a call to a small southern town. He bends all his energies to making his people happy and becomes greatly beloved with one exception, his old maid housekeeper, who considered the minister had not been attentive enough to her and had slighted her for Lucy Norton. Hart finds he is falling in love with Lucy and realizes that she returns his love. The affair is brought to a climax at the May Day Festival, where Lucy and Hart stroll off together and finally go boating. Lucy reaches for a water lily and falls into the water. Hart rescues her and takes her home. The next night after choir practice he declares his love and is overheard by Miss Priscilla. The next day in dusting the minister's desk she finds an old photo of Rose inscribed, "From your loving wife, Rose." That same afternoon she sees a picture in the New York paper advertising the appearance in vaudeville of "Rose Hunter." She compares it with the other and decides it is her duty to send word to Rose telling her of Hart's whereabouts. She writes, and Rose makes up her mind to come on and get money from Hart. On Rose's arrival at the station she is met by the son of the landlord of the only hotel. She sends the young chap with a note to the minister, bidding him come to her that night. Hart, amazed and troubled, decides to go. On his arrival, the boy shows him to Rose's room and, full of wonderment as to what "the beautiful lady" can want with the minister, he watches them through the keyhole. Rose greets Hart pleasantly and tries to make love to him. She then threatens to let out their past if he does not pay her to keep quiet. He gives her a check. She, enraged because the sum is not larger, demands more. He steps toward her and she draws back and falls through the old-fashioned window. When Hart reaches the yard he finds Rose dead. She is surrounded by a crowd who, having seen the minister enter the hotel, accuse him of her murder. The boy appears and clears the minister of the blame. The next day the trustees call on Hart to demand his resignation. Priscilla admits them and hastens away to tell Lucy of the minister's downfall. Lucy immediately hastens to Hart, declares her love and faith in him. The trustees are touched, tear up Hart's resignation and forgive him, with Lucy to face a life of happiness.
- Lee, after winning Dorothy's affections, breaks his engagement and marries Jessie. Heartbroken, she arrives too late at the church to induce him to right the wrong, or to catch more than a parting glimpse of Lee and his bride as they drive away to the wedding supper. Going to the pier, she takes a long, last look at Lee as the steamer taking them on their honeymoon recedes from view. Discouraged, she would end it all, and is about to jump off the cliff into the sea, when she is persuaded by the gardener of the convent not to sacrifice her life, but to devote it to good works. She thus becomes a sister of mercy, but Lee cannot forget the look of anguish on her face as he gazed upon her from the receding boat. Wherever he goes he is obsessed by her presence and haunted by his conscience. It at last so preys upon his mind that, seeing her spirit once more, he cast himself into the sea. A sailor rescues him and he is taken home, where the doctor, seeing his dangerous condition, sends to the convent for a nurse. Dorothy, not knowing who it is, answers the call. Lee is stricken with fresh fear at seeing her, but is at last persuaded that she is no spirit, and Dorothy's generous forgiveness effects his cure.
- Alice Brady writes her brother Will that she is going to visit him. The letter is lost. Will writes his friend Jack Wilson to come over. Alice arrives while Will is away from the house and goes to her room to sleep. Jack, who has looked upon the wine when it was much too red, comes to the house and tries to get into Alice's room. She chases him out and Will comes home to find his friend shivering in the hallway. Jack explains that some woman threw him out of the room. Not knowing of Alice's presence, Will is very much wrought up. He knocks on the door of her room. Alice, thinking the inebriate, Jack, has returned, opens the door and throws a pitcher of water all over Will. Confusion reigns, until matters are straightened out by proper introductions and regrets.
- Ben Bolt on his way to school one day comes across little Alice, the little waif. He takes her to his home and the little orphan is taken to the hearts of Ben's kind father and mother. The years pass and the two young people grow fonder and fonder of each other, until at last Ben proposes and is accepted. That same day, he is impressed upon a British man-of-war by the notorious press gang and Alice waits for him to return. She goes in search of him, and while in a boat is struck by its jib boom and knocked senseless. She is picked up by a French man-of-war, but when she recovers consciousness, the Captain finds her memory has gone. He takes her ashore to some friends of his, and leaves her in their care. Meanwhile war has been declared and Ben has become more used to his surroundings. Off the coast of France, the British captain orders Ben and some sailors ashore for water and while returning to the ship they are attacked by a French skirmishing party. Ben is injured and drags himself by chance to the house in which Alice is being befriended. She fails to recognize him, but after a great deal of persuasion, the old people consent to Ben taking his former sweetheart back to England. When they arrive there, Ben shows Alice the places she knew so well in her childhood days, and the sight of the old mill, where they were betrothed, brings back memory to Alice.
- When nature finished the rest of the world, she took all the colors left on her palette and generously and recklessly threw them into that spot of the earth that is now Colorado (given that name for that very reason). Eventable riot of awe-compelling color, a blending of almost sacred beauty, Colorado is nature's masterpiece. The rainbow and an Italian sunset all frozen into the everlasting hills, the matchless granite hues soothe yet stir one to the unknown depth as their sublime spell falls upon us. We unconsciously acknowledge the majesty of nature and her supremacy over merely human artists. They are psalms and a sermon in stone. As we stand in the Garden of the Gods, looking at the weirdly wondrous figures carved by the great sculptor, we forget our petty cares and paltry woes, our yearnings and our hopes or despairs, our conquests or defeats, for we are in Divine presence, selfishness and avarice are forgotten, for we are with beauty and our own heart and soul and mind become beautified. Colorado's charm is at once an aspiration and an inspiration. Poets of song and nature's genius have been inspired to dream, dare an achievement through the mighty sight of the wonders of nature. Artists have vainly attempted to translate on canvas a picture of picturesque Colorado. Rex has accomplished, with the aid of science, what artists have failed to produce.
- Padre Dominguis, the village priest of a quiet little spot in old Mexico, has been on a visit to the daughter of his dead sister and is about to return to his charges. He is much surprised and more than a little pleased to find that his niece is in love with John Brown, a progressive American, who has settled among them, for the Padre is a broad-minded man and knows that Mexico needs the influx of American energy to make her a great country. A different feeling possesses some of the Mexicans, however, and Brown is particularly hated by Baptiste Matteo, a "caballero," who is infatuated with Anita, the Padre's niece. Finding that Brown is favored and fearing to have a personal altercation with him. Baptiste lays a trap to injure his rival. He seeks an isolated spot, where he knows Brown will pass, and ties a rope between two trees, just high enough to "garrote" a man on horseback. Brown returns from a visit to his sweetheart and is riding fast to reach his home. The trap is successful and the hated American is caught by the rope and thrown to the ground. He is stunned by the fall and Baptiste, who has watched from a clump of "mesquite," is satisfied that his "gringo" rival is dead. He writes a letter to Anita, to which he signs Brown's name, saying that he is leaving the country as he is convinced that Anita has been flirting with Baptiste and making sport of Brown. Anita receives this forged letter and as she is not familiar with Brown's handwriting and the latter fails to appear, she believes the letter to be genuine and yields to the ardor of Baptiste's persuasion that she shall be his wife. In the meantime, Brown has been found on the road by a fellow countryman, who takes the injured man to his plantation and nurses him back to health. Baptiste, while he has been successful in his intentions, is sorely troubled in mind and sees frequent apparitions of the man he thinks he has killed. Under stress of conscience, he journeys to the distant village of Padre Dominguis and, not knowing that the reverend Padre is Anita's uncle, he confesses the murder of Brown and asks for absolution. His mind is relieved by his confession, and he returns to his own village and makes preparations for his marriage to Anita. The latter writes a letter to the Padre, asking him to officiate at her wedding and the priest immediately departs for her home. Here he is introduced to the prospective bridegroom, and he is horrified to recognize the man who has so recently confessed to him a murder. He is torn with conflicting emotions. On the one hand is his duty to his dead sister's child, to guide and guard her, and on the other are his vows to the church he serves, to preserve the secret of the confessional. He dare not betray the fact that Baptiste is a murderer, but resolves to let the marriage take its course, hoping that he may eventually succeed in converting Baptiste to a life of righteousness that will atone for his crime. Brown, after a hard siege with death, in which he has conquered, thanks his benefactor and rides leisurely into the village of his sweetheart. He is shocked to learn, at her home, that she is on her way to be married. He puts spurs to his horse and dashes into the mission church just in time to interrupt the ceremony. Anita is overjoyed to see him again and he quickly explains the forged letter. Baptiste attempts to escape, but is stopped by the men of the wedding party, and the Padre continues the service with a change of grooms, while he gives thanks to God that his niece is spared from becoming the wife of a criminal.