STORY

Thomas Carter, a crippled artist, has difficulty selling his sketches and ornate pen drawings. With a daughter to support the artist is in desperate straits when he meets Charlie Breen, the leader of a band of clever crooks who live by their wits. Breen, recognizing Carter’s skill with the pen, ingratiates himself into the artist’s good graces and then points out to him how easy it would be to forge signatures to checks so even the owner of the signature would be deceived. Carter finally falls in with Breen’s plans and with clever Wall Street crooks to assist in the passing of the forged paper, quickly attains affluence. The members of the band make it a point to attend public gatherings and balls where they scrape acquaintance with rich “prospects.” At one of these balls which Carter and his daughter attend, Rita Carter, who knows nothing of her father’s connection with Breen’s band, meets Richard Maybrick, a wealthy young man of excellent family. Secretly Breen has determined to possess himself of Rita and Maybrick’s attentions to her causes Breen to vent his spite on Carter. When Carter permits Maybrick to call upon his daughter, Breen, thinking the penman is about to give up his connection with the band, calls upon him and a stormy interview ensues. Rita overhears the recriminations and learns for the first time of her father’s connection with the band. The news depresses her immeasurably and when Maybrick again calls, feeling herself unworthy of him, she breaks with him, tearfully returning his ring. Breen, from concealment, witnesses the parting and, mad with mingled rage and jealousy, returns to his associates in crime. A quarrel between Breen and one of the band causes the crook to “peach” upon his pals to the police. Carter is heartbroken when he learns his daughter has broken off with Maybrick because of his connection with the forgers. His grief changes to rage when he recalls the part Breen has played in ruining his daughter’s prospects. Carter determines to “get” Breen and leaves home with a loaded revolver. Maybrick, sensing something mysterious in Rita’s abrupt termination of their engagement, returns to the Carter home in time to see Carter leave, weapon in hand. He follows him to the quarters of the gang and witnesses a raid by the police, who have been tipped off by one of the disgruntled crooks. In this raid Carter is wounded but makes his escape and Maybrick. coming upon him while he is weak from loss of blood, takes him to his home. Breen meanwhile has gone to Carter’s home, determined to have his will with Rita. Rita learns of his coming and telephones Maybrick, who hurries to her assistance. Maybrick comes upon Breen in the Carter home and a desperate fight follows, in which the young man shoots and kills Rita’s assailant. When Maybrick and Rita return to the Maybrick home they find Carter is sinking fast and cannot live long. The dying artist gives the young couple his blessing and wishes them happiness in their new life together.
Written by Moving Picture World