STORY

Ferris Sims, once a notorious crook, but lately leading an apparently honest life, has a daughter, Helen, whom he wishes to keep in ignorance of his past life and also of his erstwhile associates, who frequently visit him. The girl is in love with, and is loved by, a rich young man of the town. “Spider” Dale, Sims’ lieutenant and former companion in crime, calls on him for the first time, and gets a good look at the girl. He immediately falls in love with her and tries to meet her, but her father objects. This angers him and he goes back to his den, where Flo Summers, who has previously held his fancy, awaits his coming. Time passes and one day “Spider” sees Flo reading a paper in which the engagement of Helen Vincent is announced. He is mad with rage, and getting the address of her fiancé, goes there to kill him. Flo is angry because “Spider” is in love with Helen, and calling up Sims’ house, warns him of what the crook is going to do. Sims, in an effort to save the life of his daughter’s lover, hurries to the house where he lives. He arrives at the same time as “Spider” and they confront each other with drawn guns. Vincent has heard the noise of their entrance, and, slipping in, turns on the light and confronts the two with a drawn revolver. Their surprise is mutual, and in the moment of indecision, “Spider” makes a desperate attempt to kill Vincent. Sims is too quick for him, though, and jumping in the way, stops the fatal bullet, but his life pays for the sacrifice. The crook, too, meets his fate at the hands of Vincent, who fires back. As the scene fades, the girl’s father makes a last rally and is about to tell of his past, when he sinks and dies without bringing his past from the shadows. The two young people live in ignorance of the double life of the girl’s father. Written by Moving Picture Wor