Acting
In Colonial America a doctor refuses to "waste time on an Indian" whose daughter is ill. The doctor’s wife secretly travels to the Indian village to administer medicine. After the child’s recovery, the young Indian mother wears the medicine bottle as a necklace talisman, which the doctor roughly tries to grab back when he spots it. "The white man’s insult" leads to an Indian uprising in which the doctor is killed. His wife too is set for execution until the Indian mother intervenes and escorts her back to safety.
Two sisters, Nellie and Florence, support themselves and their mother by sewing. A man accompanying a wealthy client tempts first Nellie and then Florence to leave with him. Nellie rejects him, but Florence goes to his decadent apartment and becomes his mistress. Nellie marries a diligent carpenter and raises a growing family. Eventually the Tempter tosses Florence out, and she dies alone and impoverished.
A printer, drinking excessively and neglectful of his family obligations, is fired from his job when he offends his wealthy employer and his employer’s guests as they tour the printworks. Seeking revenge, the dismissed employee enters his former employer’s house with the intention of shooting him. There he sees the employer and his severely disabled daughter, and recognizes the strong emotional bond between father and daughter. This convincing demonstration of affection brings the printer to his senses. He asks pardon, is reinstated in his old job, and becomes a model worker, husband, and father.
A Confederate officer is called off to war. He leaves his wife and daughter in the care of George, his faithful Negro servant. After the officer is killed in battle, George continues in his caring duties, faithful to his trust.
On a whim, a greedy tycoon decides to corner the world market in wheat. This doubles the price of bread, forcing grain producers into charity lines and others further into poverty. The film contrasts the differences between the lives of those who work to grow the wheat and the life of the man who dabbles in its sale for profit.
A poor, elderly couple with many children is tempted when the husband's brother offers to pay to adopt one of the children himself. However, when forced to choose, the parents realize they can't part with any of their children.
The evils of drink cause a man to separate from his family. In time he becomes sober and prosperous. Then he meets and falls in love with a young woman, and they become engaged. Unbeknownst to him this young woman is his own daughter.
Mrs. Weston’s child dies and she mourns her loss. Meanwhile, two young girls are placed in an orphanage after their mother dies. They escape to search for her in Heaven, and arrive at Mrs. Weston’s house. She decides to adopt them.
During the reign of Oliver Cromwell, Catholic worship is forbidden on pain of death. Three soldiers are arrested as Catholics and condemned to die. Cromwell decides to spare two of them and to determine which should die by chance. The guards bring the first child they meet. Whichever soldier she gives the 'death disc' to shall die. Cromwell is charmed by the girl and gives her his signet ring. By chance the child is the daughter of one of the soldiers and gives the death disc to her father, because she thinks it's pretty. The child is returned home to her mother, who learns of her husband's pending execution and of the power of the ring. She rushes to the place of execution and saves her husband by producing the ring.
A peasant family comprising the father, mother and little boy child are happy in their own sphere until one day several courtiers of a hunting party stopped at the humble home for refreshments. The men are particularly struck with the beauty of the young wife, and as their Duke is in the depths of boredom they suggest carrying her off to court. However, they think it best to first consult the Duke, who in the extreme of ennui, is most agreeable to the plans. Hence, the poor wife is torn from her husband and child and taken to court to be made a lady by the Duke.
Owen Moore is addicted to gambling and about to lose his family and job because of it. James Kirkwood, his brother-in-law, shows up and cures him of his gambling fever.
