Writing
Greek Conniston, after living a life of ease and comfort, is forced by his millionaire father to get a job and earn his own living. While traveling West with his friend Roger Hapgood, Greek meets Argyl Crawford and, entranced by the girl, takes a job on her father's ranch.
John Cranford is a U.S. customs agent dedicated to stem the activities of a gang of opium smugglers. After successfully closing the case, Cranford takes a vacation on Pidgin Island, near Kingston, Ontario. Here he meets the beautiful Diana Wynne, whose mysterious behavior both fascinates and attracts him. It turns out that Diana is herself a secret service agent, bent on trapping notorious pearl smuggler Michael Smeed.
Reporter Tom Warder exposes a theatrical producer, Isaac Shuman, for sexually harassing young women, including Tom's girlfriend. After being forced out of town, Shuman returns years later to frame Tom for theft, leading to his imprisonment and the tragic death of his family.
Kentucky moonshiner, Bill Evans lives with his family in the back hills. His daughter Mary marries another moonshiner, Jack Keane, which angers Bill Gale. The plot involves a love triangle and family conflict stemming from the moonshining life.
After an argument with his father, in which he is accused of stealing, Bill Carmody leaves home. His girlfriend Ethel is mad at him because of his carousing. So he heads out West, but he gets in a railroad accident and saves the life of Appleton, who owns a lumber mill. To reward Bill, Appleton gives him a job, and it doesn't take him long to discern that Buck Moncrossen, the camp boss, is crooked.
Vera Ashton's criminal history resurfaces via her brother when he coerces her into robbing her wealthy employer. A shootout occurs; Vera fatally shoots her brother in self-defense. Her fiancé, Dixon, supports her claim of being his wife. A surprise revelation clears Vera, preventing her arrest.
A man who believes his wife cares more for her dresses and social status than for their home life. To teach her a lesson and cure her of her vanity, he devises a plan to make her think he has lost all of his money. He hopes that by facing poverty, she will abandon her superficial ways and become a more devoted, practical wife.
Quartus Hembly, a man without a conscience, is the ruler of the town of Copper City, having made himself rich at the expense of his workers. When Donald Keith, a young lawyer, arrives in town, a hidden spring within him is touched after Hembly viciously kicks his dog. Keith refuses to leave town and warns Hembly that he will fight to see that the people get their rights.
Young Jack Lewis is in love with Anna Mason, the sister of Sheriff Jim Mason. Jack is framed for a murder actually committed by a villainous bandit. After being imprisoned for the crime, Jack manages to escape. In a series of high-action sequences—including a spirit-filled defense of a cabin and a stagecoach holdup—Jack saves Anna and a stash of gold. Jack's name is eventually cleared when the true villain provides a confession, proving his innocence.
Nina, a poor fisher girl, whose parents have been lost at sea, finds her one joy in life in the love of Glenn Morey. Miss Arnold, a young artist from the city, comes to the island. She is attracted to Morey's appearance and engages him as her model. He becomes infatuated with her. Nina, neglected and heart-broken, sees her happiness slipping from her.
Juan Capella, the son of a poor Spanish tavern keeper, and his wife, learning of the discovery of gold on the American River near Sacramento, runs away from his parents and sweetheart to make his fortune. The tavern keeper is in debt and places a mortgage on the tavern in order to prevent it being seized to pay another debt.
A deserting soldier encounters a wagon train of settlers. When they are faced with an Indian attack, he risks court martial to return to the Army post for help.
A trapper is sent to the city to collect money for his fur company. On his journey back, he is accidentally shot by a young woman, the daughter of another trapper, who mistakes him for a deer. She takes him back to her father's cabin to recover. Initially, the girl's father is truly angry about the situation. The young man saves the life of the older trapper (the father). Through gratitude, the father forms a business partnership with the young man, and the young people fall in love. The film concludes with the young man successfully "winning" Denise and presumably a happy ending.
Parker, an Army lieutenant at a Western outpost, falls in love with Barbara Taylor, daughter of his commanding officer. But when Barbara rejects him, Parker fights with another soldier and deserts. An Indian attack gives him a chance to redeem himself.
Bill Slade, a desperate ironworker who loses his job is unable to feed his wife and child. Attempting to rob a doctor's house he is caught, leading to dramatic complications. The film focuses on his struggle to provide for his family amidst poverty, with red tape delaying charity, pushing him to crime and highlighting societal struggles during that era.
Luke McVane (William S. Hart) shoots a card-cheat in self-defense and has to make a run for it before the town lynch him.
A young woman's sweetheart fights for the Union Army, while her brother fights for the Confederates.
Custer's Last Fight chronicles George Armstrong Custer's final battle against the forces of Sitting Bull at the Battle of the Little Bighorn.
Molly Ashley, a child of the slums, is charged with being an accomplice to a shoplifter. Although innocent, she is convicted of shoplifting and sentenced to two years' imprisonment. Jim Tracy, the leader of a band of gangsters, rescues Molly. The following morning Detective Stone is assigned the task of locating and running down Jim Tracy's gang. In order to secure evidence against the gang, he disguises himself as one of the gangsters, runs into their place and pretends that the "cops" are after him. Tracy and the gang take him in. Molly falls in love with Stone and discovers his true identity. One of the crooks gets sore at Jim Tracy and betrays them to the police. Jim accuses Molly of betraying them. Stone resents his accusation.
Jim and Molly are set to get married when Molly finds out about her fiancé's criminal past. Bill Carey weasels his way into Molly's heart in the interim, eager to relieve her of her savings.
