The Awakening of a Man (1913)
Things are going none too well for the firm of Wentworth and Sons. The volume of business is steadily decreasing, and importunate creditors make things highly unpleasant for Richard, the reckless fellow who has taken his late father's place. As a final drop in the cup of bitterness, a terrible fire destroys the warehouses, rendering them a total loss. Richard breaks down and asks his fiancée's father for help. During their conference, the girl comes in unnoticed, and shocked by the disclosure of Richard's weakness, gives him back his ring. That night, in a fit of dejection. Richard decides to end his troubles with a revolver. In the very shadow of death, his eye falls on the picture of the grim old Puritan which hangs among the family portraits. As he looks, the picture fades away. In its place is a log cabin, hotly besieged by savages. The doorbolt falls, shattered to the floor under the stress of the blows without, and the Puritan thrusts his arm into its place, and. despite the fearful agony, holds the door until help arrives. Richard draws his hand across his brow, and reaches for a decanter. As he does so, his glance shifts to another picture, which, in its turn, fades. A dispatch rider, after a perilous ride through the British lines, delivers his message to Washington, and falls senseless to the ground. The lines about Richard's mouth grow harder. He sets the liquor aside, takes a cigar from the box nearby, and looks at the portraits of his father and grandfather. The pictures fade, and Richard looks upon the moments in their lives when everything seemed dark and blackened by the hand of fate. He sees how these strong, clean-hearted men met their troubles squarely, face-to-face, and how they fought and conquered the evil fates opposing them. For a long time the boy sits in thought. At last he rises, with a new, strong look on his face. The disheartened old family servant starts back in joyful wonder as Richard Wentworth, erect and fearless in his newly-found manhood passes him and goes forth to fight his good fight and win back the love of the girl he has lost.
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| Filmmakers | Role |
|---|---|
| George Lessey | Director |
| Bannister Merwin | Writer |
| Cast | Role |
|---|---|
| Ben F. Wilson | |
| Charles Ogle | |
| Dan Mason | |
| William West |
