The Doctor's Secret (1913)
After making some wonderful discoveries in regard to the cure of cancer, Dr. Bergmann, who suffers from heart disease, fears that he will not live to see the fruits of his invention. He wishes to leave the secret to his son Hans, currently 6 years old, whom he hopes will be a doctor. He confides the general idea to his friend Dr. Von Mertz, but does not tell him the details. At once he becomes possessed with an unholy desire to learn the secret. Bergmann has fallen asleep on the sofa before the fire. Von Mertz enters the room, goes to the drawer, takes out the papers, and begins to make notes. Bergmann awakes, discovers him, and rushes at him in a fury. The excitement is too much for his heart and he sinks to the floor. Thinking he's dead, Von Mertz steals the manuscript and goes for assistance. While he is gone, old servant Oscar watches over his master, who revives and has sufficient strength to write a few lines which he encloses in a letter already written to his son to be given him when he comes of age. This he gives to Oscar to give to his lawyer, warning him to be careful of Von Mertz. He then sinks back, dead indeed. Von Mertz adopts Hans and brings him tip as his own, and shortly after accepts a professorship in America and goes there with his little daughter Elsa and Hans Bergmann. Oscar gives the letter to Stoltz, the lawyer, who is puzzled. By means of Bergmann's discovery, Von Mertz wins fame and fortune, but is always haunted by remorse for his past. Hans becomes betrothed to Elsa on his 21st birthday. That night Stoltz arrives in America with old Oscar, and gives the letter which tells of Von Mertz's crime into Hans' hands. Von Mertz overhears him read it, and. coming out of his room, confesses his crime and begs for mercy, The shock of the discovery is too much for him, and he expires. Elsa rushes into the room. Hans realizes that his highest duty is to his future wife, so he resolves to bury his father's secret forever.
All Releases
Domestic
–
–
International
–
–
Worldwide
–
–
| Filmmakers | Role |
|---|---|
| Van Dyke Brooke | Director |
| W.A. Tremayne | Writer |
| Cast | Role |
|---|---|
| Van Dyke Brooke | |
| Norma Talmadge | |
| Leo Delaney | |
| William Shea |
