The Sharpshooter (1913)

Jack Krone, a blacksmith, lives with his father and sister, Edna. The squire's son, George Burns, lives in ease and idleness. There are mutterings of war, and the local militia is in frequent ride practice. George stops to have his horse shod, and takes advantage of the opportunity to force his attentions on Edna. As he is attempting to forcibly kiss her he is knocked down by Jack, who reports the incident to his friends and George is expelled from the militia. The war breaks out and Jack goes to the front. Bitter at the southern boys, George secures a commission in the northern army, as he is the crack rifle shot of the locality, and sharpshooters are in great demand. As the fighting progresses and time goes on, little Bud Krone, Jack's brother, enlists as a drummer boy, and one day during an engagement, George is up in a tree picking off officers and sees him. Taking careful aim George brings the boy down. Jack looks at his dead brother for a moment, and then leaps towards the clump of trees from whence the firing had come. He sees George and shoots him through the shoulder, and when he discovers the identity of the man he has shot he attempts to kill him, but is captured by a squad of Union soldiers. Wounded, George goes home on a furlough, while Jack languishes in prison. Poverty has forced old man Krone to mortgage his property to Squire Burns, and the latter demands payment. George makes ardent love to Edna, and to save her old father she consents to marry him, not knowing that he is the slayer of her brother. Jack finally secures his release from prison and comes home, learning of the marriage of his sister. He sends her a note to meet him, and Burns sees them together, away in the distance and shoots Jack. Edna manages to support her brother to a negro's cabin, where he is hidden, and determines to ride to the nearest Confederate encampment for assistance. She dons Jack's coat and hat and mounts his horse. Burns sees her, and thinking she is Jack he lifts his rifle to his shoulder and takes careful aim. A storm is approaching. With a sacrilegious boast Bums says, "With my eye upon the sight, not even God can save him." And as he goes to press the trigger a blinding flash of lightning destroys his eyesight. Groping along in terror, he is harassed by visions of his foul deeds, and finally falls over a cliff. Edna reaches the soldiers and saves her brother.

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Summary Details
GenresShort Western
FilmmakersRole
Charles Giblyn Director
Harry G. Stafford Writer
Thomas H. Ince Producer
CastRole
Charles Ray
Joe King
Grace Cunard
Edgar Keller