Extravagance (1915)
Mrs. Rogers Stanhope and her daughter, Minerva, have been living on the fat of the land without counting the cost. It has been so easy to charge, and they little think to what an extent their pleasures cost them until the first of the month, when the bills begin to come in. Finally things come to such a pass that Mrs. Stanhope finds her debts are in the thousands, while her credit at the bank amounts to only about $200. Alfred Stuart, a financier and man about town, is an intimate friend of Mrs. Stanhope and has long had his eye on Minerva as a wife. Minerva, heretofore, has accepted his attentions, and when Stuart calls up Mrs. Stanhope, while she is in her difficulties, and begs for a dinner engagement, she gladly agrees and thinks of a way to get out of her troubles. In the meantime Minerva has received a letter from William Marsden. to whom she has been engaged secretly for some time, asking her if she had yet told her mother of the engagement and requesting an appointment for the evening. Mrs. Stanhope tells Minerva that the only way out of her difficulty is for her to marry Stuart, and by the aid of his money clear away their debts. Minerva vehemently refuses to have anything to do with such a scheme. Minerva goes with Marsden for a ride and upon her return persuades him to come in and tell her mother of their engagement. He agrees, and Minerva is treated coldly until her mother finds out Marsden is supposedly better fixed than Stuart. Minerva and Marsden are married and the mother, on the strength of their wealth, takes a trip abroad. Shortly before the marriage Marsden's trustee dies and he finds that he is almost penniless, nothing being left but some supposedly worthless copper stock. He offers to release Minerva from her engagement, but she refuses and they keep the matter secret from her mother. Stuart finds out Marsden's condition and offers him a place in his own office, which Marsden is glad to accept. Later the mother returns from abroad with many new gowns and when she learns of Marsden's loss of his fortune she is very cold toward the couple and renews her friendly relations with Stuart. Minerva goes to her husband for $100 and he tells her he cannot get hold of that much. Much disappointed, Minerva derides to make up with her mother. The meeting is cold, hut finally the girl breaks down and the mother thinks she will win out at last. Stuart calls for them in a taxi, according to prearranged agreement, and just as they are getting out of the cab at the office Marsden comes out and sees his wife and Stuart together. Marsden receives word that his copper stock is not worthless and has to leave on the same night as a big party. He is delayed and when ready finds his wife has gone to the party, he hurries there to bid her goodbye. He finds his wife and Stuart alone and accuses the latter of paying too much attention to his wife. After a break with Minerva, Marsden leaves. Deserted by her husband. Minerva is forced to work and takes a position in the office of Marsden's old lawyer. One day she takes Marsden's card from the office boy in which he requests an interview with the lawyer and sees that he is manager of a big copper company. The lawyer hides her in a closet and she hears her husband. Stuart learns that Marsden now has the power to ruin him and calls on Mrs. Stanhope for aid, but she is powerless to give him any assistance. Marsden's copper stock has proved to be valuable and he is now enormously wealthy. Minerva realizes that when he meets Stuart there will likely be trouble and hurries to the latter's office to prevent it if possible. She arrives in the midst of a fight between the two men and forces them to separate. Mrs. Stanhope, too, arrives on the scene and Minerva tells them that the blame of it all should rightly rest upon her mother. Stuart and the mother leave and Minerva attempts to explain away all the difficulties. Marsden at first holds back, but when his wife breaks down he takes her into his arms and comforts her.
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Domestic
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Worldwide
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GenresDrama
Short
IMDbPro
See more details at IMDbPro
| Filmmakers | Role |
|---|---|
| Charles Giblyn | Director |
| Hugh C. Weir | Writer |
| Cast | Role |
|---|---|
| Cleo Madison | |
| Hobart Henley | |
| Adele Farrington | |
| Wyndham Standing |
