The Stranger (1913)
John Howard and Jack Noble are business partners. Jack is the junior partner of the firm and is in love with Grace, Howard's daughter. The firm is in financial difficulties and to overcome this Grace is to marry millionaire Elbert Havens. Grace loves Jack; Havens loves Grace. Jack insists upon Grace marrying him, but she feels that she is duty-bound to help her father and determines to marry Havens, though she does not love him. At a reception given in honor of her engagement to Havens, the engagement is announced and the couple are recipients of hearty congratulations. Jack sees this and as Havens and the men leave to get refreshments, he takes Grace into the conservatory, where he implores her to elope with him. She refuses, but Jack takes her in his arms. At this moment Havens has returned to the reception room looking for Grace. He starts into the conservatory, but is halted by the sight of her in Jack's arms. Wild with rage he rushes from the house and walks the streets aimlessly. He comes to a moving picture house, and not knowing what he is doing, follows the crowd in. The guests at the reception are enjoying themselves, and Havens, for the minute is not missed. Howard finally misses him and goes in search of him. At the picture house the song "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine" is sung. This decides him, that is where he will go, away from sham and duplicity. He hurries home, has his servant pack his clothes, and then writes a note to Grace, telling her that he has gone forever. He then leaves the house, telling his servant he has gone for good and that there will be no need of anyone looking for him; Grace receives the note after her guests have gone. Her father reads it and upbraids her. He goes to Havens' house; the servant can give him no information as to his master's whereabouts. Fearing that Havens contemplates suicide, Howard rushes to the police station and sends out a general alarm. A reporter, scenting a scoop, rushes to his paper and the next morning the papers are full of news regarding the mysterious disappearance of the millionaire. The next day finds Havens taking a train from a suburban station for the mountains of Tennessee. He arrives at Stumpville. An old lady also gets off here; she smiles and bows to Havens, and recognizes him as the millionaire from the picture in the paper she has carried from the North. Havens finds his hotel, while the old lady is welcomed home by her husband, son and daughter, Jen. The next morning Havens starts out with his gun and comes across Jen on a bridge. She snubs him and runs away. Havens having made an impression upon the girl, she returns. The impression being mutual, Havens also comes back; the girl again snubs him and runs away, leaving Havens on the bridge watching her. The next day Havens starts out on a fishing excursion and is attracted to the bridge, where he again finds the girl. He is very polite; his actions are noticed by Lem, the girl's mountain lover, who, after Havens has gone, comes to the girl and sarcastically imitates the city man. He seizes her. This angers the girl; she bites his hand to force him to let her go and runs away. Havens, from a distance, has seen this, and he goes to the girl. Lem, thoroughly enraged, determines to get even: so he informs Jen's father and brother, who are moonshiners, that Havens is a revenue officer. Havens and Jen, having become better acquainted, leave for Jen's home, where Havens meets Jen's mother, who immediately recognizes him. She shows Jen the paper with the picture in it and after Havens has gone she tears the picture part out of it and hides it in her bosom. That night the mountaineers congregate in front of Jen's home and she overhears them plotting to do harm to Havens. She immediately rushes to his assistance. The mountaineers congregate at the hotel and Havens is hemmed in, but manages to escape. Then ensues a chase through the mountains where Havens is finally overtaken. As they are about to do him bodily harm, Jen appears, proves who he is, and the mob melts away crestfallen. Havens gives the girl to her mother, telling her to take good care of her for him until tomorrow.
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Worldwide
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GenresDrama
Short
IMDbPro
See more details at IMDbPro
| Filmmakers | Role |
|---|---|
| Carl Laemmle | Producer |
| Cast | Role |
|---|---|
| King Baggot | |
| Violet Mersereau | |
| Howard Crampton | |
| Raoul Walsh |
