A Double Fire Deception (1916)
Polly, the cook's hoyden daughter, gets the chance of her young life when Miss Marion Earle, her mother's employer, proposes to train her as her maid. While awaiting them in her drawing room, Marion, her future benefactress, repulses an earnest young man who is proposing to her, making clear that she wants money rather than love. About this time, word comes from an attorney announcing that the latest of the many codicils of her late uncle's will stipulates that she is to receive one-half of his fortune only on condition that she marry his protégé, Gideon Gault. The lawyer goes on to say that he has arranged for Mr. Gault to visit her so they can become well acquainted. Marion's delight turns to fury--she wants the entire fortune. Meanwhile Gideon Gault is starting for Marion's home, accompanied by his valet Sam. The valet has high social ambitions; the master has none. The valet dresses as well as he dares, while Gideon wears the plainest black of severe cut. Gideon is interested in "uplift" work, religion, and missions. Polly is brought before Marion, and as the gawky girl approaches, Marion gets a startling idea: She announces that, for the time, Polly must be the heiress, while Marion will be her maid. Gideon and Sam stop on their way to Marion's. Gideon is attracted and shocked by the sight of a crowd of boys shooting craps on the sidewalk. He gets out of the machine and tells Sam to inform the heiress he will follow. Sam drives on to Marion's suburban home, where, on account of his smart appearance, he is mistaken for his master and received with all honors by Marion, dressed as a maid. He is introduced to Polly. Sam realizes what he's fallen into, and determines to take all that's coming to him, until something happens. Marion slips Polly a note, "Make him love you; he's a millionaire." Polly in her clumsy way begins to try her powers of fascination upon the puzzled Sam. He sees Gideon calmly walking up the path and tells his master what has happened. Gideon mildly remarks, "Keep up the deception, Sam, it may give me the chance to do great good." Gideon, the supposed valet, is introduced into the servants' hall, where he proceeds to reform everyone. Marion, listening at the keyhole, overhears Sam making love to Polly, and thinks her deception is progressing splendidly. Under the influence of Gideon's saintly personality, the servants get religion in various ways. Gideon at last has come to the right place. Sam proposes to Polly and they are quietly married that night. In the drawing room, Marion has had prepared a supper, waiters having come in from a caterer's. She invites all the servants into the drawing room, and they come marching in single file, led by Gideon, singing "Onward Christian Soldiers." Polly rushes to the big fat cook, crying, "Mother." Sam begins to see light: something is wrong. While Sam rages, Marion pertly says: "I'm the heiress, your wife is my maid, and you lost your share of the fortune." Sam bursts out laughing. Marion looks troubled. Then Gideon comes to the rescue. "Thanks for finding my valet a wife. I am Gideon Gault," he says. Marion is dumbfounded. At this instant a messenger boy enters with a telegram. He hands it to Marion. She reads: "Last codicil to uncle's will leaves all to put up a monument to himself." Marion swoons dead away and Sam promptly uncorks a bottle of champagne in her face. Gideon and the servants congratulate Sam and Polly, as, after all, the wholesale deception seems to have done no harm.
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GenresComedy
Short
IMDbPro
See more details at IMDbPro
| Filmmakers | Role |
|---|---|
| Allen Holubar | Director |
| Jay Hunt | Writer |
| Norbert Lusk | Writer |
| Cast | Role |
|---|---|
| Matt Moore | |
| Jane Gail | |
| Clara Beyers | |
| Allen Holubar |
