The Red Man's Burden (1913)
Big Bear and Silver Fawn have been made man and wife by the good priest of the mission and their dwelling place became a dilapidated old house that modern civilization had neglected to tear down. The land had been used by their forefathers from time unknown so these two lived, loved and slept their days away, contented to dip no further into the mysteries of civilization than to abide in a wooden house. One day some men came in a big touring car and said, "get out of here. We do not want you around." They handed Big Bear a typewritten letter, "The law says this property is mine." "The Law. Who is he? I no know him. My forefathers say this land mine." But the law. So Big Bear and Little Silver Fawn mount their horses and turn their backs on civilization and the old shack is burned down. Civilization had taken their home and farm away from them but they still had the wild game to kill as in days of old. But the same man, John Randall, came along with the authority of the law back of him and said, "You cannot hunt here," and took his gun away from him. And hate was in the heart of Big Bear, while Silver Fawn trembled at his black looks, but the fire that burns and destroys sometimes deals out retribution as well for the blazing sparks from the burning house set the pine needles aflame and soon the forest is ablaze. And so it happens that John Randall catches his foot in a bear trap chained to a huge tree and set by his own men. Thus he is held a chained prisoner while the flames from the forest creep closer and closer to him. His cries for help reach the ears of Silver Fawn who comes to him and sees her enemy begging for help but her strength is too weak to open the trap so back she goes through flame and smoke, breathing in the death laden air and suffocating smoke till she reaches the side of Big Bear whose heart is softened by her pleading. He saves his prisoner and brings him safely home but poor little Silver Fawn has gone into a happier hunting ground beyond the laws of a cruel civilization. The red man keeps silent over her dead body by the slowly dying camp fire.
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| Filmmakers | Role |
|---|---|
| J. Searle Dawley | Director |
| Bannister Merwin | Writer |
| Cast | Role |
|---|---|
| Ben F. Wilson | |
| Laura Sawyer | |
| Charles Sutton | |
| Jessie McAllister |
