The Devil, the Servant, and the Man (1910)
We find the man first in his home, surrounded by a devoted wife and the many luxuries to make a home pleasant, to all of which he shows an indifference and persists in joining his clientèle at the club. Upon his arrival at the club a visit to the matinée of "The Devil" is suggested and accepted. We next see them emerging from the theater with two chorus girls. They repair to a nearby palm garden, enjoying the dreamy music with mint juleps and frappé trimmings. They are interrupted by the arrival of a message for the young husband. Upon opening it, he shows, his pleasure plainly, for it is from Edna, his favored amorita, asking him to witness with her a performance of "The Servant in the House" that evening. Suggesting to his companions that his departure would equalize the gender of the party and leave them undisturbed by the fifth person, he takes his departure and hurriedly enters his home, and at once dons his evening dress and prepares, as he assures his wife, to spend the evening with the boys at the club. Remonstrations on the part of the young wife are unavailing. As he is leaving the home, his attention is directed to a note written by the wife and left on the table, saying: "If you persist in drinking and going out at night, do not blame your wife if she does the same. Alice." The reading of the note has but little effect upon the husband, who does not believe her capable of such actions. He at once repairs to the home of Edna and accompanies her to the performance mentioned, after which they retire to a fashionable café. Some time elapses before he takes his adieu and returns to his home, slightly ruffled in his equilibrium. He sinks before the grate in an easy chair and is soon in dreamland. His vision shows him the devil standing at his shoulder, asking the question: "Where have you been?" He tells him. He is then asked where his wife is, and be points to the bedroom, saying: "She is there, asleep." He is told she is not. He then remembers the note. In his sub-conscious mind he is desperate. The devil says: "Take this gun and kill her." He rushes to her room and finds it empty. He is ordered by the devil to go with him and he would show him more. They pass quickly down the street and he is shown his wife in the embrace of a strange man from the bay window in a fashionable home. The husband draws back to shoot, when the devil says: "No, I will show you more." We next find them entering the notorious French mask ball. He shows the young husband his wife in the arms of a young prince. Quivering with rage, he pulls the mask and shoots her dead. The devil then takes him back to his home and leaves him in the same chair he found him. Soon he awakens and remembers what he had seen in his dream. His mind quickly reverts to the note left by his wife. He hastens to her room and finds it empty. Crazed with remorse, he places the revolver to his temple and is about to fire when the hand of "The Servant in the House" stays his arm and asks him: "What are you going to do?" "Kill myself." he replies, and relates the story, saying his wife is dead. He is assured she is not, and is at once led to the table behind the screen where the young wife had fallen asleep in her lonely wait for his return. He falls on his knees, pleads forgiveness and promises to lead a better life.
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Domestic
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International
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Worldwide
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GenresDrama
Short
IMDbPro
See more details at IMDbPro
| Filmmakers | Role |
|---|---|
| Frank Beal | Director |
| William Nicholas Selig | Producer |
| Cast | Role |
|---|---|
| Alvin Wyckoff |
