Omens of the Mesa (1912)

Texas Reilly, the outlaw, does not hesitate to kill, but when the dying buzzard casts its shadow across his pathway, he is filled with fear. The chief of the rangers is hot upon his trail. Reilly has no use for his wife, but loves his little daughter. The outlaw secretes his ill-gotten gains in a hideout in the hills overlooking the ranger's hut. Fearing capture, he sneaks upon the officer as he is riding by and shoots him. The wounded man succeeds in reaching his cabin, where he is aided by his old helper, who, after he makes him comfortable, goes to Mrs. Reilly for assistance. During his absence, the desperado makes up his mind that he must get his pursuer out of the way. He crawls over to his hut and places underneath it a large can of powder with a long fuse, which he ignites, makes his way back to his hideout, where he watches with fiendish delight for the expected explosion. With her little girl, Mrs. Reilly hastens to the wounded friend's aid. Her husband sees them enter the cabin and knows that the only thing in the world he loves is in that cabin about to be blown to eternity. Seized with a paroxysm of remorse and despair, he shoots himself dead. While his wife is tending to the suffering friend, her little girl steps outside the cabin and sees the smoking fuse. She tells her mother. She lifts the stricken man from his cot and leads him and her child to a small dugout, or cyclone cellar, and closes the doors after them; they barely escape the terrible explosion. Emerging from their hiding place, they behold the complete devastation before them and thank the good God for their deliverance.

All Releases

Domestic
International
Worldwide
Summary Details
GenresDrama Short Western