The Courting of Prudence (1914)
Ezra Benton, a farmer, by hard work and severe economy, has become moderately prosperous. His wife died years before the opening of this story. Benton now lives with his daughter, Prudence. It is Benton's ambition to marry Prudence to his wealthy neighbor, Zekiel Hendricks, who is fifty years of age and a widower. But Prudence is in love with Larry Neil, an industrious young man, and a hired man of her father's. Benton encourages Hendricks to call upon Prudence. He leaves the widower and his daughter together before the firelight and slips away to bed. The master of hearts (Cupid) does get in a good evening's work, but not until old Hendricks has gone home and Neil has taken his place on the settee beside Prudence. Benton is sleeping soundly when a cat stirs up a rumpus. Benton makes his way downstairs to stop the disturbance and on his way back he passes the door to the sitting-room; it is closed; curiosity masters him. He stoops and peers through the keyhole. Benton is delighted, for cuddled close, their faces toward the fire, their backs toward him, sit Prudence and a man whom he believes to be Hendricks. Larry turns his profile toward the door, and Benton recognizes his farmhand. An hour later Larry is walking a lonely road on his way to the nearest village, and Prudence is gazing out into the moonlit night sobbing a prayer asking God to send back to her the man she loves. Wearied by weeks of harassing, Prudence consents to marry Hendricks. Larry hears of the forthcoming marriage and tells his troubles to the kindly squire, who is justice of the peace, and the good man promises to help him. With the aid of the squire and his wife and two boy friends, Larry concocts a bold plan to thwart the proposed marriage. it is the night of the wedding. The squire is already pronouncing the words that are to make Prudence and Hendricks man and wife. There is a sudden commotion at the doorway. Larry rushes through the crowd and before anyone can stop him has snatched the bride from the bridegroom and hurries her out of the house. Hendricks and Benton rush out to the road to see a man and woman, mounted on a black horse, dashing away in the moonlight. They mount horses and follow; when they have overtaken the fugitives they find they have followed Larry's boy friends, one of them disguised as Prudence. In the meantime, Larry and Prudence, who didn't run away at all, but only stepped around the corner of the house, come from their hiding place, explain the trick to the good-humored guests and are married by the old squire. When Benton returns and learns of the trick he is thrown into a frenzy. Slowly the muscles of his face relax as he is glaring at his daughter, for a wonderful chance is going on within him. The scene fades, in its place is a dying mother and a little girl. The mother, with a great effort, places one arm about her husband's neck and with the other draws her child nearer. She speaks to her husband, "Don't make her a slave to money, Ezra. Give her heart a chance, Love is greater and bigger than all the money in the world." And the mother dies/ Benton draws Prudence to him and kisses her. A miracle has come into his life.
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| Filmmakers | Role |
|---|---|
| Harry A. Pollard | Director |
| Webster Campbell | Writer |
| Cast | Role |
|---|---|
| Margarita Fischer | |
| Harry A. Pollard | |
| Frank Cooley | |
| Joe Harris |
