The Deadly Focus (1915)
Sid Burns, a blacksmith and a gunsmith, uses his business as a cover for counterfeiting and is discovered in his criminal pursuits by Joe Blake, his assistant in the shop. Burns, as time goes on, fear's Blake's knowledge more and more. Diana Warburton, a Southern girl, visiting in the neighborhood, brings to Burns for repair a couple of old dueling pistols, heirlooms to her from her grandfather. Blake discovers in the barrel a diamond, wrapped in a note, explaining that the gem was placed there during the Civil War. Burns, realizing that no one will ever be the wiser, proposes that they sell the diamond and divide the proceeds. But Blake indignantly refuses. Though Burns assaults him, hitting him over the head with the butt of the pistol, Blake succeeds in getting away with the diamond which he returns to Diana. She becomes greatly interested in the young gunsmith. The counterfeiter tries to plan some way of getting rid of his assistant who knows too much. He hits upon a scheme to focus the sun's rays upon the powder in the pan of the pistol at a certain minute, causing an explosion which will destroy Joe's vise and cost the young apprentice his life. Meanwhile, Blake, who has been suffering with his head ever since Burns struck him with the gun, faints and falls in a direct line with the weapon. Diana finds him, and appeals to Burns, who enters in a partly intoxicated condition, to come to his assistance. Burns only laughs and tells her that Joe is dead. Diana helps Joe up and draws him aside, just as the pistol explodes. Burns drops lifeless. The two young people at first are horror-stricken. Then, discovering the cause of Burns' death, they marvel at their own narrow escape.
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GenresDrama
Short
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