Treasures on Earth (1914)
Mark Dow, a moneylender in an oil town, sells an oil property for $150,000. The possession of this money adds to his greed for more and he becomes so miserly that he refuses his wife and child the absolute necessities of life. This leads to a quarrel and his wife leaves the house, taking the child with her. Dow, in his strange way, loves his wife and consoles himself with the thought that she will soon return, but time passes and he is still alone. He moves to Philadelphia, changes his name, and becomes chief owner of an oil refinery. For years his wife has had a hard struggle, and when her son William grows up he secures a job in which his father, now known as Mark Dowling, is president; neither knows the other's identity. One day Mark, by accident, meets his wife and offers his hand, which she refuses. This intensifies the friction. Dow resolves to let his wife pass out of his life forever and she in her bitterness does not even speak of the meeting to her son. In the humble boarding-house where the mother and son live there also lives Grace Roth, stenographer to the old man. William and Grace fall in love, but each realizes that a marriage would be a greater burden than present circumstances would permit. Dow (or Dowling) still controlled by his avarice, attempts to reduce the workmen's wages; they rebel, and Dowling, despite the directors' protests, orders a lockout. He transacts his business at a squalid house just opposite the plant. His life is filled with bitterness and his only companion is a poor little orphan girl who visits him often. As head of the workmen, William tries to stop the lockout, but is unsuccessful. His mother is sick and the doctor tells him that she must be sent to Arizona or some other dry climate to save her life. Desperate, William resolves to make a demand for money; he enters Dowling's house and tells his story, which touches the little orphan girl's heart and she pleads until the old man agrees to loan William $500 on a note. When William signs the note, Dowling recognizes that it is his own son; he destroys the paper and gives him $1000. William hastens to tell his mother of the good fortune and she then informs him that Mr. Dowling is his father. At this moment they see that the plant and Dowling's house are on fire. The boy rushes to the rescue, and saves his father and the little orphan girl. After the fire the family visits the ruins. A reconciliation takes place and, joining hands, they see the beginning of a happier future.
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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 |
|---|---|
| Edgar Jones | Director |
| Clay M. Greene | Writer |
| Siegmund Lubin | Producer |
| Cast | Role |
|---|---|
| Edgar Jones | |
| Louise Huff | |
| Clay M. Greene | |
| Jean Armour |
