Trying Out No. 707 (1913)

Convict "No. 707" is a presumably hardened individual. "In" for 25 years, the limit for alleged safe-cracking. The warden of the penitentiary concludes to try the Honor System and allows a party of his prisoners to work in a quarry without an armed guard, placing the responsibility for their return upon one of their own number. Strangely enough, "No. 707" refuses to trust himself to such temptation, preferring to remain under guard. Close to the quarry lives a lone widow, Mrs. Love, and one of these trusted convicts attempts to hide on her premises and get away. But she discovers him and talks to him to such a purpose that he goes back to the pen, repentant. At a meeting in the prison chapel this convict testifies to the influence the dear old lady had upon him for good. "No, 707," who is at the meeting, appears to recognize his own mother in the description of Mrs. Love and asks permission to join the honor squad, and soon makes his way to her cottage and looks through the window. Behold, the miracle comes true. He sees his mother, who lost trace of him years before his incarceration. However, he keeps his secret to himself, but the following day appeals to the Governor, through the Chaplain, for permission to go on parole and work for wages. This request is granted; he secures work and every week gives his earnings to the Chaplain with instructions that they be secretly turned over to Mrs. Love. The old lady, who is in indigent circumstances, does not know who is helping her, but is only thankful. One day "No. 707" is injured at his work, and the report comes to Mrs. Love that the friend who has been helping her is dying at the hospital. Fortunately, the report has been exaggerated. She hurries there and finds her son. In the end he is pardoned, his number is forgotten, he recovers his health and goes back to gladden his mother's home.

All Releases

Domestic
International
Worldwide
Summary Details
GenresDrama Short
FilmmakersRole
Edward LeSaint Director
William A. Corey Writer
William Nicholas Selig Producer
CastRole
Guy Oliver
Al W. Filson
William Ryno
William Elmer