To Love and to Hold (1914)

John Duncan and George Lane, traveling salesmen and pals, are on a vacation. While near this small town they meet two village belles. Mary Granger and Rose White, attend a party at the Granger home, and fall in love, John with May and George with Rose. John marries May and they take up their home in the city. John, unknown to his wife, is fond of cards, and loses very heavily, telling his wife that his absence from home at nights is due to overtime work at his office. His wife does not suspect him of deception. May invites her friend Rosa and mother to visit her and they come. One day, thinking he has a sure thing, John places all his money on a horse race. This very day his wife has planned a dinner for Rose and her mother, and hearing that George Lane is in town, also invites him. Just before sitting down to dinner a telegram is handed to John, telling him that the race is lost to him. He goes into the library and drawing a gun, is about to kill himself, but is saved from it by George, who takes the gun from him. John's wife has seen the attempted suicide from another room, reflected in a large mirror. John rushes from the room, goes to a saloon and drinks heavily. George sets out to bring him back home. May hides the facts from her mother and Rose, getting them out of the way by sending them to bed. Later George returns and tells May he can't locate John. She has made up her mind to leave John and return to the country with her mother the next day. George pleads for John, and induces May to give her husband another chance. He convinces her; she rises to thank him for showing her the right way, and places her hand upon George's shoulder. The shadow of May and George loom up on the window shade; John, just returned home crazed with drink, sees the shadow from outside, and misunderstands the situation. John rushes into the room and denounces May and George, and leaves, swearing never to see her again. May returns to the country with her mother and friend Rose. John now becomes a professional gambler and sport. Later, George Lane goes to call for Rose and make her his bride. They call on May, who has now become melancholy. George notes that May is making "baby" clothes and understands. While George and Rose are at the beach on their honeymoon they meet John, ask him to return to May, but he is still bitter. George tells John that May is about to become a mother, and John's heart softens. He swears never to gamble and drink again, goes to the country, begs May for forgiveness. She consents, and he takes her to his heart again, a wiser and more noble husband.

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Summary Details
GenresDrama Short