A House Divided (1913)
Virginia and Betty live in a southern mansion with their father. Young Tom, a neighbor, is in love with Virginia--and secretly worshipped by Betty, who watches their courtship sadly. The war breaks out and the father and Tom ride away. Lieutenant Paul Brice is a Union spy and Mrs. Morris loves him and decides to become a spy herself. She carries letters to a clergyman, who introduces her to Virginia and Betty. The former is attracted, but Betty is suspicious and watches her closely. Mrs. Morris takes a fine house and furnishes it. Lieutenant Brice passes as her brother. Mrs. Morris invites Virginia and induces her to play cards. Virginia gives her I.O.U.s, and is infatuated with the "brother." He falls in love with her. Mrs. Morris makes up her mind to punish Virginia when opportunity offers. Virginia happens to see the telegraph code and asks Brice what it is. He tells her it is a code for love letters and she takes it with her. Betty hears from her father that there are spies at work. She finds that her sister has taken a code telegram to the station for Brice and later discovers its meaning. She rides to get help for the Southern camp, which she knows is to be assaulted. This helps turn the tide of fortune and the Unionists are beaten back for the time being. Betty's father is badly wounded in the fight and Tom is slightly wounded too, and they, with the faithful Betty who thinks her sister a spy go home. Virginia snubs Tom and Betty tries to comfort him. The father holds a consultation of generals and aides in his bedroom. Mrs. Morris learns of this and gets Virginia to her home. She threatens her with exposure. Poor Virginia is afraid to go and confess to her sister and steals the plans. The theft is discovered. Betty, on the watch, sees Virginia hand over the papers. She gets her alone and accuses her, but they are interrupted by Brice and Mrs. Morris, who seizes Betty and locks her in a room. Having received the dispatches the Unionists decide to surround the Southern home and capture the Generals in council. Virginia, thoroughly frightened, confesses to Tom who starts out to the Southern camp for help. Virginia, climbing a pillar, frees Betty from her bonds and they descend by the pillar. The Southerners, under the guidance of Tom, meet the Unionists and defeat them and Mrs. Morris and Brice get away. Virginia confesses that she does not love Tom in the right way, and goes, leaving the field clear for the union of Tom and Betty.
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