The Danger Line (1910)
The de Le Cort household is composed of Henri, father and husband, Louise, his child, and Jene, his wife and stepmother to Louise. Although their domestic life, on the surface, is a tranquil and peaceable one, the wife has just experienced an awakening, a strange unrest, a revelation that she and her husband are not well-mated. Henri is entirely enwrapped in his manly pleasures and pursuits. A lover of animals, much of his time is spent at his kennels and stables, to the neglect of his wife, whose romantic nature demands more love from her husband. She has suddenly realized that he lacks much of conforming to her ideal man, but, perfectly aware that she alone cannot awaken her husband, seeks solace and refuge in her books and her own meditations. As though Fate had suddenly taken the matter in hand, Fabien Trevelne, a poet, whose works had exerted the greatest influence in Jene's soul awakening, is introduced into the de Le Cort household. Trevelne is charmed by the woman's physical beauty and kindred sentiments, and after a short acquaintance, quickly perceives there is something wrong in the de Le Cort family. It is not long before he is convinced that Jene and Henri are not in sympathy with each other. Trevelne suddenly realizes of imagines he loves Henri's wife and, determined to have her, resolves to make use of Henri's neglect and his own intelligence and charms in winning her. On an occasion when the two are alone in the conservatory, Trevelne is about to propose when they are interrupted by Gustave, Henri's nephew. The young fellow, alert to the situation, informs his aunt her husband desires to see her. Later he approaches Henri and hints to his uncle that Jene needs more of his attention. Henri pooh-poohs the idea and says he will trust in his wife's loyalty and moral courage. A climax comes, however, the following evening at a ball at the de Le Corts when Trevelne, presenting Jene with a large bouquet of flowers, murmurs his passionate love. She breaks away from him but the poet holds her fast and implores her to go away with him. The scene is interrupted by the entrance of Henri, who entirely understands the situation and orders his supposedly disloyal wife to her room. Then he calls Trevelne to account. Not desiring to involve his wife in the scandal he forces the poet to engage in a game of cards, with witnesses standing near, and then accuses the poet of cheating. The poet rises and denies the accusation. Henri, with inexpressible contempt, hurls the cards in Trevelne's face and withdraws. The duel is arranged and close to the hour the two are to meet Henri seeks his wife. There he learns fully the extent of Trevelne's treachery and that Jene is innocent. For a moment he is swept with a keen remorse as he gazes down in his wife's lovelit eyes. She begs him not to fight, not to risk his life, but her confession and proof of innocence make the duel double necessary. He murmurs a last good-bye and, convinced of his wife's loyalty, confides his child, Louise, to her care. In the duel which follows, Trevelne further shows his cowardice and treachery in taking advantage of his antagonist, whom he wounds in the pistol hand. According to the code, Henri, who has escaped a mortal wound, may have his shot, which means surety of the death of Trevelne, but this he refuses to take, preferring to send his victim into the world to suffer the stigma of shame and a guilty conscience. It is some time later before a complete reconciliation is established between Henri and Jene. But the former, during his convalescence, has had much time to think of the loveless marriage of him and Jene, and he, too, experiences an awakening. It is Gustave and Louise, whose pure, unselfish love, bring them together and show them their folly. The film ends with a complete reconciliation of husband and wife, who make earnest resolve, each of them, to more closely merge their two lives together.
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GenresDrama
Short
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