The Death Mask

A fine two-reel offering of tribal lore, brilliantly handled by Tsuri Aoki and two bands of Indians. The settings are familiar, but the story enters so perfectly into the spirit of Indian legends that it is unusually interesting. It shows how Running Wolf, dreaming always of his love in the Far North, goes forth to meet the strange hand of the three brothers. He slays two of the brothers in hand-to-hand conflict, but the wearer of the death mask turns out to be the girl itself. We think this is an adaptation from an old fairy tale. The storm scene in this is splendidly shown and the whole production is alive with interest. - The Moving Picture World, September 26, 1914

In the Indian village, the maidens hope for the attention of the chief's son, Sessue Hayakawa. None of them tempt him, for he dreams of a woman he has never seen. A visitor comes and speaks of a distant tribe ruled by three terrible brothers. One is swift like a panther, the second is strong as a bear, and the third wears a terrible mask; to see his face means death. They have a beautiful sister.

Hayakawa sets off and travels so far his horse founders. He sees the woman, and it is she. He challenges the three brothers...

It's a lovely fairy tale set among North American aboriginals, and Thomas Ince directs it beautifully. Some people may think it odd, using the Japanese Hayakawa as an Amerindian, but Ince knew he was a talent, and lacked a story for him, so he got slotted into this one. Hayakawa would prove him right over the next six years, and then return to Japan.