Straight Is the Way

After Bob Carter (Matt Moore) is driven to thievery by his dire circumstances, he and pal Loot Follet (George Parsons) bail New York City for Hampton Center, New Hampshire, where they think the pickings will be easy.

They hole up in a deserted part of a rambling house owned by the destitute Aunt Mehitable (Mabel Bert) and her grand niece Dorcas (Gladys Leslie). The thieves soon learn how desperate the women are, especially after a local loan shark (Henry Sedley) tries to collect the money on their mortgage.

The men decide to intervene on the women's nightly session with a Ouija board as they try to contact the long dead Uncle Henry to find where he hid his treasure. From that point, the story takes an odd and ironic turn, one that changes the lives of everyone involved.

Matt is excellent as Bob Carter, the thief with a strong conscience. Leslie is sweet as the innocent Dorcas. Bert is fun as the gullible old lady, and Parsons is fine as Loot. Sedley is snarky as the loan shark. There's also Van Dyke Brooke as the constable, Peggy Parr as the city hustler, Emily Fitzroy as Mrs. Crabtree, and Tammany Young as the barroom waiter.

Written by Frances Marion and directed by Robert Vignola. Some sources list Marion Davies as the producer for Cosmopolitan Pictures.