Plot

The productions from Thanhouser's mature period, 1915-1917, clearly show the advancements that set the stage for the first cinematic golden age, the 1920s. Such advances are evident in this surviving shortened version of "Fires of Youth": detailed character development by veteran actor Frederick Warde (and in a smaller role, at least in the shortened version, by Jeanne Eagels), mature editing techniques, special lighting effects, intelligent story development, realistic use of locations, fluid dialogue inter-titles, complex staging and access to better cameras with the defeat of the Patents Trust. Acclaimed French stage and film director Emile Chautard was brought from Éclair studio in France to direct.

Steel king Peter Pemberton, who is called Iron Heart by his employees because of his relentless pursuit of wealth, has spent the greater part of his life toiling to amass millions. Having sacrificed his youth in exchange for his massive fortune, Pemberton discovers that the one desire in his waning years is to recapture the boyhood that he had never known. To accomplish this, he returns to the old mill town that was the scene of his childhood. There, using the assumed name Peter Brown, he is befriended by little Billy who takes the old man for long hikes in the woods. Entering the mill as an unfortunate worker, Pemberton learns of the factory's unsafe conditions and the workers' discontent. After an explosion at the mill, the men decide that Pemberton must die, and they draw straws to determine who will accomplish the deed. Drawing the ill fated lot, Pemberton goes into the woods to commit suicide but is stopped by Billy's sister. He then admits that he is the owner of the factory, and after correcting the deplorable conditions, wins the love and loyalty of his men.—Pamela Short

Peter Pemberton, a steel king, commonly called Iron-Hearted by his employees, spent the greater part of his life toiling to amass millions. He had given his boyhood and youth in exchange for his massive fortune, and now he discovered that his capacity for pleasure was gone. He wanted to play as he should have done long ago. Having forgotten how, he returned to the little factory town where he had spent his youth. Little Billy was told by his father that Pemberton was a human impersonation of the devil. Anxious to see him, Billy went to his home. Pemberton was trying to amuse himself by playing with a toy engine but came to the conclusion that he was too old, but Billy taught him how. Billy never dreamed that he was talking to Pemberton, as ho took his valet for him. Billy won the heart of Pemberton. It was through Billy that Pemberton went down to the mills as the inexperienced Peter Brown. There he met Rose, and she seemed the incarnation of youth. The companionship of Rose and Billy, and the love of the factory people made Pemberton happy. Peter, thinking that Rose cared for him, and that she did not consider him old, fostered the thought that someday he might bring her home as a wife. Returning one evening he discovered he was mistaken; it was Jim who Rose loved. Little Billy, fearing that Peter would be fired because he failed to go to work the next day, went to the factory to work his molds. A furnace exploded, letting forth a seething blaze of molten metal. He. was not expected to live. This was the last straw; the men determined to have revenge. Pemberton must die. The men drew, and the one who drew the marked slip was to kill Pemberton. Rose drew for Jim. Pemberton was watching her. She drew back pale and trembling.—Moving Picture World synopsis