This feature represents a most ambitious effort to film a story of contemporaneous American life. It is American made. On the whole, it is an acceptable offering. There are many very powerful and affecting scenes; there is much masterly acting; great skill has been shown in the selection of the tvpes. There are flashes of the best art in directing. The method of spicing the drama with trivial comic incidents is taking a leaf from the book of life itself, in which the comic and the serious chapters are always mixed. These deft touches of humor are not only amusing in themselves, but they serve to relieve the tragic intensity and the overflowing pathos of many a scene which would otherwise prove too severe a strain on the ever-sympathetic heart. The story is uncommonly strong and sustains the interest of the spectator from first to last. The political boss is one of the striking figures in the play, a veritable type of our politics, rich, uncouth, unscrupulous, masterful and somewhat cynical. The part was taken by Mr. Samuel Ryan, and it may be set down as a most creditable performance. The part of the fugitive from justice, who, under a new name, becomes one of the prominent figures in his new home, was deserving of praise. as taken by Mr. Edward Jose. In his character as a judge and a candidate for governor he gave true and powerful renderings. The parts of mother and daughter were taken respectively by Eleanor Woodruff and Virginia Person and unstinted praise must be given to the two of them. Each was most acceptable in her own part. Miss Person showed flashes of a high order of acting in the scene when she sought to resist the temptation to steal her employer's money. It is a pity that with so much high quality running all through the films there are some crudities and incongruities which could easily have been avoided. It was never explained how the wife of the fugitive came to be in the distant city to which the latter had fled. Plain probability was offended in the scene where the police sergeant is shown telephoning to the boss and assuring him of his zeal on behalf of his schemes right in the presence of a crowd, including a reporter. Hereditary influence is no defense to the crime of larceny. Besides no habitual crime is sought to be shown; the father committed only one act of larceny. There are other slighter imperfections which might also have been avoided. - The Moving Picture World, June 20, 1914
