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Antonio Morse is a struggling artist in Rome, devoted to his attractive young wife and baby. He cannot dispose of his picture, however, and as the story opens, there is no food in the house. His wife, receiving attentions from the famous artist, Pietro Novetti, becomes discontented, and as her husband leaves to make another effort to dispose of his work, receives the more prosperous painter, who makes passionate love to her, and tempts her to desert her husband. In a weak moment she succumbs and leaves her husband and baby. Tony is successful in obtaining a pittance for his paintings and starts home happily with a few purchases. He finds his wife gone, and a note from her, in which she tells him she loves Pietro. The poor artist breaks down over his baby's crib, and then the vengeance in his nature asserts itself and he decides to bide his time. He leaves for America, where for five years he struggles against misfortune. One day as he is painting in the Art Museum, he is brought face to face with a new picture entitled "Despair," which has been presented to the Museum by a wealthy society woman. In the model he recognizes his wife, and in the artist, the man who has broken his life. He learns that the artist will shortly come out to America and in a moment of frenzy he takes his palette knife and cuts the picture from the frame. A great reception is arranged for the Italian painter, Pietro Novetti, and he is feted at Miss Caldwell's home. The unhappy Tony sends his little daughter with a note to Pietro, telling him to follow her, and he will find "Despair," the picture, whose theft has aroused the police forces of the world. Novetti follows the child, refusing the company of the other guests. They, however, rush in an automobile to police headquarters, where they secure the assistance of detectives and police. Meantime, Pietro arrives with little Angelica, at Tony's home. In a dark corner is "Despair," carefully curtained from curious eyes. Tony faces Pietro after sending the little girl into the next room, where she seats herself at her small easel, and oblivious to what is to follow, paints her little picture. Tony throws aside the curtains and reveals the picture to Pietro. He, of course, recognizes Tony as the man he has wronged and tries to make his escape. The door is locked, however, and the moment of the unhappy artist's revenge is here. Tony seized Pietro by the throat, and overpowering him, is about to stab him, when little Angelica rushes into the room and prevents the act. Just then the door is broken open by the police who arrest Tony. Pietro is seized with remorse, and to free the man whose heart he has broken, pronounces this picture "a miserable copy." The police then leave the two men alone, and the prosperous artist hands Tony a letter from his wife, Angelica, in which she writes, "You may well picture me as Despair. I have only loved one man, and I dare not return to him. This is the end." He offers his hand to the sobbing, broken-hearted Tony, but the latter refuses it, and is left alone with the one tie that binds him to life, little Angelica.

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