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  • Playing with Fire (I) (1914)
  • Short | Short, Drama, Romance
Playing with Fire (I) (1914)
Short | Short, Drama, Romance
Mary Ransom lives happily with her husband, John Ransom, and their two-year-old boy. Ransom is a prosperous business man. Horton is an old friend of the family and takes advantage of this fact to intrude his attentions upon the wife of his...See moreMary Ransom lives happily with her husband, John Ransom, and their two-year-old boy. Ransom is a prosperous business man. Horton is an old friend of the family and takes advantage of this fact to intrude his attentions upon the wife of his friend. Mary is not unwilling, to receive homage and pleasant little attentions from Horton, although she is wholly honest and has no intention of doing anything which would arouse the criticism of her husband. But Horton realizes that many weak women are fond of receiving attentions from their male friends, and while innocent in spirit, will permit themselves to become entangled in the meshes of a flirtation. Horton takes advantage of these conditions, and while posing as a friend of the family, so comports himself that Mary, with whom he has fallen deeply in love, cannot complain of his attentions, yet she is embarrassed by them and would be free from his friendship. One evening John returns home to find Mary entertaining Horton in the parlor. He notices the familiar way which Mary uses toward Horton and the manner in which Horton goes a little too far in his attentions for genuine friendship. John realizes what this familiarity may lead to, and he talks seriously with Mary upon the subject. He insists that she shall not be so familiar with Horton, whereupon she, perfectly innocent of any wrong intention, declares that her husband is too strict, and the interview concludes with hot words, while Mary dissolves into tears. She does not realize that his interference is based upon his deep love for her. She considers that he is intruding upon her liberties, but later on, after putting their little boy to bed, they become reconciled and Mary promises to be less foolish in the future in her conduct toward Horton. The best intentions which Mary has formed are disregarded upon the following day when Horton, in his automobile, espies her on the sidewalk. He invites her to enter his car and join him in a ride. Mary declines politely, but Horton insists that she shall accompany him, and taking her by the arm, urges her into the automobile. Mary cannot resist. As a result of their trip, the car breaks down, Mary is late for dinner and there is another scene with her husband. Horton writes a warm letter to Mary, which John intercepts. Horton forces his attentions upon Mary in a restaurant, and John discovers them together without perceiving where the fault lies. However, for the sake of their boy, John endeavors to believe Mary. The Ransoms visit their summer bungalow in the mountains. Horton traces them there and lies in wait until Mary visits the village. Horton adopts a subterfuge for getting John back to the city, by sending him a fake telegram announcing that business demands his return. John goes away, leaving Mary alone in the cabin. After seeing the deluded husband depart on the train, Horton visits the cabin and pretends to be badly hurt. Mary assists the hypocrite and makes him comfortable. Horton is filled with glee at the success of his ruse, and proceeds to force his attentions upon Mary, until interrupted by the sounds of the approach of Ransom, who has unexpectedly returned, owing to a railroad accident. With this apparently inexplicable evidence before his eyes, John Ransom believes the worst. He has a fight with Horton, who wounds him in the shoulder and then escapes from the cabin. John believes his wife faithless and turns her from his door. The years pass, and Mary becomes a nurse in a hospital. She regrets deeply her weakness and foolishness which led her into familiarity with Horton, but she has not found a way to convince John that she was not guilty of a greater sin. Horton becomes weakened and ill through intemperance and excesses. His physicians advise that he shall spend the balance of his shortened life in a hospital where he can be cared for. His days are numbered and he realizes that his misspent life is almost at an end. The duty of nursing Horton falls to Mary. She recognizes the man who has wrecked her life. She persuades him to sign a confession revealing his entire duplicity and exonerating her from blame. The confession is written and signed by Horton. With trembling fingers, Mary encloses a copy in an envelope and mails it to her husband. John reads the confession and ponders it carefully. He cannot believe it. He tears the confession into fragments and casts them into the fire. The leaping flames destroy with these fragments all the hopes of Mary for a reconciliation. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less
Read more: Plot summary
Director
Tom Santschi
Writer
James Oliver Curwood (story)
Producer
William Nicholas Selig
See all filmmakers & crew (3)
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Status
Edit Released
Updated Oct 26, 1914
Release date
Oct 26, 1914 (United States)

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