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  • The Law of the Open (1915)
  • Short | Short, Western
Primary photo for The Law of the Open
The Law of the Open (1915)
Short | Short, Western
Tom Clark loses his job at the iron works, and is about to set himself down as an all-around failure, when he notices a railroad poster telling of the opportunities in the great west of Montana. He goes to his wife and she is persuaded to ...See moreTom Clark loses his job at the iron works, and is about to set himself down as an all-around failure, when he notices a railroad poster telling of the opportunities in the great west of Montana. He goes to his wife and she is persuaded to allow him to go west planning to follow him as soon as Clark has made enough money to pay her passage. Clark rides the rails and finally arrives at the Bar Z Ranch. He secures work at the Bar Z Ranch and is led to gamble with Flores, one of the cattle men. Dick Granger, the foreman, sees this disposition on the part of the new arrival, and endeavors to give him warning. Clark sends money to his wife and she sets out for the west. Meanwhile, Clark has been unable to free himself from the ever-present temptation and continues his connection with Flores. Picturing the dejected misery of his family in the city shack, their home. Clark is unable to resist any opportunity to better their condition. Flores finally inveigles him into joining a gang of cattle rustlers. The cowboys of the Bar Z Ranch determine to end cattle rustling in their district and set out to capture the desperadoes, finding them in the act of branding the stolen cattle. Flores makes his escape, but Clark is taken prisoner. According to the law of the open, a cattle thief must hang, and Clark is forced to meet his fate. Granger finds a letter in the coat of the dead man, which he has received from his wife, telling him what happiness the money brought her and that she is departing to meet him in the west. Granger realizes the little widow must even then be at the station. Hastily the men destroy all evidence of the tragedy except the newly made grave. Granger meets the little widow and breaks the truth to her, without telling her the cause of her husband's death. They lead her to the side of the grave, and silently she kneels. Granger realizes her dire straits and to help her, he and the boys make up a collection for her relief. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less
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Director
Sydney Ayres
Producer
Pat Powers
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Status
Edit Released
Updated Apr 10, 1915
Release date
Apr 10, 1915 (United States)

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3 cast members
Name Known for
Sydney Ayres
Dick Granger - Foreman of the Bar Z Dick Granger - Foreman of the Bar Z   See fewer
The Man from Argentina (1915)
Doris Pawn
Mrs. Tom Clark Mrs. Tom Clark   See fewer
The Penalty (1920)
Val Paul
Tom Clark Tom Clark   See fewer
Suspense (1913)
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