A House of Cards - Production & Contact Info

A House of Cards (1915)
Short | Short, Drama

A House of Cards (1915)

Short | Short, Drama

At first John Allen stands high in the esteem of his companions. He loves Mary Clark. At a barn dance one night he receives a special delivery letter, informing him of a position awaiting him in the city. Mary is alarmed, but John promises...See moreAt first John Allen stands high in the esteem of his companions. He loves Mary Clark. At a barn dance one night he receives a special delivery letter, informing him of a position awaiting him in the city. Mary is alarmed, but John promises never to forget her. His assurance somehow fails to allay Mary's fears, and she begs him to take her home. As they go, John slips an engagement ring on her finger. And so "the deck is cut," and John leaves for the city to play fortune. He becomes a clerk in the office of William Robertson, a broker. Mary receives a glowing letter, and is proud of her John. Then John meets Myrtle, the broker's daughter, and the attraction is mutual. John advances in position by his discovery that Brown, a fellow-clerk, is "one card shy," having stolen funds from his employer. "A heart flush'' results from John's growing intimacy with Myrtle, and soon Mary receives a letter from him, stating that he is too busy to write. John's good fortune increases. One night he meditates in his room by the fireside, and his ambitious dreams are visualized in a wondrous house of cards which appears in a vision before him. Mary is completely forgotten in the career John sees for himself. He makes a "lucky draw" when he is made junior partner and Myrtle consents to be his wife. There is "a broken suit of hearts" back home, where Mary is heart-broken when she does not hear from her lover. John's ambition ever leads him onward. He dabbles in stocks, has a sure proposition, and "chances a four card draw" by taking the firm's securities to put over the deal which will bring him a fortune. He has been told that he cannot lose, but he is troubled. His thoughts wander back to the past, and Mary. The impulse comes to go back to her, and he leaves a hasty note of explanation for Myrtle, stating that he has been called to the country for a few days. But meanwhile, Mary, "the discard," has grieved sorely, and is seen to be very ill. When John arrives in the country town, he is astonished at the reproachful glances given him. He goes to Mary's home, finds the village doctor in the front room, and to his anxious query for Mary, the doctor points to the next room. John enters the room slowly, and finds Mary dead. An overwhelming remorse seizes him for what he has done. A few moments later the doctor hands him a telegram. John reads that his stock deal has collapsed, all his securities are gone, and he realizes that he is an embezzler. The house of cards again appears before him, but only to collapse. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less

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Cast	+ Add Cast
7 cast members

Name	Known for
Lee Shumway John Allen (as Leon C. Shumway) John Allen (as Leon C. Shumway) See fewer	Go-Get-'Em, Haines (1936)
Velma Whitman Mary Clark - John's Sweetheart Mary Clark - John's Sweetheart See fewer	Some Boy (1917)
Melvin Mayo The Stockbroker The Stockbroker See fewer	The Death Warrant (1914)
Grace Huntley Myrtle - the Stockbroker's Daughter Myrtle - the Stockbroker's Daughter See fewer	Robespierre (1913)
George Berrell Actor Actor See fewer	The Sea Beast (1926)
Adelaide Bronti Actress Actress See fewer	Saved from the Harem (1915)
George Routh Actor Actor See fewer	While the Children Slept (1913)