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  • The Open Door (II) (1913)
  • Short | Short, Drama
The Open Door (II) (1913)
Short | Short, Drama

His beloved wife having died, Mark Boland sells his furniture and seeks to forget his sorrow in dissipation. He comes in contact with David Yarnall, a man who has been discharged from the employ of Jim Driscoll, a prosperous Quaker, for ...See moreHis beloved wife having died, Mark Boland sells his furniture and seeks to forget his sorrow in dissipation. He comes in contact with David Yarnall, a man who has been discharged from the employ of Jim Driscoll, a prosperous Quaker, for his dissolute habits. Yarnall persuades Boland to help him rob the home of Driscoll. Boland does not realize the enormity of what he is about to do until he is inside, when he begins to sob like a child. Becoming alarmed, Yarnall tries to escape, but is nabbed by a policeman who happens to be nearby. The noise awakens Driscoll, who goes to the library and finds Boland, who tells his story so pathetically and truthfully that the Quaker decides to give Boland a position. One day Boland is sent on an errand, and Howard, the young son of Driscoll, who has always been very fond of Boland, follows him and becomes lost in a railroad yard. He is in danger of being killed when a tramp picks him up and places him in a freight car. The tramp is unable to get out of the way of the oncoming train and is killed. Before the boy has had time to realize where he is a trainman locks the door of the car in which he is and he is taken to a distant city, where a policeman, noting his weakened condition, takes him to a hospital. He in then taken to an orphan asylum. His condition deprives him of his memory and he does not even recall his name. In the meantime his father and mother are living a life of sorrow. Time flies and little Howard, now a boy of eighteen years, has found a home with Silas Sowers, a farmer, who ill-treats him. He is given enough money by a man on the farm, with which to pay his carfare to another city. By a singular coincidence he arrives in his home town. Being of a studious turn of mind, Boland goes to the library when Driscoll and his wife have gone to attend a Quaker yearly meeting. He absent-mindedly leaves his purse with his card in it, on the reading table, after he has made a few notes. By a peculiar direction of Fate it is picked up by Howard, who returns it. Feeling sorry for the condition of the young man, Boland invites him into the library for refreshments. His memory comes back to him when he looks through the door, which has always been kept ajar, and sees on the wall a picture of his face when a baby, the picture being identical with the one he had received from the orphan asylum when he left. He proclaims his identity. A happy reconciliation takes place when his father and mother arrive home. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less
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Director
Writer
Wallace Clifton (story)
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Status
Edit Released
Updated Dec 22, 1913

Release date
Dec 22, 1913 (United States)

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Cast

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6 cast members
Name Known for
Edwin Wallock
David Yarnall - a Wealthy Quaker David Yarnall - a Wealthy Quaker   See fewer
Adele Lane
Prudence Yarnell - David's Wife Prudence Yarnell - David's Wife   See fewer
Frank Newburg
Howard Yarnell - the Son (as Frank Newberg) Howard Yarnell - the Son (as Frank Newberg)   See fewer
Lafe McKee
Mark Boland (as Lafayette McKee) Mark Boland (as Lafayette McKee)   See fewer
Roy Watson
Jim Driscoll - Yarnell's Gardener Jim Driscoll - Yarnell's Gardener   See fewer
Baby Lillian Wade
Howard Yarnell - as a Child Howard Yarnell - as a Child   See fewer
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