Roger Bramwell, a weak young man, gets mixed up with a set of crooks, and, being hounded by Archer Ambrose, a black-leg, steals some currency which has been entrusted to Carrol Forrester, a law clerk in the office of John Brand. Ambrose's ...See moreRoger Bramwell, a weak young man, gets mixed up with a set of crooks, and, being hounded by Archer Ambrose, a black-leg, steals some currency which has been entrusted to Carrol Forrester, a law clerk in the office of John Brand. Ambrose's wife, learning of the fleecing of Roger, seeks Evelyn Bramwell, the boy's older sister, and tells her. Evelyn is unwilling to believe evil of her brother, but the excited arrival of Carrol, with whom Evelyn is in love and his demands for Roger's whereabouts, convinces her, so she and Mrs. Ambrose tell where the boy is and Carrol sets out to rescue him and the money. Meanwhile in Ambrose's apartment in a city hotel, Roger has again been fleeced by Ambrose and a pal of his, Dorran. He leaves in despair and flees from town, knowing that he is a thief, and liable at any moment to suffer arrest and disgrace. Ambrose will not divide with Dorran his ill-gotten spoils, whereupon Dorran, in a passion of anger, strangles him, using a muffler given to Carrol Forrester by Evelyn, which Roger has left in the crook's apartment. Forrester, seeking Roger, arrives shortly after Dorran has killed Ambrose; the result is that Dorran so manipulates affairs that Forrester is arrested for the murder of Ambrose, is tried, convicted and sentenced, the strongest bit of evidence being the muffler which was found about the murdered man's throat and which Evelyn testifies as being Forrester's. Several years pass. Brand has become governor and seeks Evelyn in marriage, but she is true to the memory of Forrester, whom she believes innocent. Dorran is sent up for wire-tapping and becomes Forrester's cellmate, although the latter does not recognize him nor has he ever known about his being the real cause of his (Forrester's) innocent suffering. in despair of ever gaining his freedom, Forrester listens to Dorran's plans of escape. The two finally make a getaway, but Dorran is shot. Forrester, unwilling to desert him, leads him quite unknowingly, to Evelyn's house. The governor has again sought her hand in marriage, when the visitors are announced. She goes into the room where the two are waiting, followed by the governor and recognition takes place. Evelyn pleads with the governor to pardon Forrester, but he refuses to do so, citing his duty. At last, she offers to marry him if he gives Forrester his freedom, whereupon Brand writes out a pardon, but in the end. he will not hold her to her bargain. Dorran, weak and dying in his final delirium, confesses his part in the murder, thus Forrester is cleared and he and Evelyn are again reunited. Written by
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