The Thirst for Gold (1913)

movie

Country: USA
Genres: Drama, Short
Release: 1913-08-13
Director: O.A.C. Lund
Writers: N/A
Language: None | English
Stars: Barbara Tennant , Julia Stuart , Frederick Truesdell , Alec B. Francis , Robert Frazer , Will E. Sheerer
Runtime: 20 min
Awards: N/A
AKA: The Thirst for Gold , The Thirst for Gold (United States of America)
Plot: The action of this story takes place during the Civil War period. Fredericks, an army surgeon, was detailed to the Suffolk Penitentiary. On being invited by Surgeon Cadwalader, a young comrade, to attend the Governor's ball, Fredericks upbraided him bitterly, saying that his poverty barely left him apparel for ordinary occasions. In a nearby field, Helen, and her sweetheart, George, were helping the Widow Drury to spread her linen for bleaching when Helen slipped and sprained an ankle. George ran for assistance and encountered Surgeon Fredericks on horseback. The surgeon directed George to carry Helen home, and he followed in surly fashion. He would not treat the girl until her mother had parted with gold, a locket and chain, in payment. That night while Surgeon Fredericks slept drunkenly the Sisters of Mercy in the prison saw Convict 220 faint for lack of medical aid. Fredericks finally roused himself, pronounced the man dead and ordered him removed to the dissecting room. In a brutal mood he prepared for immediate work on the corpse, and was about to plunge his knife into it when the corpse rose up, threw back his arms and bespoke his protection, for a price. When Surgeon Fredericks had recovered his composure, he learned that Convict 220 had feigned death in order to attempt escape for the purpose of recovering the stolen wealth which had caused his imprisonment. The plan to its hiding place was tattooed on 220's arm, and he was willing to share the booty with the surgeon if he would aid him to escape. Fredericks agreed. Shortly after dawn they bad reached a point where the prisoner would have to be lowered by a rope. Fredericks waited until the man was within a hundred feet of the river below, then one blow of his axe severed the stout rope and sent his victim hurtling into the water. Fredericks then turned back toward the penitentiary. To escape before official inquiry should disclose Convict 220's disappearance he wrote himself a letter supposedly received from a defunct uncle in which he was named as the heir to comfortable estates. Armed with this, he appeared before the colonel in command only to learn that he was charged with mistaking catalepsy for death, thereby enabling a prisoner to escape; for which he was sentenced to a month's imprisonment. Convict 220 had not been drowned, for George Trueworth, rowing across the river had rescued him and had taken him to the Widow Drury's home, that she might aid the poor wretch. One month later, Fredericks was freed, and, upon unanimous vote during a session of court martial, dishonorably discharged. He left early. After some search, he located the place, and his feverish digging uncovered the box Convict 220 had described. Convict 220, recovered after a month of faithful nursing, had also come in search of his wealth, wherewith to reward the widow and her family. As the convict faced the man who attempted his murder, Fredericks reeled, then attacked the phantom with his axe, felling it. Fredericks aimed a blow at the box, when Convict 220 begged him to hold back a moment. Fredericks struck him again, struck the box a heavy blow, and fell across his victim, a victim to the explosive which Convict 220 had placed in the box to defeat other finders than himself. Helen and George heard the explosion and came to learn its cause. They found the two men covered with a shroud of gold. George buried them and carried the gold home to the widow. She would not touch it until George showed her the letter it contained, giving it to the first honest people who might discover it.
IMDB:tt0287020