Codes of Honor (1914)

movie

Country: USA
Genres: Drama, Short
Release: 1914-07-15
Director: Lloyd B. Carleton
Writers: N/A
Language: None | English
Stars: Richard Morris , Ormi Hawley , Charles Ebbinger , Jack Delson , Edward Peil Sr. , William W. Cohill , Ruth Bryan , Albert Hackett , Raymond Hackett
Runtime: min
Awards: N/A
AKA: Codes of Honor , Codes of Honor (United States of America)
Plot: Marie Bowditch, criminal by environment and shoplifter, is taken in a raid in which her husband (and father of her boy) is killed. Marie's baby is taken to a foundling home, and later adopted by the Mortons, a most estimable couple. Marie is given a five-year prison sentence. Coincident with her entrance into prison is the notification of a legacy of $5,000 which she will receive upon her release. Through the ministrations of Chaplain Allway of the prison Marie leaves that institution a reformed and devout woman. She seeks out the Mortons and begs for the return of her little son, Robert. Chaplain Allway urges Morton to release the child, declaring its possession by Marie means her soul's redemption. Morton gives back the boy and Marie, cutting loose from all association of the past, makes a home in the west. Here she marries Banker Harrison, a widower with a little son, James, about the age of Robert. Fifteen years go by. Robert and James grow to manhood. Robert becomes the cashier of his step-father's bank and James is elected district attorney. Both Robert and James are suitors tor the hand of Mildred, the daughter of Judge Early. Mildred gives her heart to Robert. James, through his jealousy, hates his fortunate step-brother. Kidd Hogg, a pal of Marie's criminal days, turns up. He demands as the price of silence the sum of $2,000. A like sum belonging to Judge Early is given Harrison to keep overnight. Marie is tempted to steal the $2,000 and rid herself of Kidd, but rises above the temptation. That night Kidd enters the Harrison home and steals the money. Marie, thinking she had heard an unusual sound, steals down to the room, but finds nothing suspicious. She accidentally drops a jeweled ornament. Robert, returning late from a social affair, enters the room and finds the jewel. He is seen in this room by James. Robert, finding his mother not yet retired, enters her room to restore her jewel. Marie, overcome by the events of the day and night, falls in a faint and from her bosom flutters the blackmailing letter of Kid Hogg, which Robert reads. The next morning when Judge Early and Mildred arrive to get their money the theft is discovered. James accuses Robert of the crime declaring he had seen him in the room at 3 o'clock in the morning. Robert, overwhelmed by the conviction that his own mother is the culprit, refuses to even deny the theft. Even Mildred's wrath fails to move him. She casts her engagement ring at his feet and James now feels certain he will win her hand. Robert is cast off by Harrison and the event is kept secret from Marie. Kid Hogg, celebrating his sudden wealth, gets drunk and in a quarrel is shot and fatally wounded. At the hospital he asks for the district attorney. James comes to his bedside and receives as his antemortem confession the statement that he (Kid) robbed the Harrison home. James is now confronted by the problem of clearing Robert and losing Mildred, or keeping silent with every probability of winning her hand. James emerges from the struggle a man of honor. He places the confession in Mildred's hands and thus gains a mighty victory.
IMDB:tt1244006