The Tiger Countess (1914)

Countess Mary, who is subject to sudden whims, sometimes of a sinister and violent character, look with favorable eyes upon John, her coachman. His bravery in rescuing horses from the burning stable ignited by a cigarette carelessly thrown aside by the Countess, leads her to quite ignore distinctions of class and show her attachment to John, much to his embarrassment, for he loves Lucy, the Countess's maid. On the way to the railroad station to meet arriving guests, the Countess presses upon the reluctant John her cigarette case which he stuffs into his pocket. Baron Winfield, one of the guests, is fascinated by the maid and markedly evinces it. His stolen kiss is hotly resented by the girl and by John who, entering during the course, lays hands on him roughly. At the hunt on the following day the Countess commands John to ride by her side in attendance. Riding off with him apart from the other hunters she feigns illness. John lifts her from the saddle. He is startled the next moment to find the Countess's arms around his neck and a fervent kiss upon his lips. Baron Winfield's gun is discharged accidentally and he is badly wounded. The Countess accuses John of shooting him out of revenge for kissing Lucy. Ten years imprisonment is John's sentence. Lucy is accused of stealing the cigarette case which she found after John had put it in a drawer. John learns of Lucy's disgrace. Seizing an opportunity to escape he takes to the country where he meets Lucy. John hides in his mother's home and evades efforts of the police to find him. The Countess, her wild passions finding no one upon whom to vent her malicious temper, one day goes too far in her maltreatment of her pet cats. Biting one of them in a frenzy, the feline turns upon her and claws her fatally. Upon her deathbed she confesses to her vindictive charge against John, leaving him free to love Lucy in liberty.