Was He a Coward? (1915)

Mr. Crawford, tired of meeting the ever-increasing bills contracted by his spendthrift son, Barney, orders him from his home. He embarks on a tempestuous career and is ultimately enmeshed in the clutches of the law for pocket picking, and confined in jail. Barney makes a spectacular escape and returns to his old haunts. While in a Chinatown resort, he prevents the robbery of Lois Jordan, who, with a party of friends, is sightseeing. She is the pampered daughter of a millionaire mining man. In the fray that follows, Barney is shot. Mr. Jordan, the girl's father, takes him to a hospital, and while there during his confinement, Lois frequently visits him. Barney determines to turn over a new leaf and lead an honorable life, and on his recovery, departs, leaving no clue as to his whereabouts. Despondent at his futile effort to find work, he meanders along Marble Hill Bridge, when he sees a woman fall overboard. He plunges into the stream and brings her safely to shore. Among the spectators are Lois and her father, who greet him cordially and invite him home with them. Jordan gives him a position in his office. The friendship between Lois and Barney ripens into love. Storms, a clerk in the same office and an inveterate gambler, has been systematically tapping the safe. When Jordan discovers his losses, Storms lays the blame on Barney, who vehemently denies his guilt. A detective is sent for, and Barney, recognizing him as the one who arrested him before, jumps from the window, followed by the detective. Barney is captured and taken to the Jordan home. In the meantime, Storms, in the shadow of impending death, confesses his guilt. Jordan gleefully informs the detective of this, to free Barney, as he is innocent. The officer refuses, explaining that Barney is an escaped convict and must serve his term. Through the entire ordeal, Lois steadfastly remains true. Barney is remanded to prison, and Lois is ordered to forget him. During his incarceration Barney's father and mother visit him and forgive him. Barney is pardoned. Upon regaining his liberty the first thing he does is to visit Lois. They are in one another's arms when Jordan enters and bids Barney to leave his house. Barney departs sadly, and in reflection he realizes the selfish motives which prompt him in asking Lois to sacrifice her home to become the wife of a discredited outcast and a social pariah. Meditating as to what course to pursue, his moral sense convinces him of the gross iniquity to urge her to leave her present surroundings. A note arrives from Lois, asking him to come to her immediately, protesting her love and desire to go with him. Finding her waiting and ready to leave, his inner conscience rises and asserts itself, professing himself to be unworthy of her, and against her pleadings, he departs, while Lois is sobbing bitterly. Was this the act of a coward?