The Castle of Despair (1916)

John Alden, a keen, shrewd businessman, is so engrossed with the making of money and winning success that he neglects his wife, Ruth, and their small daughter, Margery. His wife, Ruth, is an artist and takes great delight in her work, as well as caring for her small daughter. Comes Mortimer Morrison, a friend of the husband's. He is attracted to Ruth, admires and covets. She accepts his attentions, but not in the spirit in which they are offered, being loyal to her husband. One night Ruth gives a big dinner; it is their wedding anniversary, and Alden is so busy that he forgets all about it. But the climax is reached when he brings along Mortimer to take her to the opera after he has kept her waiting for over an hour. She consents to elope with Mortimer and that night finds her leaving with Margery. Once aboard the train, however, she regrets what she is doing and gets off. When Alden returns home, after completing a big deal, which places him in the class of the big men of Wall Street, he finds his home empty. Then for a couple of years he is cold, and hard, and cynical. But there comes the time when he sees a painting done by his wife and memory will give him no peace until he has put forth every effort to find her and the baby. The detectives locate her humble dwelling and while she has gone to the art dealer's he comes and kidnaps Margery. Returning home, Ruth is frantic, but at police headquarters is told that a lost child was reported as being taken to a certain hotel and Alden's detective offers his assistance. Alden hears them coming and hides behind some draperies while Ruth rushes to the sleeping Margery. When she looks up she sees her husband standing beside her and once more the family is united.