Wild Sumac (1917)

French Canadian Jacques Fontaine shoots a man in a tavern brawl and then flees, a fugitive from the North West Mounted Police. Fifteen years later, he wanders into St. Croix, Alberta, where he meets Lupine, a repulsive half-breed trapper, and his enchanting daughter Wild Sumac. Also in St. Croix is Pierre du Fere, the son of Armand du Fere, the man who is building the railroad through the town. Du Fere falls prey to the whiskey and cards that Lupine traffics at night and when he accuses the half-breed of cheating, Lupine shoots him. Lupine accuses Sumac of the crime, and she is arrested by Sergeant Lewis. She is saved by Jacques, who, in a fearful fight with Lupine, wrings a confession from him. The half-breed also confesses that Sumac is not his daughter, but the niece of Armand du Fere. In the excitement Jacques betrays his own identity, but Sgt. Lewis informs him that the man he shot did not die. All ends happily as Jacques is acquitted of charges and returns to Sumac, his love.