His Vindication (1915)

Charles and George Faulkner are brothers. George Faulkner has a son, Edward. Captain Haverleigh makes their acquaintance and is invited to a game of cards. Haverleigh loses heavily, particularly to Charles Faulkner. During the game the latter flashes large sums of money. Haverleigh notes this. The play continues. Haverleigh loses further and pretends to be intoxicated. To George Faulkner's disgust, Charles Faulkner continues to bet with and win from the "unsober"' Haverleigh. Haverleigh, apparently stupefied, is assisted into his room, where he drops the mask of drunkenness and changes into some other clothes belonging to the landlord. He then makes his way back to the gambling hall. At the Hall, after Haverleigh's departure, a quarrel springs up between Charles and George Faulkner over Charles's transactions with Haverleigh and the two men separate for the night on bad terms. Haverleigh enters and secures a quantity of money. Charles is awakened, but before he can arouse the house is murdered by Haverleigh. George Faulkner attacks Haverleigh. A fight follows and Faulkner is knocked senseless. Haverleigh makes his escape. George is suspected of the murder at the trial. George is found guilty and is sentenced to penal servitude. In prison George is gradually converted into a ferocious, brutalized specimen of humanity. At the Hall his son, Edward, inherits at the age of twenty his murdered uncle's wealth. Haverleigh hears of this and slowly but systematically relieves the youngster of his wealth. Edward falls in love with Marjorie, the innkeeper's daughter, who is also loved by Dan, the village blacksmith. Edward persuades Marjorie to agree to elope with him to London, promising to marry her there, but on Haverleigh's suggestion, arranges that the marriage shall be a bogus one. The elopement is arranged for Christmas Eve. George Faulkner escapes from prison and takes refuge in Dan's smithy. That night he appears at the Inn disguised as a fiddler and there sees his son Edward. Edward's coachman becomes too drunk to assist in the elopement. The convict volunteers for the post and discovers the contemptible trick Edward is trying to play on Marjorie. When Marjorie appears to keep her tryst, the old man warns her of her danger, and when Edward comes she turns on him and refuses to proceed with the elopement. Edward takes the convict, not knowing that he is his father. The prison guards call at the Inn and Marjorie learns that they have become suspicious of Edward's new servant. They proceed to the Hall to arrest him. Marjorie takes a short cut and warns George Faulkner that he is about to be arrested. He hides in a secret panel known only to himself. Edward Faulkner surprises Marjorie in his room and thinks she has come to make peace with him. Marjorie has been followed by Dan, and when Dan appears Edward contrives to suggest that Marjorie's presence is a compromising one. Marjorie appeals to Dan to take her home. The guards arrive at the Hall but find their man has flown. When they have left Haverleigh and Edward sit down for a game of cards. Edward loses heavily and Haverleigh, satisfied with his night's play, brings the game to an end by again feigning drunkenness. Edward, noting his condition, is tempted to help himself to some of the drunken man's notes. At this moment his father opens the panel and snatches the notes from the startled Edward before he can put them in his pocket. George Faulkner angrily denounces his son and points out that Haverleigh is only feigning drunkenness. Edward is incredulous, but when the truth of this is forced on him he attacks Haverleigh with a chair. Haverleigh wards him off and receives a smashing blow on the arm. The ex-convict intervenes. Haverleigh examines the wounded arm. As he does so George Faulkner's attention is drawn to an old scar on the forearm and he slowly realizes the connection between this scar and the fight in Charles Faulkner's bedroom ten years before. He accuses the discomfited card-sharper of the murder and at the critical moment draws attention to the scar. Haverleigh betrays himself by attempting to escape, but is captured and handed over to the police. Edward, his idle dissipation cut short by the advent of his father, becomes a soldier, and succeeds in making his peace with Marjorie, who, at last recognizing Dan's worth, rewards him in the only way possible.