The Missing Woman (1913)

Nina, who has fallen into evil ways, and has sunk into degradation, reads of the success of her twin sister, Cleo Valiere, a journalist, who has written a novel which has won great success. The sisters long have been estranged. Cleo has sought to hide from her wealthy and aristocratic husband the ignominy of her sister's profligacy. When she sees the wanton girl about to enter her house she is terrified lest the kinship become known. She pleads with Nina to go away and tries to smooth the difficulties of that course with the lubricant of money. While they are conversing the factories of Cleo's husband are burned. In attempting to rescue work-people he is badly injured. As he is carried into the house, Cleo hurries out her sister, wrapped in a cloak given to her by her husband. Nina is mistaken for Cleo and against her will brought to the bedside of the injured man. In his semi-delirious condition he does not perceive that she is not his wife. Nina, frightened, flees from the house. She is seen by the doctor, who follows her to the door of her low dive. Suspicious and indignant that Cleo, of whose identity he had no doubt, is carrying on an illicit love with her husband near to death, the doctor confronts Cleo on the following day and demands an explanation. She begs him to cease his questionings. Unfortunately, the husband has overheard. Staggering from his bed, he denounces her. Nina goes again for money to Cleo's house that night. She wears the cloak Cleo had given her. A terrific storm comes up. Henry, the husband, consumed with anxiety, has in vain searched for his wife. Fascinated by the magnificence of the tempest, he is standing by the window. A vivid flash of lightning illumines the grounds. He catches a glimpse of the familiar figure of his wife enveloped in a familiar cloak, entering the house through a French window. There is a deafening peal of thunder, a blinding zigzag of electric flame. Dazed, Henry staggers toward the storm refugee. Dead, seared, blackened by the fury of the heavens she lies. In anguish he rises to his feet. The door opens. A woman enters. He stares in bewilderment. It is his wife.