Loyal Lives (1923)

The widow Brady daily pleads with Daniel O'Brien, a letter carrier, for a letter from her son who ran away. Taking pity on her, O'Brien writes a series of letters to her himself. Michael O'Hara, a fellow worker, proposes to Daniel that they quit the mail service and start a mail order business with their savings. Mary O'Brien tells Michael that they are going to spend their savings to educate their son, Terrence, and Daniel refuses to leave the service. Daniel finds a baby girl on his doorstep and in spite of their poverty the O'Briens decide to keep her. Seventeen years later, Michael O'Hara is a mail order king and Daniel O'Brien, retired from the service on account of physical disability, is unable to find work. His pension is so small that he is forced to mortgage his home. O'Hara helps him when he can no longer meet his payments. Peggy, the O'Briens' adopted daughter, and Tom O'Hara are secretly married because Mrs. O'Hara will not hear of the match. Widow Brady's son, a mail thief, returns and takes a room with the O'Briens. Before he leaves he puts a bill in the teapot. O'Brien gives the bill to O'Hara as a part payment of his debt. The bill is marked and O'Brien is arrested for robbing the mails, but Tom goes bail for him. Brady and his pal attempt to rob the mail train on which Terrence is clerk. Terrence dives off the train into the river with the mail bag. After a struggle with the bandit Terrence manages to get ashore but he cannot get to the nearest farm until the next day. Daniel O'Brien, upon hearing that Terrence is suspected of robbing the mails goes to his old friend, the night clerk of the post office, for comfort. He finds robbers looting the safe and fights them. Terrence, who has brought the mail back in the farmer's car, comes to his father's aid. One of the thieves proves to be Brady who confesses. O'Brien receives the personal thanks of Postmaster General New and the O'Haras give their approval to the marriage of Tom and Peggy.