The More Excellent Way (1917)

Chrissey Desselden, the ward of John Warburton, promises to marry him. Opposed to him is Robert Neyland, but he is not worthy of Chrissey's love. The girl, however, is fascinated by him, and not until his misconduct dismays her does she turn from him to John. After the wedding she recoils from her situation and pleads with her husband to treat her still as a child until she knows her own heart. This he consents to do. Meantime Neyland goes quickly to the bottom of the social ladder, but despite this Chrissey decides she loves him. With Warburton's consent she outrages her marriage vow by going to Reno to secure a divorce, Neyland remaining to plot against Warburton to ruin him financially. To effect this he needs money from Chrissey, which she wires him permission to use. However, she learns at the last moment what a treacherous purpose he plans with it. She throws over Neyland, who, through a culmination of other troubles, does the one graceful deed of his life by ending it. She returns to Warburton to be his wife in fact.