The Profiteers (1919)

Patriotic young lawyer Richard Randall conducts a speaking tour denouncing food profiteers. When spies for Everett Dearing, the secret head of a large food combine, report on Randall's efforts, Dearing blackmails Tony Terle, a society idler who is acquainted with Richard's loving wife Beverly, into putting her in a compromising position so that Randall can be persuaded to discontinue his campaign. By notifying Beverly that Richard is ill, Terle lures her to a roadhouse where he is photographed embracing her. Dearing threatens to publish the photo and an accompanying lurid story unless Beverly convinces Randall to end his crusade. While Terle hides in Dearing's office, Beverly struggles with Dearing. When Dearing falls onto his desk, his paper spindle pierces his chest. After Randall takes the blame for Dearing's death, a doctor discovers that he was shot in the back. Terle flees and when he is caught, confesses shooting Dearing with a gun equipped with a silencer. Randall and Beverly are then reunited.