The Road to Love (1916)

The action takes place in Algeria where Hafsa, the daughter of wealthy old Sidi Malik, has aroused the avidity of Leila Sadiya, the "mother" of the dancing girls. She gives orders to have the girl kidnapped and brought to her. Meanwhile Gordon Roberts, a young American who is traveling in the Orient, saves the life of Karan, a Bedouin chief, and earns the undying gratitude of the Arab. Gordon meets Hafsa while she is shopping in defiance of her father's commands and wins her regard by sheltering her from the old man. He is infatuated with her and disguises himself as a peddler in order to meet her again. He is discovered by Nakhla, a spy of her father's, who promptly has Gordon beaten by his retainers. Gordon and the girl elope, but are captured and the American is turned over to one Abdallah with instructions to sell him as a slave. Hafsa bribes Abdallah to let her go in the caravan in which Gordon is kept drugged. Karan learns of the predicament of Gordon and worms his way into the friendship of Abdallah until he can drug the guards. But when Gordon is about to escape, he recognizes Hafsa and demands that she go in his place. Karan finally yields to the girl and takes Gordon away. Hafsa is delivered to Leila and is not seen again by Gordon until she dances at a great fete. She is offered for sale and Gordon makes a desperate effort to outbid an old sheik, but fails. On the wedding day, Hafsa substitutes her maid for herself and escapes with Gordon, but the deception is quickly discovered and a pursuit is begun. As the fugitives reach the garden gate, Malik arrives and cuts off their escape. The pursuing Leila comes up and stares in wonder at Malik, who proves to be her husband. She is the mother of the girl whom she has been attempting to hand over to the sheik. Just at this moment the old man himself and his retinue are heard approaching and Leila implores Malik to permit his daughter to go her way with Gordon, Snatching the girl's scarf, Leila throws it upon the edge of the garden well, as the lovers make their escape. When the sheik arrives upon the scene, he is shown the scarf and told that Hafsa has chosen her own fate, rather than marry him. Under the chaperonage of the faithful Karan the lovers depart across the desert on the road to love.