Hoodman Blind (1913)

A runaway accident separates Lennon from his wife and children, and deprives him of his memory. He boards an outgoing ship to Canada, where he assumes a new name and becomes a farmer. Little Jess, with her father at the time of the runaway, wanders off and falls in with a band of kind-hearted gypsies. Mrs. Lennon, knowing nothing of the runaway and its sad ending, believes herself deserted. Moving into a cheap room she takes in sewing, and for a short time is able to earn a bare livelihood for herself and Nance, twin sister of Jess. The continual monotonous grind on the sewing machine soon plays havoc on her delicate constitution and she becomes ill. Unable to pay her rent, she is dispossessed. After miles of weary tramping they reach the house of Lezzard, a former suitor, where the mother falls exhausted. Lezzard brings her and Nance into the house. He does everything possible for his old love, but realizes she is very near the end. With her last breath she asks him to care for Nance, which he promises to do, although against the wishes of his wife. Twenty years later we find Jess a favorite among the gypsies, and Nance a happy member of the Lezzard family, each ignorant of the other's existence. Bill, the gypsy king, and another gypsy, Tom, fight over Jess. Tom wins the fight and also the girl. In a jealous rage Bill orders them to leave the tribe. With their tambourine and fiddle they wander off, playing in the streets for a living. They finally reach Tremont Alley, where Jess incurs Tom's anger by assisting Tom Titt, a crippled waif. Lezzard, now old and weak, wishes his son Mark to marry his adopted daughter, Nance. Mark's anger is aroused when Nance refuses his offer of marriage. Unknown to Lezzard and his son, Nance and Jack Yeulett are lovers. Lezzard dies of heart failure, and his body is discovered by Mark, who finds his father's last wish, saying that all his earthly possessions be shared equally by his son and adopted daughter. Filled with a jealous hatred, knowing Nance will not marry him, he destroys the paper. Dame Fortune goes against Jack, and he meets with reverses at every step. He is unable to pay off the mortgage on his farm. Utterly discouraged he resorts to drink. He writes Nance a farewell letter, saying he intended asking her to become his wife, but that now it is too late, as he is very near to ruin. Nance immediately goes to him. Exacting his promise to give up drink she proves her love by marrying him, and together they start to save to pay off the mortgage. They become indebted to a grocer. Nance gives Jack some money she has saved to pay the bill, but Jack, noticing her admiring glances at a new cloak worn by a neighbor, uses the money to get a "little surprise" for Nance. The mortgage has been reduced by small payments, but the birth of little Kit prevents them from making even small payments, and foreclosure proceedings are threatened. Mark insults Nance by offering to pay off the mortgage for a kiss, for which he receives a slap in the face. He swears revenge. By a clever scheme he induces Jess and Tom to enact a love scene, and then persuades Jack to witness what Jack believes is a love scene between his wife and a gypsy. Jack returns home and accuses Nance of infidelity. He will listen to no explanation, and they separate. Taking little Kit with her Nance goes to the city. An explosion restores Lennon's memory and he returns to England in search of his family, leaving with his steward the numbers of his banknotes. Finding no trace of his wife and children he seeks his old friend Lezzard. He learns from Mark of Lezzard's death. Lennon becomes seriously ill and Mark promises to find his family and give them Lennon's money and will. Mark appropriates the money to his own use. His embezzlement is discovered by Kridge, who blackmails him. Tom becomes infatuated with a dancing girl and discards Jess. Jack goes to the city. There he sees and befriends Tom Titt. Tom Titt sees him looking at a picture of Nance and thinks it is Jess, and takes him out to find her. Jess, heartbroken, is about to end it all, but is rescued by Jack. Jess tells Jack the truth about Mark's scheme to deceive Jack into believing his wife false. In the meantime Polly and Ben, two of Nance's old friends on a jaunt to the city, find Nance and persuade her to return home and brave the gossips. Jack goes back and claims his wife and the twin sisters who knew nothing of each other's existence are reunited. Tom Titt finds a home and has little Kit for a playmate. Tom quarrels with the dancing girl, who in a mad frenzy fatally injures him. Retribution is meted out to Mark and Kridge, whose crime is traced by the police through the numbers on the banknotes.