Billy Quirk
After serving time in Sing Sing, for which he was unjustly sentenced, and encouraged by two "sharpers," Richard Goodloe returns to the home of his wealthy southern mother in dread fear that she and Virginia Sanders should learn of his prison record--a fear which is constantly nurtured by his rival, Con Arnold.
Vincent, the lazy son of a wealthy father, travels to the country in an attempt to clean up his act. There he meets Kitty Trent, and he offers to marry her. His intention is to hold a fake ceremony, but Kitty's childhood sweetheart, Tom Wilson, finds out about this scheme and threatens Vincent at gunpoint to make the wedding a real one. Vincent does, but afterwards goes on seeing other women, neglecting his wife and, later, baby.
The story of a poor young woman, separated by prejudice from her husband and baby, is interwoven with tales of intolerance from throughout history.
Finding that his attentions to Nellie are undesirable in the eyes of Jenkins, her father. Billy tries to elope with the girl, but the young people's plans are overheard by the old gentleman, who disguises himself in Nellie's cloak and veil and attends the meeting place himself. Father beats Billy up and chases him away from the place after ordering him never to come back. Billy conceives a brilliant idea. With his handkerchief over his face, bandit-fashion, he sneaks up to the Jenkins home that evening and climbs in a convenient window...
Within twenty-four hours after Bedelia, an old maid, has lost her green cat, she is begging Boggs, of the National Detective Agency, to find her lost pet and offering him $1,000 reward as an added inducement. Billy, Boggs' assistant, goes out on the case and finally tracks down a kitten which had received an accidental bath from a can of green paint. Boggs decides he will earn the reward a little easier, and tells his daughter Constance to get him a stray cat, which he intends to paint green, then claim the reward.
Bobby Tucker, while strolling about a Railroad Station, spies Nan Tubbs, a charming young lady whom her father and mother are very anxious to marry off to some rich young man. While waiting for a train she smiles at Bobby and he smiles back. Papa catches them at it, and horrified, hustles her away, after delivering a severe lecture on the subject of flirting. A few minutes later Pa Tubbs happens to pick up a sheet of paper on which Bobby had been industriously "figgering," and finds written on it, "My profit $50,000." Deciding the young man must be a millionaire in disguise, Pa Tubbs immediately makes amends by introducing his daughter to Bobby, who is rather bewildered, but tells them, "My father is Major-Gen. Tucker." This augments the young man's prestige, and he is invited to spend a week at the Tubbs' home.
While stopping at the Bronzegilt Hotel, Slick and Slim, two high-class and well-dressed burglars, overhear Baroness Vodka tell the manager she wishes to place her million-dollar box of jewels in the hotel vault, which is set into the wall at the end of the hallway. The manager accordingly escorts her to the big safe, and she watches him place the little box inside. Next morning the manager goes to cash a check for the Baroness, and finds the whole vault has completely vanished.
Becoming extremely tired of his wife's propensity for indulging in bridge whist parties and other social functions, to the sad neglect of her domestic duties, Walter Greene determines to teach her a lesson.
The wealthy Mr. Billy gives a party at his palatial residence. He is in love with the handsome widow, Mrs. Constance, and has a deadly rival, the Count De Meaux. During the evening the latter makes a wager for five thousand dollars with Billy that he could not earn his own living for one month without help. Billy takes the bet and the widow promises to marry him if he wins it. He is not to accept assistance of any kind from friends, nor draw any money from his bank, and he is to start out penniless. The wager is to expire at twelve midnight on Hallowe'en.
Aching for an opportunity to get square with strong-willed Mrs. Drexel, boarding house mistress and mother of his sweetheart, Constance, Billy sees his opportunity when his uncle Battledore is suddenly called out of town. He hangs out a "Boarders Wanted" sign in front of his uncle's house, then with a big roll of bills the young man, just after Mrs. Drexel has given all the servants a raking over, lures them all away from her. When her boarders troop down to breakfast and find no breakfast awaiting them they all quit on the spot with feelings beyond description.
Because of a family feud, Bobby Scrawn's love for Mary Stretch seems hopeless, particularly after the young man has been spanked with a fence picket wielded by the sturdy arm of Pa Stretch. A few days later Mrs. Stretch gives a preliminary talk on tramps and how they can be saved. She announces the subject will be continued at her home on the following Thursday. Mary gets a startling idea and tells Bobby of it. Thursday arrives and twenty or more women are listening to Mrs. Stretch talk on hobos, when "Hungry Hank," a tough-looking and ragged tramp, applies at the kitchen door for a "hand-out."
At the reading of her uncle's will, Honoria Spavin, a spinster lady, learns that his entire fortune is to be left to her on condition that she marry her cousin, Benvenuto Torrini, a young man who is not an Italian, but an American, living in America. If she refuses to marry Ben, all the fortune goes to him, but if he refuses to marry her, she is to get the money. Ben happens to be already engaged to Ella Cunningham, and when he receives a copy of the will he shows it to Ella who thinks up a plan.
A young man's girlfriend is forbidden by her father to see him again. When the father takes his family on a hunting trip to the woods, the girl and her suitor hatch a plan where he dresses up in a bear suit to "menace" the family, then leaves and reappears as himself to "save" them. However, things don't go quite to plan.
Just out of college, in love with Letty Grey, whose father is quick-tempered and opposed to him, also possessing a wealthy rival, Bertie feels he doesn't stand much show until he tells his troubles to Belle Chester, his cousin. Her sympathy and encouragement brace him up wonderfully. Meanwhile, Letty's father has bullied her into submitting to an engagement with the rival, Clarence Merkle, who is a susceptible gentleman of some 40 summers. Bertie learns of this, and in despair, again consults Belle. She tells him she will reconnoiter the enemy. She visits Letty, is introduced to Merkle, and learns he simply cannot resist a woman's wiles. She then secures a classy walking rig, tells Bertie to put it on, assists him to fix up as a fair young damsel, and gets him introduced at Grey's house as her friend from the West.
The Payne family of Lonesomeville set up a Fairy Play, founded upon the story of "The Sleeping Beauty," and Helene Payne secures the wealthy Mrs. Wilson's financial support. She is a lady no longer young, but insists upon playing the ingenue lead. Miss Tibbitts. a mournful old maid, is secured for their "Danseuse." Willey Finley gives out the parts, while Doctor Heffernan is given the directorship.
Through the carelessness of his office-boy, Stillwell drops his watch and puts a dent in the case. He arrives home in a rage to find his daughter Marjorie talking to Reggie, her lover, whom he detests. Stillwell sends the boy packing and his daughter tearfully leaves the room. Later, at a street crossing, Stillwell is knocked down by an auto and helped to his feet by "Slippery Jim," a pickpocket, who, at the same time relieves the old gentleman of his watch. Pete, a hobo, also runs to Stlllwell's assistance, and is accused of taking the watch. He is arrested and locked up. Reggie, looking to secure a cheap watch, visits the pawnshop where "Slippery Jim" had sold the dented timepiece, and purchases it.
In order to make money, a man hires a bum to pretend to be a mummy, so he can sell the "body" for scientific experiments.
In search of a maid, Mrs. Cook, an aristocratic and extremely proud society woman, goes to an employment agency and hires Luna, fat, awkward and straight from Sweden. The new maid creates quite a stir in the staid and fashionable home of Mrs. Cook. While capering about in her room above, she brings down the ceiling. Mrs. Cook saves her from being discharged and then calls up the plasterer, whose name is John Haines, a widower, and the father of Bert, the chauffeur, in love with Marie Cook, their daughter. John fixes the ceiling, and on his return home finds a note from his son saying he is going to be married and suggests his father follow his example. John tells the news to Luna, proposes to her, and without a second's hesitation, she accepts him.
A young man finds himself forced to take a trolley car and a motorcycle in order to get to his wedding. Complications ensue.
Constance and Billy are sweethearts. Mr. and Mrs. Boggs, her parents, are both prim, straitlaced people. Pa Boggs has little use for young men of the present generation and when Billy awkwardly drops a race-track badge on the floor, Boggs rises up in his wrath and orders the "perfidious gambler" from his house forever.
On his way to New York to visit his relatives, the Masons, for the first time, Uncle Bill meets "Oiley" Curley, a crook. John Mason, Uncle Bill's nephew, is candidate for Governor and, on the eve of Uncle Bill's arrival, Mason and his political constituents are in secret conference with Murray of the money powers. Meantime, Julia, Mason's wife, goes on a little joy ride with Jack Trent, husband of Vivien, her friend who is on a joy ride with Mason's father, a delightful old rogue. Gladys, Julia's hoydenish sister with whose photo Uncle Bill has previously fallen in love, is left home alone.
Because of his effeminacy, Percival and Mildred are humiliated wherever they go. After some very distressing incidents in a restaurant, on the boardwalk and on the beach, she becomes thoroughly disgusted, and breaks off the engagement, saying she wants to marry a real man. Percival is almost heartbroken and confides his troubles to a friend, who suggests he make a hero of himself by fighting "Young Hickey," a pugilist.
Billy and his sweetheart have had a little quarrel, and just to make him jealous, she accepts the attentions of another suitor. When she thinks she has punished Billy enough, she decides to break her engagement with Billy's rival, and to again accept Billy's attentions. But before doing so she requests Billy's rival to return to her the letters that she had written to him during their short courtship, which he absolutely refuses to do. He informs her that he is going to Europe, and that when he returns he will amuse the boys at the club with the letters. In desperation she informs Billy of his rival's intention, and informs him that she cannot accept his offer of marriage while his rival retains those letters. On Billy learning that his rival, whom he has never met, is about to sail for Europe, he decides to burglarize the house and get his sweetheart's letters. But, unfortunately for Billy, his rival misses the boat and returns in time to catch Billy robbing the house.
Two mediocre detectives try and catch a notorious pickpocket. Meanwhile, an innocent man is mistaken for the pickpocket and is forced to put on a disguise to evade capture.
A remake for the US market of Alice Guy's Les Résultats du féminisme. The film is considered to be lost.
When Algie Allmore asks to marry Clarice, the young woman's father gives him one year to prove that he's a man.
The story involves a man who goes to a gambling den regardless of the protestations of his wife. He is extremely lucky and his luck attracts attention. Strangers become friendly with him and he being a "good feller," "sets up" the crowd. After the night's playing, he is advised by the owner of the den that it would be hazardous for him to attempt going home alone with so much cash on his person. Chance decides to remain over night. He is shown to a room. During the night, he not only finds that he has been trapped, but an attempt is made on his life. (Moving Picture World)
A Jewish man is treated poorly by a member of the upper-class. When tragedy strikes, the Jewish man has an opportunity for revenge, but he turns the other cheek.
The Professor will not allow his daughter to marry a non-musician, but Billy, her would-be suitor, cannot play a single note. When he is about to give up, Billy’s roommate suggests bluffing his way into the Professor’s favor with the aid of a suitably musical disguise and a well-hidden phonograph player.
A parson arrives in the midst of a bunch of wild cowboys. Expecting a male parson, the boys set out in full force to receive him, but on the road when they suddenly run into the one-horse shay of a female parson, they keel over in surprise. Right after her arrival the boys begin to lay plans to get in right, while the parson loses no time in starting a campaign for the defeat of Satan. She begins by posting a sign near the town horse trough to the effect that "Cleanliness is next to Godliness." Of course the boys see the sign and immediately there is a sudden disposition among them to make use of soap, water and brush. One cowboy in particular is very much in love with the parson. He shows his affection only too plainly, and so the boys decide to play a trick on him. Their practical joke unintentionally is not only the means of frustrating a plot against the parson, but it brings the parson and her lover together.
Mr. Hallate is leaving for a trip and his loving wife is helping him to get his belongings out with him. At last everything is ready and she goes on the stoop and watches him get into the rig. Augustus Slip, who happens to pass at this moment, sees her and, like other men of small stature, becomes deeply enamored with the ponderous Mrs. Hallate. He goes and purchases a bouquet and, returning to the house, walks into the parlor and forces his attentions on Mrs. Hallate. She, however, will have none of him, and as he refuses to leave, flies for revenge to the maid in the kitchen. The maid happens to be entertaining her friend, Officer O'Brien, and Mrs. Hallate is indeed glad to see a limb of the law, and requests him to eject the eloquent Augustus. Meantime, Mr. Hallate has missed his train, and accordingly returns to his home. Augustus hearing him enter, hides behind a curtain, and when the officer enters Hallate is the only man in sight.
A young bride wonders at her husband's frequent absences. Suspicion mounts. What can the young man find more alluring than she, herself?
Two young fellows are rivals for the hand of a pretty girl of the village, and after her marriage with the one of her choice, the other swears to be revenged. To effect this he pours chemically treated oil into the irrigation ditches of the husband's farm. This of course ruins the land for vegetation, but it brings the husband a fabulous hum from a speculator in oil lands, who thinks he has struck a highly productive oil field.
When young Tom and Adele learn they must wait four years before they can marry, they agree to kill themselves. They reconsider, and then decide to elope. The plan sours when Adele sees two friends flirting with Tom. Brokenhearted, she decides to give her life to the Salvation Army. Tom responds by choosing to join a monastery. When, however, Adele’s father buys her a new hat, Adele backslides and Tom follows suit.
Harry Townsend, a young stock broker, is in love with the pretty daughter of James Petersby, a Wall Street magnate, and as Harry is a very promising young fellow, he gives his consent to the match. Harry, however, is hard hit by the panic, and loses practically all. This changes the color of things and the young lover is forbidden the wealthy man's house. Despairing, he goes to look for employment at a detective agency.
Diplomacy was not Tom's strong suit. So when May showed to him her latest painting he poured scorn on it. He was anxious to discourage her from painting, knowing full well that she would never become a great artist. Howard, his rival, was more diplomatic. He praised her efforts, and is at once the top-notcher in May's esteem.
When Mabel is requested by her mother to accompany her to the church meeting, she sends Muggsy a note asking him to meet her after the service so as to walk home with her. Muggsy is there on time, however, two spinsters, on their way to church, are accosted by a couple of burly tramps and they were afraid to make the return trip unaccompanied. So the pastor asks that some of the men escort them. Poor Muggsy gets chosen but when the trio reach the deserted part of the road the tramps again appear.
The quartet comprising this story are of ages as the months are to each other. June, a young college boy, finds his resources in depletion, and to improve his financial condition, proposes to October, a wealthy spinster of the "where-is-he" stage, and is accepted with avidity, and so these two soul "mis"-mates start their engagement inning. Later, December, a wealthy old bachelor, proposes to May, a pretty miss of eighteen, and the promise of fine gowns, jewels and automobiles, so dear to the heart of the fair sex, induces her to accept with half-hearted tolerance, hence they also start the engagement period. Everything goes finely until the quartet meet.
Two eccentric Frenchmen argue for the hand of an eligible American girl, who finally discouraged both of them by introducing her betrothed.
Clarence McKnight and Felix De Grosse are rivals for the heart of pretty little Letitia Mooney, but it is evident that Clarence is the favored one. However, Letty becomes jealous of her cousin, who seems to have a feeling down in her heart for Clarence, and engages his attention whenever she gets the chance.
A young fellow visits a girl's home with unpredictable complications.
Harry's rich old bachelor uncle thinks Harry is still single. When Uncle announces a visit, Harry's wife has to play the part of the housekeeper so Uncle doesn't discover the truth.
Soon after their engagement, Bill goes to sea, and Emily vows to stay true until his return. Unknown to her, Bill marries another woman from a different port. Emily waits faithfully for six years, finally becoming dangerously ill. When Bill suddenly appears in town with his family, Joe, who has loved Emily all along, forces Bill to make Emily's final moments happy by pretending he has returned to marry her.
Pippa awakes and faces the world outside with a song. Unknown to her, the music has a healing effect on all who hear her as she passes by.
Two lovers elope and expect to be pursued by her father. But the clever father has tricked them into running off, and celebrates their wedding when they return home.
A son leaves to seek his fortune in the city. Many years later he returns and checks into his parents' inn. They don't recognize him, but noticing his fat wallet, plan to rob him.
Mary is coerced into helping with a burglary of a minister's apartment. Later she repents and goes to the minister's storefront mission to help.
This might be termed a comedy of errors, for the overzealousness of a lot of good-hearted simple folks places them in a rather embarrassing position. Lillie Green, who keeps a boarding house, receives a letter from her old school chum, Polly Brown, whom sin hasn't seen in years, to the effect that as Lillie has never seen her little darling daughter, she will send her for a few days' visit, asking that someone meet the child at the 3:40 train. Lillie's boarders are a bunch of kind-hearted bachelors, who at once prepare to give the "Little Darling" the time of her life, buying a load of toys, etc., for her amusement, also procuring a baby carriage with which to meet her at the train. You may imagine their embarrassment when they find that Tootsie, instead of being a baby, proves to be a handsome young lady of seventeen, whose tastes run rather to garden gates, shady lanes and quiet nooks, than toys. (Moving Picture World)
Alice misunderstands when she sees her sweetheart Frank accidentally kissing her sister, and gets upset. Frank claims he'll kill himself by throwing himself into the river, but gets cold feet when it comes time to actually do the deed. Fortunately for him, his girlfriend has come running worried after him, and all is forgiven between them.
George Peabody is a young man who has been giving free rein to his inclinations, the principal one being drink. One might have concluded he was lost, but there was the chance which the hand of Providence always bestows in the person of pretty little Ruth King, who had secretly loved George since their childhood days. She succeeds in persuading him from his reckless life, and he determines to cut off from his old loose companions by going out West and making a man of himself. Bidding Ruth and her mother good-bye, he realizes that he loves his little preserver and promises to return worthy of her love and confidence. They plight their troth with their first kiss and a heart shaped locket, which Ruth wears, she breaking it in two, giving George one side while she retains the other, which symbolized the reunion of their hearts with his return.
Mercedes orders her sweetheart to prove his love by doing something dangerously heroic. He agrees, breaking into another young woman's house in order to steal a photograph. The young woman catches him and has him arrested, but he is released when a family friend bribes the police. Mercedes eventually returns the stolen photograph only to find her boyfriend in the other woman's arms.
Harry, preparing to leave on a business trip, tells Bessie that her photograph will always be with him. To test his sincerity she removes the photo from his bill case, and when he writes her that he is looking at her picture, she writes back that she knows otherwise. Realizing that he has been found out, Harry obtains his mother's photograph of Bessie, and upon his return home convinces her that he had it all along.
A mountain girl is seduced by a traveler from the valley. Her brother tracks the seducer down and kills him. In retaliation, the sheriff captures the brother and prepares to lynch him. Mother intervenes and, to save her son the disgrace of hanging, shoots him.
A Mexican spitfire romances an American soldier to make her Mexican lover jealous. When the lover is about to kill his rival, she convinces him it was all a joke and the two reconcile.
All the young men in the mining camp flirt with Lucy. Bud, the youngest of them, doesn't stand a chance. At a dance, Bud dresses as a woman and all the men flirt with him and abandon Lucy. When his disguise is revealed, the other men are too embarrassed to approach Lucy, and Bud dances the rest of the night with her.
Harry leaves his new wife at home while he goes out to play poker. Angry, his wife fakes evidence that she has had a male caller while he was gone.
