A Brother's Devotion

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The older of two brothers living with their widowed mother in the south, leaves the old home to engage in business in New York City. While he is there his mother dies and he sends for his younger brother, who is a struggling young artist, to join him and together they can share his earnings and at the same time the younger can pursue his art study in the Metropolis. The artist accepts the generous offer of his brother. The older brother is in love with a young girl and he introduces her to his brother. While the girl admires the older brother, she is attracted by the younger, between whom there is a common interest in things artistic. Noticing this, the older brother quietly withdraws in favor of the young artist and arranges to go to Panama, presumably on a business trip. Before going away he makes his brother swear that he will ever be true to the girl and never neglect her for another. No sooner has the older brother gone away than his brother is fascinated by an adventuress who comes to his studio to pose for her picture. Gradually she completely dominates him and he is found in her company at all times. Unexpectedly, the older brother returns from Panama, broken in health and a mere shadow of his former self. He meets his old sweetheart and asks after his brother. She tells him that she has not seen his brother in weeks. He goes in search of his brother, finds the studio deserted and learns that he is living with the adventuress. Weak and ill, he calls at the woman's home. He denounces her as a sorceress and a schemer. At this moment the young artist enters the room and seeing his generous brother's condition and realizing his ingratitude to him, humbly begs his pardon, and clasping him in his embrace, weeps in sorrow and shame. He rejects all advances made by his paramour with scorn, and with his brother leaves the place forever. The brothers are now located in the old room where they lived when the young artist came to New York. After making the sick man comfortable, the young man goes out for a doctor. During his absence the sick brother sends a note to the father of the young girl whom he gave up in favor of the brother to come with his daughter at once that he might make a request before his death. They come, and at the same time the brother returns with the doctor, who says that the sick man is dying. The older brother requests a reconciliation between his brother and the girl. His request granted, he passes away in peaceful consciousness of having made love's supreme sacrifice.