A Cry in the Night

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Henry and Alfred Dumaine are brothers of entirely different habits. Henry, cashier of the National Bank, is highly respected, while Alfred is a gambler. Henry, working late in his office, is visited by his brother, who shows him a check for money which he cannot pay. The safe door, being open, is Alfred's opportunity for stealing money while Henry is looking over the check. Alfred is refused and leaves, without Henry discovering the loss. The bank president observes a shortage and asks about it. Henry, to shield his brother, is silent, and the president, believing him guilty, has him arrested. He is sentenced to prison for fifteen years. Ten years later Henry sees an opportunity to escape from the fort. In making his dash for liberty he is seen by the guards, who open fire on him. Diving into the river, he makes good his escape by swimming under the water. During his imprisonment his wife dies and Alfred takes charge of his daughter, Jennie, now a young lady. Going from bad to worse. Alfred and Jennie drift into the camp of roving gypsies. Jennie is forced to go from door to door selling the baskets made by the gypsies, while Alfred drinks all the money and makes her life miserable with his brutality. One day, while pulling a child from beneath the wheels of a speeding automobile, Jennie is injured and taken in the car to the camp. The young journalist who accompanies her, seeing her surroundings, forces her to tell her story. His interest turns to love, and she runs away to become his wife. Henry, beginning life anew, becomes prosperous and is anxious to find his daughter. His advertisement in the papers is seen by Jennie and Alfred. The journalist, thinking it is a scheme to locate and kidnap his wife, advises her to take no notice of it. Alfred, not knowing the whereabouts of Jennie, schemes with one of the gypsies to substitute his daughter for Jennie. Alfred then calls at the hotel, but when he sees his brother he fears for his own safety and sneaks away. He writes a letter to Henry, asking him to call at the camp. Henry arrives and Alfred falls on his knees and begs for mercy, producing the girl who substitutes for Jennie, making him believe it is his own flesh and blood. The journalist, to satisfy his own curiosity, decides to answer the advertisement and sends Jennie to see banker Parker, Henry's assumed name, but finds he has left to sail for America. Jennie's husband visits the gypsy camp and is seen approaching by Alfred. Walking to the wagon, he knocks at the door, and receiving no answer, he enters. Alfred locks him in and pushes the wagon over the steep cliff. Jennie's husband is horribly mangled in the smash and being in such a precarious condition after his arrival at the hospital, Jennie is not allowed to speak to him. Banker Parker, believing he has found his daughter, takes passage for New York, taking along Alfred. After making inquiries, Jennie finds when they are to sail and decides to follow them on the Imperator, disguised as a man. Finding out a scheme, she later obtains an invitation to a masked ball at Parker's home. She makes an exact duplicate of the costume she wore at the gypsy camp and attends the ball. Alfred is dumbfounded when he recognizes Jennie and she adds to his discomfort at every opportunity. Jennie, entering Parker's private office, is followed by Alfred. Opening a drawer she discovers proof. When Alfred enters the room, Jennie, to escape, turns off the light. The false Jennie, thinking something is wrong, follows, and coming into the room just as the lights are turned off, is seized by Alfred. Thinking it is Jennie, he chokes her to death. The guests rush in and Jennie explains all to her father, and Alfred is taken away to his just punishment.