A Rough Shod Fighter

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At the outbreak of the Civil War, Colonel Carlisle, at his home in Virginia, hotly declares for the South, but his only son, Frank, home on leave from West Point, can see only dishonor in such a course for himself. Four years later the mother waits for her son in the war-swept plantation. Her husband has met a gallant death. When Frank returns he is snubbed by his former friends and by Virginia Leighton, the girl whom he has loved since childhood. He confides in his mother. She suggests they go to the North to live, but Frank says they will stay. Ol' Jubilee helps him and they set to work. This serves to further antagonize the people and Virginia exclaims, "A gentleman would not soil his hands, nor stoop to do 'nigger' work." Frank is deeply grieved at her stand. Huntly Thornton, a former friend of Frank's and a rival for Virginia, is a drinker, gambler and bully, but he succeeds in gaining her favor. Frank is aware of the danger of the negroes' new-found freedom. Carpetbaggers have already begun their work. After hearing Isaiah Gore, the leader, Frank humbles his pride and secures an interview with Judge Pembroke. Thornton becomes acquainted with Isaiah Gore, who lends him money. Frank is later nominated for the State Senate against Thornton. Frank saves Virginia's life. Thornton and Gore plot to disgrace him by placing on him the stigma of murder. They plan to attack his mother, drug a colored boy, drive him crazy by "voodoo" spells and send him back to attack Mrs. Carlisle. Chance puts Virginia in the crazy boy's path, and Thornton, believing that Virginia has been a victim, shoots the negro and carries Virginia away. Frank is led to believe that Jubilee has killed the negro in avenging Mrs. Carlisle, who has fainted at the sight of the body. Frank, to protect his mother's honor, has Jubilee take her out of the room and determines to claim that he killed the negro as a thief. The mob, led by Gore, breaks in, clamoring for Frank's blood. His goal is the Judge's home, and he gets as far as Virginia's home with a bullet wound in his arm, and Virginia hides him. Surprised, Frank learns his mother was not the negro's victim. Frank and Virginia realize it is a plot of Gore and Thornton. They succeed in gaining the confession of Thornton and unmasking Gore. Frank is exonerated and his election assured. And a dearer triumph comes when he learns Virginia has always loved him.