An Image of the Past

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Jessie Curtis elopes with Jack Dexter. Her wealthy father, in a fury, disinherits her. He repulses all his daughter's attempts at reconciliation, and ten years pass. Jack has been very ill, the family is penniless, and the three children, dressing themselves as a gypsy, an Indian and a sailor, with masks on their faces, go out to sing in the street. In this fashion they wander under the windows of their grandfather's house. The old man is having one of his almost unendurably lonely hours, filled with regretful dreams of Jessie. When he hears the children singing, he calls them in, listens to their story and promises that he will give them money for their sick father. Suddenly one of the youngsters rushed across the room to a portrait of Jessie painted by Dexter at her father's order from a photograph of her when she was seven years old. "'Why is my sister's picture in your house?" the small boy asks the old man, and snatches off the mask which covers little Jessie's face. The grandfather learns the truth. He returns with the children to the rescue of his daughter and her husband.