Courage and the Man

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Talented young physician Ned Reed is forced to seek health in the Canadian northwest woods. He is frail in general health and slightly crippled in one leg. He is accompanied by his wife Ethel. Reed and Ethel soon find that their cabin is located close to that of Ethel's former sweetheart Travis. Reed does not know that Travis has fled to the woods after killing Reed's young brother. While Reed is dally absorbed in his work of scientific research, Ethel sees much of Travis. Rogers, a woodman and cabin-mate of Travis, warns him that he had best keep away from Reed's wife. When Reed discovers that Travis is encouraging Ethel in every way to reciprocate his affections, there comes a bitter realization of his helplessness and of the superior qualities of Travis. One day Rogers, the woodsman, discovers, hidden in Travis's trunk, news clippings which convince him that Travis is the slayer of Reed's brother. He openly accuses Travis. Travis threatens to kill him if he tells Reed. Rogers does tell the physician and Travis, from hiding, sees him. That night Rogers and Travis realize that each is waiting for the opportunity to slay the other. They arm themselves and wait tensely for the first move. They meet on the cliff above the cabin in terrific physical combat. This develops into a revolver duel in which Travis fires a shot that wounds Rogers. In the darkness of the night Travis cannot find Rogers's body and believes him dead. Meanwhile Reed, who has started in a blaze of fury to find Travis, has seen the shooting. He encounters Travis. Travis pulls a revolver to kill Reed, but the steady, accusing stare of the man whose brother he has slain causes Travis to lower the gun. Reed's calmness only drives the fear-stricken Travis more frantic. Reed grimly orders him back to his hut. He realizes that in the solitude of the forest there is no hand to avenge his brother's death. Travis returns to the hut, haunted by the bloody face of Rogers. He imagines he sees Rogers's accusing face staring down at him from the cliff above. In a panic of fear he fires upwards toward the edge of the cliff. The shot dislodges a small stone which starts a small-sized landslide. This carries the body of Rogers down the side of the mountain and deposits it at the very door of Travis's hut, where Travis finds it. Rogers' hand seems to point accusingly at Travis. Travis, cold with indescribable fear, slowly raises a revolver to his temple and kills himself. Reed, who has followed Travis to the hut, sees the suicide. He hurries into the hut to find Rogers still alive, and through his medical skill saves his life. Reed returns to his own cabin, still heartbroken over the thought that Ethel's affections have been lessened through the interference of Travis. But he finds that the tragedy has brought her to a speedy realization of her folly. She is asleep in a chair, a contented smile on her face, and one of the canes used by the crippled physician pressed close to her breast.