Greater Than Art

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Preferring art to a social career, Lavinia refuses her aunt's offer to introduce her to society and leaves Paris to study, enrolling at the Art Academy of which Pierre Panchanteau is head instructor. While out in the woods sketching, Lavinia sees Cora Franklyn, an American girl, about to kill herself, and succeeds in restraining her. The two sleep together that night and a warm friendship is engendered. Lavinia pays Cora's passage to New York, giving her a letter of introduction to Roger Santell, Lavinia's father. A few days later, Lavinia gets notice that her tuition is due, and cables to her father for the money. She is shocked to receive news that her father was been killed in an accident and left no estate. At a meeting of the directors to consider keeping Lavinia at the Academy free of charge because of her ability. Count Paul La Fleur, a director, becomes infatuated with her and persuades her to accept his help, after the directors have refused to keep her at the Academy. In America, Cora, a model, has been posing for Guy Crosby, who has some trouble with his eyes and is apparently dissatisfied with his work. He decides to go to Paris, and Cora gives him a letter of introduction to Lavinia. By a singular coincidence, in Paris Guy attends the Art Academy at which Lavinia is a student, and soon they become enamored of each other. Count La Fleur, who jealously watches over Lavinia, is convinced of her "dual" life one evening when he returns from a restaurant with her and finds Guy in her apartment, where he had been directed to remain by Lavinia. Satisfied that he can dispose of Guy in a pistol duel, the Count proposes that they meet on the field of honor. As the Count is an expert marksman and Guy is less than mediocre, Lavinia fears for Guy, and to save him she writes the Count a letter informing him that she will leave the city with him if he calls off the duel. The Count refuses, and in the duel Guy receives a bad scalp wound. As a result of the duel, the Count immediately flees the country. While the wound received by Guy is only superficial, the optic nerve has been affected, and it is with commensurate apprehension that Lavinia notes his condition daily, finding solace and comfort in his company. At the Academy, where it is announced that the prize and commission will be awarded the students' competition. Lavinia hears that hers will win the prize, slashes it, so that Guy's effort is the first choice. His eyes much strengthened, Guy begins work on his masterpiece for which Lavinia poses. In a distant land, the Count finds the letter Lavinia wrote him before the duel and sends it to Guy. Upon receiving it, Guy, convulsed with passion at Lavinia's apparent perfidy, goes blind. Her love for him, still as unquenchable as before. Lavinia visits his studio daily and finishes the painting, unknown to him. At the salon, the painting attracts universal attention, and an American millionaire calls at Guy's studio and purchases it. A short time previous, Guy had received a letter from the Count, to the effect that she had written the letter to save him (Guy). Lavinia slips her hand into his, and Guy is again able to see things in their proper light.