His Brother's Keeper

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Donald goes to the city to get employment, and his widowed mother grieves silently. He is all she has. Donald obtains employment and forms one or two bad acquaintances. Tom is released from prison. He is not a bad man, but the woman got him in her meshes, and he stole to supply her with the money and jewels she demanded. Tom goes to her, feeling sure of her help. She turns upon him, and Tom squares his shoulders and sets his face towards the hills and freedom. Tom happens upon the widow's farm and asks for work. The widow's motherly heart warms toward him, and, for the first time in many years, Tom knows what a good woman's influence means. He cannot deceive her. He tells her what he has been and would go, but she detains him, for she sees all the latent good in him. Donald goes ahead rapidly and earns good money. He meets the woman, and is quickly in trouble. Her demands reduce him to desperation. He thinks she is a beautiful woman, and intends to marry her. He, therefore, sends a photograph of her to his mother, and asks her to let him have a good sum of money. By chance, Tom sees the photo and he reads the letter. He determines to save the widow's boy. Instead of posting the letter containing the money, he places it in the old family Bible and goes to the city. The widow thinks he has gone with her money, and is sorrowful and hurt. Tom goes to the woman and threatens her. He hides as Donald enters her room, and fearful of Tom, she tells the boy who and what she has been. He is disillusioned and heartbroken. Tom follows and takes him home to the widow. Satisfied that he has made amends, he starts to go out of their lives, but mother and son persuade him that he is necessary to them, and he stays and is content.