The Judge's Ward

• Watchlist

Robert, the judge's son is a vacillating young man. Helen, his father's ward, is devoted to him and he sincerely desires to make her his wife. An old flame, Dorothy Deane, an actress, writes him asking him to call and say good-bye, prior to his nuptials. She is playing with a great success at a city theater and he calls on her in her dressing room, where he meets a merry company and all repair to a roof garden. The judge and Helen happen to attend the performance and drop in at the roof garden for refreshment. Revelry is high when Helen detects her intended in the actress' company. His father, a very stern man, reproaches him for his conduct and soon arriving home drives him from the house. Three years have passed. Robert has married the actress and a child has blessed them. His father's help being gone, the little family suffers terrible privation. One day his wife departs leaving a note saying she will return to the stage. In desperation, seeing his child hungry, he resolves to go to his father and ask his help. When he calls the judge is counting a sum of money and refuses to listen to him. He departs but shortly returns to rob the desk. Helen, by a clever ruse, surprises the son in his work and, broken by shame and remorse, he kneels at her feet. The woman's love cannot be stifled and she resolves to help him. She calls at his squalid home and eventually reconciles the judge to his repentant son.