The Jungle Lovers

• 1915
• Other, Action & Adventure

Van Cleeve, an eccentric scientist, goes into the jungle in order to perfect an explosive. Peter Rand and his little family living in the jungle, are visited by Herman Blaas and his little son, Jan. Naida Rand and little Jan wander away from the cabin into the jungle. The Rands' cabin is attacked and razed by Zulus while the two children cower in the jungle growth, and horror stricken see their parents slain. Van Cleeve later finds Naida and Jan and takes them under his care. Fifteen years later Naida has become a beautiful girl and is loved by Jan. Starling, an ivory trader, arrives in the neighborhood and falls in love with Naida. Van Cleeve refuses to give his adopted daughter's hand to Starling, who vows he will take her by force. Wamba and his hunters have traveled many miles from their village in search of game. They meet one of the abused native runners of Starling's camp, who tells Wamba that Starling has made slaves of the native people. Van Cleeve, in his cave, makes a successful test of his new explosive. Starling discovering Naida alone, endeavors to abduct her but Jan opportunely appears. Naida runs for her life, while Jan is made a prisoner by Starling and his aids. A shot from Starling's rifle causes Van Cleeve's explosive to let go and Van Cleeve is rendered unconscious in the cave, where Naida tries to revive him. The natives seeing the flames issuing from the cave, believe it is witchcraft. They mistake Naida for a witch, and she offers to lead the natives in war against Starling, who has made slaves of the native people. Jan has been tied to a tree near the Starling camp. Naida, leading the natives, approaches. Led by Naida, the natives attack Starling's camp. As they retreat, Naida discovers that a leopard is about to attack Jan. The animal is compelled to leave his prey just in time. Wamba, the native chief, and Starling, with clubbed rifles, engage in a combat at the edge of a precipice where Starling falls to his death. Van Cleeve is then rescued by Jan and Naida from the cave. Later Naida and Jan observe their wedding day with Van Cleeve and the natives as witnesses.