Robespierre

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Robespierre and Dumont were sworn friends in their college days. During their early manhood both loved Louise Brissac, but she favored Dumont and refused Robespierre's hand. Her father was the local magistrate and was blamed by the peasantry for the imposition of a severe tax. Robespierre was too wise to blame him, but had already grown to despise authority. Brissac was the representative of the rulers in the province, so Robespierre visited Brissac with a delegation of angered farmers. They were coldly received, and their anger grew until Brissac was saved from mob violence only by the arrival of Dumont, who persuaded the malcontents to withdraw. Time passed and the wedding of Louise and Dumont was postponed. Hearing of the mob disorders in Paris, Robespierre and Dumont leave with the Brissac. Robespierre although young and without influence soon dominates the assembly. Dumont although deploring the massacres is still the friend of Robespierre. The love of Robespierre for Louise grows in fervor as does the hatred for her father. Finally he sends Dumont to arrest them both as aristocrats. The father is arrested, but Dumont aids the girl to escape and is taken prisoner and sentenced to die. The father goes to the guillotine. The girl sees this and also the threatened fate of Dumont. In despair she decides to visit the tyrant and beg for her lover's life. This is granted to her on the condition that she give herself to Robespierre. Her soul revolts from this but the spirit quails when he shows her the carmagnole or devil dance of the revolutionists. She consents on condition that Dumont is freed and she in company with Robespierre's spy goes to the prison where Dumont repudiates the bargain and hurls the spy to the door of the dungeon. In the meantime, Tallien has impeached the committee of public safety of which Robespierre is the head, and a spirited debate ensues in the convention. This results in Robespierre's overthrow as he is brought down by the bullet of Meda, the assassin. Tallien triumphs while Robespierre is dragged away a wounded prisoner. Tallien hurries to the prison and Dumont is released. As he is hurrying through the streets in mad search of Robespierre in order to find Louise, the tyrant's victim, he meets the deposed fiend and he is menaced by a furious mob. He demands the girl, but Robespierre cannot answer. A commotion is heard and he sees the stealthy spy dragging the girl along. He hurls him to the ground and brings her to a place of safety. Later they view the execution of the tyrant and realize that their worst days of terror are over.