Sister Angelica

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This is one of the most beautiful and fascinating little legends that has ever been presented through the medium of the silent drama. In the first picture we get a glimpse of the interior of a hospital tent on a battlefield where a soldier is lying, wounded unto death. Realizing that his time to go is close at hand, the dying man asks for a slip of paper, on which he writes a little note to the only woman he ever loved, begging her to come to him that he might see her before he passes away. Handing the missive to one of his comrades he instructs the latter to carry it to Sister Angelica, a member of a cloistered community, who in years gone by had been his sweetheart. The messenger hurries away toward the convent, arriving there just as the good nuns are going into the chapel to pray. It is the duty of Sister Angelica to care for the altar of the Virgin Mother, and when the other sisters have passed out after prayers, she remains behind to attend to her duties. The messenger, who has stolen into the convent unseen, at an opportune time presents himself before Sister Angelica and hands her the note. As the good woman reads the lines, the love that has lain dormant in her heart for years, suddenly awakens and bursts forth, impelling her to go to the dying man, but suddenly she remembers her vows, and restrains her emotions. The soldier retires, and soon the Mother Superior enters the chapel where she finds Sister Angelica in tears, and upon questioning her, the latter hands the note to the Mother begging leave to go in the name of humanity. The Mother refuses to countenance such an unusual procedure, and reminding Sister Angelica of her vows, leaves her alone to give vent to her feelings. The heart-broken sister falls upon her knees before the shrine of the Blessed Mother, and lifting up her eyes in humble supplication, she invokes the spiritual aid of the Virgin. Her prayers are heard, for suddenly the statue of the Virgin Mother becomes animated, and descending from its place in the niche, stands before the awestruck nun, instructing her to go quickly to the side of the dying soldier. The good sister steals out of the convent, leaving the Virgin, who has been transformed into a facsimile of herself, to take her place among the other nuns, so that she will not be missed. The messenger accompanies the kind-hearted nun to the camp, where she arrives just in time to give religious solace to the dying man, and after a few gentle words from the good sister the brave soldier peacefully passes away in her arms. After closing his eyes and folding the dead man's hands across his breast. Sister Angelica, feeling that she has done her noble duty, turns her face again toward the dim cloister, and hurries back to assume her duties. Entering the chapel, she finds her substitute busily engaged in her work of decorating the altar with flowers. At sight of Sister Angelica, the Virgin Mother again resumes her inanimate state, and returns to her position in the niche above the altar. Soon the other nuns come into the chapel, and Sister Angelica takes her place among them and kneels for evening prayers.