The Craven

• Watchlist

Bud Walton, the village blacksmith, is big and strong physically, but he has not the courage to put his strength to good purpose. All the boys take a slap at him whenever they choose, and Bud makes no attempt to retaliate. This causes his sweetheart, June, to despise him. Sykes, a handsome stranger, comes to town. He becomes infatuated with Bud's sister, May, who is attracted by his fine manners. One day while walking along a cliff, Sykes roughly embraces her, and she falls over the precipice and is killed. Will, Bud's assistant at the forge, who long has loved May, discovers why Sykes has fled the town. He urges Bud to follow Sykes and avenge his sister. When Bud proves too weak of spirit to do this, Will goes, but is sent back badly wounded by Sykes. June arraigns Bud for his cowardice. Stung beyond endurance, he meets Sykes and though mortally injured himself, breaks his enemy's arm and carries him back to town. Throwing Sykes at the feet of June, the craven falls dead across his antagonist's body.