The Mysterious Lodger

• Watchlist

Returning home from a matinee, poor actor Ralph Brent finds his stepchild dead. The child's mother returns intoxicated, having purchased drink instead of medicine for the child with the money he had given her. He accuses her of causing the little one's death, then snatches the bottle of liquor from which she is about to drink and throws it away. Infuriated, she springs at him with a bread knife, but stumbles and accidentally kills herself. Fearing that he will be suspected of murder. Brent hastily disguises himself as an old man and leaves the house. He secures board and lodging with Mrs. Lane and her daughter Lucy, who regard the "old man" as a mystery. He reads in the newspaper that he is wanted by the authorities, and decides to continue in hiding. One day Lucy discovers Brent's identity when his wig slips off. He admits he is the husband of the woman supposed to have been killed by him, and after telling his life story, she is convinced that it was an accident. Lucy has fallen in love with Brent and sympathetically offers to help him escape. She persuades her uncle to lend him the money to go to Canada, and sees him to the train. They tenderly clasp hands, and he suddenly stoops and kisses her as the train pulls out. One year later Lucy receives an affectionate letter from Brent, who is now a prosperous farmer, asking her to come to him on the next train. The note also asks her to bring her mother, and encloses a money order for $100.