The Primitive Strain

• 1916
• Other, Drama

On his deathbed, the father of John Harris, a minister, confesses the unpardonable sin of his life. Years before he had betrayed a French-Canadian girl called Annette. Before dying she had become the mother of a baby girl. The dying man requests his son to go up to the Great North, find his half-sister and make restitution. The young minister goes to the barren North as his father requested. He builds a mission, much to the disapproval of Dan McGraw, owner of the dance hall. While in McGraw's place he meets Marie, the dance hall queen. He is infatuated. On Sunday the people, including Marie, attend church instead of patronizing McGraw's gambling den. He is furious and when Marie returns locks her in a room and attacks her. She finally escapes to the cabin of John Harris where she falls in a faint at the door. Harris revives her long enough for her to tell the story of her life. She proves to be his sister. Seeking revenge he goes to the dance hall where a terrible fight occurs in which he kills McGraw. He then returns to Marie only to find her dead as a result of McGraw's attack.