The Return of Maurice Donnelly

• 1915
• 0 Hrs 40 Mins
• Other, Drama

Maurice Donnelly, a one-time reputable lawyer, but now "night-hawk" chauffeur and associate of crooks, is dared by "The Rat," a gang leader, to make forcible entry into a private house. He takes the dare, and it proves to be the home of Edith Dent, a fellow student at the law school he attended. He holds her up and his mask becoming disarranged, mutual recognition follows. She is shocked and induces him to resolve on reformation. "The Rat," on learning this, remonstrates with him; they quarrel and Donnelly knocks him down. "The Rat" and his gang then determine to get square with the "quitter" and plan to "frame-up" something on him. They lure Donnelly to a saloon, where a policeman is mysteriously murdered and the crime fastened on Donnelly. Edith Dent, believing the man is innocent, volunteers to act as his counsel. She proves a master at technicalities of the law and puts up a good fight for her client, but eventually loses out through the perjured testimony of the gangsters. Donnelly is sentenced to die in the electric chair and is sent to the death-house. Appeal is then made to the Governor for clemency, but in vain, and after a touching farewell with his mother and Edith, Donnelly passes through the "little green door" to the death-chair. Awaiting in agony to identify the body of her client, Edith remembers reading of a scientist's successful resuscitation of dead animals, and his desire to try the experiment on the human body. She communicates with him, secures his consent, and by special permission, the prison physician delivers the body to the Donnelly home without performing an autopsy. The experiment is performed, it is successful, and Donnelly revived, goes with the police and Edith, to Shanahan's that night, where Donnelly appears before the gangsters in the flesh, paralyzing them with fright and astonishment. "The Rat" hysterically confesses, which eventually leads to a very happy sequel.