The Silent Power

• Watchlist

John Rollins, an engineer in charge of a hydro-electric plant, welcomes home his son Rob, a brilliant but careless college youth, and persuades Webster, president of the company, to place Rob in charge of a dam construction project. Rob meets Olive Spencer and her brother Jerry; and though Olive is drawn to Rob, she is unhappy to learn that the lake to be created by the dam will flood her old home. Rob's college pals arrive and take him to a party, resulting in his discharge by Webster. Shortly afterward, Webster is found murdered; suspicion falls on Rob, who is arrested and found guilty. At the last moment before the scheduled electrocution, Olive learns that her half-crazed brother, Jerry, killed Webster; and she tries to save Rob. Rollins is obliged to remain on duty and throw the fatal switch. He faints, thinking he has killed his son; but Jerry has atoned by cutting the main prison cable, saving Rob's life but losing his own.