The Toymaker's Secret

• Watchlist

In the workshop of an old toymaker of the Tyrol we see him surrounded by the dolls, manikins and life-size figures which testify to his great skill. There is but one thing lacking to make his triumph complete, and that is to give life to the creatures of his handiwork. He is poring over a book in search of this secret and his eye rests on this paragraph: "To bring a toy to life, place upon its forehead a drop of blood from a lover's lip." The toymaker is elated. He goes to the window, where a life-size doll is shown looking down at the street, and causes it to nod and beckon to the people on the street below. Then he starts on his quest for the magic charm. Meanwhile we must go back to another little episode which has been taking place. A pretty Tyrol girl shows her friend a letter from her lover: "Sweetheart Swanhilda: Have had a prosperous voyage. My ship will dock to-day. Meet me. Your lover. Frantz." Swanhilda meets her lover and is returning with him through this very street as the toymaker is putting the figure in the window through the life motions. Frantz sees the pretty face at the window and waves his hand. The face nods and smiles to him and he is elated and infatuated, and repels Swanhilda, who leaves him in anger. She is determined upon revenge upon the one who has stolen her lover's affections and approaches the toymaker's house as he passes out and picks up the door-key, which he has dropped. She enters and sees all the toys and approaches the window and shakes the young lady sitting there, only to find that her rival is a doll. Seeing her lover approaching, and climbing up to greet his new inamorata. Swanhilda hastily puts on the doll's dress and takes its place at the window. The toymaker returns in time to see Frantz climbing in through the window and gives him a drink, in which is a drug that puts him to sleep. The toymaker then draws a drop of blood from his lips and applies it to the forehead of what he supposes is the doll, and is delighted and surprised when Swanhilda steps down and ambles in doll-like fashion around the room. Frantz awakes and is humble and penitent when he learns of his mistake, and as he and Swanhilda march off arm in arm the old toymaker is disconsolate at the failure of his experiment. This is a weird and interesting tale and is so well acted that titles are hardly necessary to make it clear to the beholder.