Thou Shalt Not

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Two miners, Jim Dawson and Jack Stone, on their way home after a lucky strike, are attacked by bandits. Their lives are saved by the timely arrival of Bob Cooper, another miner. Cooper sends a letter to Jane, his wife, by Dawson and Stone, telling of his discouragement. Arriving in the mining town, Dawson delivers the letter. Jane shows only disgust at her husband's misfortune. She is attracted by Dawson. One night at a dance two of the bandits who attacked the miners on their homeward journey, recognize Dawson and decoy him outside the dance hall. In the fight the two robbers are killed and Dawson wounded. He seeks refuge in Jane's house. Upon his recovery Dawson and Jane plan to go away. Cooper's father is suspicious and her infidelity is proved when he finds a note to Jane from Dawson. While trying to prevent the elopement the old man is shot. The couple flees. Jane is taken suddenly ill and they are forced to camp for a night. Cooper meantime reaches his home only to find his father dead with the tell-tale note in his clenched fist. Cooper starts in pursuit. Stone, fearing for Dawson's safety, gathers a posse of men and follows Cooper. Cooper overtakes the guilty couple in camp. In a struggle between the two men, Dawson loses his footing and falls on his own knife. Cooper stays with his sick wife and keeps the fires going through the night. But in spite of his ministrations she dies, and Cooper makes a dash for freedom. At daybreak, Stone and his men come upon the scene of the ghastly tragedy. Stone steals Dawson's gold bags and writes a letter to Helen, Dawson's wife, that Cooper has killed and robbed her husband. Helen and her brother, Joe, vow vengeance on Cooper. Cooper meanwhile has made a rich strike. News of the new vein reaches Joe and he joins the first gold rush. Arriving at the diggings he becomes friendly with Cooper, who is working under an assumed name. The claim proves valuable. Joe and Cooper start for home. The two men stop at a mining town where Joe becomes infatuated with a dance hall singer. Cooper, who tries to break Joe's attachment to the dancer, is recognized by Stone, now the owner of the dance hall. Stone threatens to arrest him. Cooper escapes, but in the general fight Stone is wounded. He tells Joe that Cooper killed Dawson. Joe pursues Cooper, overtakes him and in the struggle that follows. Cooper is injured and Joe is kicked by his horse into a ravine. Cooper manages to reach a house which is Dawson's home. Helen nurses him back to health. Her interest in him ripens into love, when she receives a letter from Joe. Revealing Cooper's identity. Conquering her love Helen sends a note to the mounted police disclosing Cooper's whereabouts. Cooper fully returns Helen's love and tells her of his past. Helen is overwhelmed by his confession, her husband's perfidy and the injustice she has done Cooper, who shows her the note wrenched from his father's dead hand. Thinking now only of Cooper's safety she helps him to escape, and when the police gallop up to the cabin she sends the men in the wrong direction, and rides after him, leaving a note for her brother explaining all. Helen finds Cooper exhausted under a tree, where he has fallen from his horse. She revives him; they pledge their mutual love and we see them riding away together toward the far horizon in the rays of the setting sun.