Wife for Wife

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Called to Europe on business, Edward Walton entrusts the management of his estate to his friend, Richard Singleton. The latter meets Edith, who, with her sister Grace, is visiting her aunt. He falls in love with the girl. Edith, however, learns of Richard's intimacy with Susie, a mulatto slave, and spurns his advances. Hoping to win Edith back, Richard sells Susie. His efforts go for naught. Edith, turning a deaf ear to his pleas, goes abroad. George, Susie's husband, is driven almost insane because of his wife's fate. Fearing the mulatto's anger, Richard tells him that Susie was sold in accordance with instructions received from Edward. Edith and Edward meet abroad and are married. Shortly afterward, the two return home. Unaware of all that has passed between Edith and Richard, Edward is struck by their peculiar conduct when the two are introduced to each other. Suspicion forces itself into his heart. George receives word of Susie's death. He resolves to make Edward pay, wife for wife, for the misery he thinks his master had caused him. Richard makes his home in the village hotel. Learning that his master has been called away on business and that Edith will be alone that night, George hastens to Richard and imparts this information to him. Richard still loves Edith. Resolved to win her at all costs, he calls upon her late that evening. Edith repulses his protestations of love. Inflamed, the scoundrel seizes her in his arms. Edith is struggling in Richard's embrace when Edward returns home unexpectedly. The husband endeavors to shoot his false friend. Richard returns the shot. The bullet strikes Edward in the head and deprives him of his reason. Edith vainly endeavors to nurse her husband back to health. According to the physician, only a shock such as he has already undergone, can bring back his mind. Not satisfied with the misery he has caused, George continues his plotting. The mulatto informs Richard that Edith is wearying of her invalid husband. Led to believe that her heart has returned to him, Richard calls upon Edith. Again Edward comes upon the scoundrel while the latter is endeavoring to embrace Edith. The sight brings back Edward's reason. Snatching a sword from the wall, Richard endeavors to slay the man he has wronged. Edward, however, secures a sword and engages his false friend in mortal combat. The light ends with Richard's death. Overcome by the shock, the victor takes to his bed. Furious at the frustration of his plans, George determines upon a last stroke. Suddenly appearing before his master, he binds Edward and then tells him upon whose head all guilt for the trouble lies. Delving into a gunnysack he holds in his hand, the maddened slave brings forth a rattlesnake. Just as George is about to allow the reptile to bury its fangs into his helpless victim, Edward tells him of how Richard had sold Susie to get her out of his way. In his surprise, the mulatto loosens his grasp upon the rattlesnake. The next instant, the poisonous teeth are plunged deep into his arm. Edith enters in answer to her husband's cries for help. She finds George writhing in the agonies of death. Freed of his bonds, Edward tells Edith of how both had been victimized and vows to make amends for his lack of faith in her.