Cards - Production & Contact Info (original) (raw)

Helen, unhappy with her husband, Jim Benson, a smuggler, consults the cards with superstitious trust in the story they tell. The cards tell her of love, a dark man, wealth and happiness. Jack Morton, a wealthy young man, camping in the ...See moreHelen, unhappy with her husband, Jim Benson, a smuggler, consults the cards with superstitious trust in the story they tell. The cards tell her of love, a dark man, wealth and happiness. Jack Morton, a wealthy young man, camping in the vicinity, meets Helen, who sees in him the dark man of the cards. Admiration for each other is mutual, and Helen weakly conceals the fact of her marriage. Distracted by her husband's cruel treatment, Helen notifies the revenue officers of his smuggling. As a result Jim is wounded, as Helen believes, fatally. Helen, thinking herself free, renews her acquaintance with Jack, and promising to marry him, visits his parents. A newspaper article, announcing their marriage, is read by Jim, who seeing therein an opportunity to get money for his silence, straightway visits Helen and succeeds in so doing. The rich man's life with valet, etc., which he attempts to lead soon requires more money, however, and he now demands a diamond necklace, Helen's engagement present from Jack. Pursuant to a curt note, Helen goes to Jim, who, seeing that she has the necklace in her bag, discovers and appropriates it, as well as her little revolver. He places the revolver in his desk and Helen leaves. Jim's valet, observing the entire proceeding, and seeing the opportunity to enrich himself and yet hide the crime, turns out the lights, and through the portieres shoots at Jim. Helen, hearing the shot, steps into the shrubbery to avoid being seen, and overhears the valet tell the police that Jim has been killed. At last, believing herself free, she hastens to the church. The wedding ceremony has already been delayed because of her absence. In the meantime, the police, following the wrong clue, arrive at the church and arrest Helen at the altar. In an ante-mortem statement Jim also accuses Helen, and this is the final blow to her tottering reason. The valet's guilty conscience, however, betrays him to the suspicious detective, and he is arrested and formally charged with the murder. Helen, dazed with her many misfortunes and disappointments, once more takes up the cards. In them she reads again of wealth, love and happiness, and not knowing of the valet's arrest for the murder of Jim, and believing that the cards have lied. She sweeps them from the table in a frenzy of despair. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less