A Strange Melody - Production & Contact Info (original) (raw)

Jack Bowdoin, a gambler, had killed his man and gloried in it; yet he had a strange passion for music and had installed in his private room an organ where, without instruction, he had grasped the works of the great sacred masters. Among ...See moreJack Bowdoin, a gambler, had killed his man and gloried in it; yet he had a strange passion for music and had installed in his private room an organ where, without instruction, he had grasped the works of the great sacred masters. Among his customers was a young man named Carl Colt, who nightly gambled his small salary. His sister, Mary, an organist at the church, came one night to Bowdoin's casino and requested an interview. Being shown into the private room, she ran her fingers over the keys of the organ. Bowdoin entered and listened, then exclaimed, "I will give you a thousand dollars if you can make me play like that." Mary immediately spoke of her mission and begged the gambler to cure her brother of his passion for the game. At this moment a shot rang out in the casino and Bowdoin found Carl defending himself against a desperado, Shorty Hall, who had stolen a bet from the table. Shorty was ejected and Mary and her father continued the plea for the reformation of Carl. Hall and some of his companions abducted Mary and held her for ransom, Bowdoin rescued Mary, He then begged to know how he could be worthy of the friendship of so pure a girl. She told him. Jack sold his casino and renounced gambling. After convicting the abductors of Mary he saw an insane woman committed to the asylum; she had a little child and Jack agreed to adopt her and put up bond for the child's good care. Mary agreed to take charge of the little girl for which Jack paid well. The circumstance brought them into notice, and was enhanced by the fact that Mary would often take Jack to the organ loft and teach him the sacred music. The talk of the church folks became loud and caused a duel in which Jack was wounded. Mary cared for him at the hospital and the ex-gambler urged that there was only one way to stop the tongues of the deacons of the church. He pleaded and Mary consented to go to the church and be married. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less