Ridgeway of Montana - Production & Contact Info (original) (raw)

The story deals with the battle waged between two financiers, Waring Ridgeway and Simon Harley, who own adjoining properties. Ridgeway has the better of the fight when Harley and his young wife leave secretly for Mesa, Montana. En route, ...See moreThe story deals with the battle waged between two financiers, Waring Ridgeway and Simon Harley, who own adjoining properties. Ridgeway has the better of the fight when Harley and his young wife leave secretly for Mesa, Montana. En route, Harley and his wife become snowbound, and Harley leaves his wife in the auto while he goes for assistance. A blizzard sweeps the mountains, and the young wife falls victim, Harley having lost his way. Ridgeway, en route to his mine, comes across Mrs. Harley, places her on his horse, takes her to a deserted cabin, where he nurses her back to consciousness. The two young people remain three days in the cabin, in which interval Ridgeway loses his heart to Aline Harley. Sam Yessler, of the State Legislature, rescues Harley. At the end of the third day Yessler's relief party come upon Ridgeway and Aline. The latter presents her rescuer to her husband, and the party start for the Yessler ranch. Later, Harley offers to place Ridgeway at the head of a copper combine. Ridgeway, however, refuses the offer, and declares that it must be war to the death between them. Harley retires, determined to crush the young mining operator. Lyndon Hobart, Harley's manager, is ordered to engineer the dynamiting of one of Ridgeway's mines. He obeys Harley, but is discharged. Harley then takes the initiative; the mine is dynamited, and one of Ridgeway's workmen is killed. Steve Elton is bribed by Harley and sells Ridgeway out. Hobart is in love with Virginia Balfour, an ambitious young woman, who is engaged to Ridgeway. Secretly, Virginia is in love with Hobart, but is attracted by Ridgeway's wealth. Ridgeway's friend Sam Yessler refuses to help him in his attempt to elect himself a senator. Balked in his effort. Ridgeway sees the leaders of the labor union, plays upon their sympathy, and induces them to have Harley arrested for killing the miner. The plan is successful, and Harley is brought to trial. Ridgeway succeeds in inducing Harley's foreman to turn state's evidence, but, despite this, a fixed jury brings in a verdict of "not guilty." The dead miner's widow, one of the court spectators, then shoots the aged millionaire, killing him as he sits in the witness chair. Thus Ridgeway triumphs. A year lapses. Virginia, seeing the love between Ridgeway and Aline, releases Ridgeway from his engagement and accepts the proposal of Hobart. Sam Yessler, in search of an honest man, proposes the name of Hobart for senator, carries his point, and Hobart is elected. Aline turns over to Ridgeway her enormous copper interests, which move makes Ridgeway a power in the mining world. Later, Ridgeway marries Harley's widow. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less