The Vacuum Test - Production & Contact Info (original) (raw)

John Foster, inventor, is married to Irene, a woman much younger than himself and full of the vitality of youth, and is very popular in society. Foster, although an inventive genius, is a dreamer and a student. He spends much of his time ...See moreJohn Foster, inventor, is married to Irene, a woman much younger than himself and full of the vitality of youth, and is very popular in society. Foster, although an inventive genius, is a dreamer and a student. He spends much of his time in his laboratory, and in consequence Irene depends on other men when attending social functions. Although Robert Arnold, an old sweetheart, is seen most commonly with her, she looks upon him merely as a friend, for she is much in love with her scholarly husband. At seeing Irene so much in the company of Arnold, Poster's jealous suspicions are aroused, and he finally forbids Arnold the house. Foster suggests that there should be children to bind them closer together, and Irene tries to show him some small clothes upon which she has been sewing for some time. He, having become absorbed in his work, fails to get her meaning. At last he decides to put her to the test and fakes up a sudden call to the city, with the idea of returning and finding her in an embarrassing position. The same night "Spike" Gans, release convict, is turned down by his sweetheart on account of being in low funds, and to get money he starts out on his old vocation to "crack a crib." He has previously spied out the Foster premises and has located what he supposes to be their safe, but which in reality is a vacuum cabinet, one of Foster's inventions. Arnold calls upon Irene, but is not permitted to stay, and in leaving sees Gans slinking in the shadows near the Foster home. He follows him and sees him enter through a window. Following him into the house he watches him open the cabinet and find out his mistake, sees Irene return and find Gans at work. While this scene is going on Foster, according to his plan, returns unexpectedly, hears voices in his laboratory and believes it is Arnold. Gans conceals himself in the cabinet, with the warning that he will shoot if the door is opened, before Foster enters. Foster accuses Irene of hiding someone while he was away, and starts to look. His search leads him to the door of the cabinet, but, at Irene's pleading, he does not open the door. Instead he starts the mechanism which forces out all the air inside the cabinet, making it impossible for one to live. At this Irene becomes frightened and begs him to open the door, and he, thinking she is pleading for the life of her lover, is about to strike her when she screams that she is being delivered of her child. The sudden knowledge of the forthcoming event brings Foster to himself and he bends every energy to restoring Irene, who has fainted. Upon regaining consciousness she reminds him of the man still in the cabinet. When he opens the door Gans staggers out, gasping for breath. Excited over the happy news, Foster pays little attention to him and he would have escaped but for the intervention of Arnold, who has been a silent spectator of the previous scenes. Foster is so excited, proud and pleased over what he has learned from Irene that he allows Gans to escape and has apparently forgotten all his suspicions against Arnold. Arnold congratulates them both and leaves them happy in their prospective joy. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less