Fate's Decision - Production & Contact Info (original) (raw)

The husband, a middle-aged and prosperous businessman, is burdened and worried with the care of his enterprises and so deeply engrossed is he in his affairs that he does not show his wife the consideration she expects. Many dinners at home...See moreThe husband, a middle-aged and prosperous businessman, is burdened and worried with the care of his enterprises and so deeply engrossed is he in his affairs that he does not show his wife the consideration she expects. Many dinners at home are not graced with his presence and the wife dines alone. As she does not understand business or appreciate its demands upon her husband's time, she attributes his seeming neglect to waning love. On a shopping expedition with a female friend, her companion suggests luncheon at a tango tea garden. Here the young wife is introduced to The Flirt and she enjoys her first sensation of being flattered by a strange man. The first experience leads to other visits to the garden by the young wife and she is soon on friendly terms with the flirt, but of course, without taking her husband into her confidence. A day arrives when the husband is unexpectedly called out of town and as he plans to leave that same night, he calls up his home and notifies his wife to have his bag packed and ready. They planned to attend the theater that evening and the wife reminds the husband of this fact, suggesting that he postpone his departure until the next day, arguing that the theater engagement is more important. The husband, worried, and his mind upon a possible big loss of business, is rather curt in his treatment of his wife's attitude, an act which she can only assume is a further demonstration of his neglect. Her association with The Flirt has been merely foolish up to this time. He made attempts to have the young wife permit him to visit her at her home during the absence of her husband, but without success. Piqued, the wife resolves that she will not miss the theater and decides to ask The Flirt to act as her escort. She does not phone the invitation on account of the servants in the house, but dispatched it in writing by a telegraph messenger. After an early dinner, the husband prepares to leave for his trip, but the young wife becomes conscience-stricken and pleads with him to take her along. He assures her that it is impossible under the circumstances. The husband is about to enter his auto on the way to the depot when he witnesses an auto accident only a short distance from the house and orders the chauffeur to drive to the assistance of the victim with all possible speed. Arriving at the scene they remove an unconscious, bleeding man, from under the wreck and take him to the husband's home. The wife, more determined than ever to accompany The Flirt to the theater, descends to the lower floor of her home to await his arrival. She reaches the reception hall just as her husband and the chauffeur carry in their burden and place the body upon a divan. The husband orders the butler to phone for an ambulance and he searches the unconscious man for papers which might lead to his identity, while the wife and maid try to do what they can for the victim. The wife bathes and washes the blood-smeared face and is horrified to recognize the features of The Flirt. Suppressing a wild scream, she falls fainting into the arms of her husband, who has witnessed her agitation. The husband carries his wife to her room, while the ambulance surgeon enters, examines the body of The Flirt and pronounces it lifeless. In the bedroom, while the maid is attending the wife, the husband again reads the letters he removed from the body of The Flirt, the letter written by his wife inviting a strange man to escort her to the theater. Looking pityingly at his wife; realizing why she wanted to accompany him on his trip at the last moment; and awakening to the fact that he has been leaving her too much along, he sets fire to the letter. When it is consumed by the flame, he gently takes his wife into his arms. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less