The Lackey - Production & Contact Info (original) (raw)

Judge Stevens of the Supreme Court was a jurist of the highest type, and a devoted father. He was a widower, wholly engrossed in his pretty daughter Mary, who had many suitors, but seemed to regard them all merely as friends, for love had ...See moreJudge Stevens of the Supreme Court was a jurist of the highest type, and a devoted father. He was a widower, wholly engrossed in his pretty daughter Mary, who had many suitors, but seemed to regard them all merely as friends, for love had not yet come into her life. The Stevens' butler was a young man who had enjoyed a considerable education and was far superior to the majority of people in his station of life. Mary Stevens regarded him as a well-trained servant, but he, realizing fully the hopelessness of his position, fell in love with his employer's daughter. He told no one of his passion, but the judge accidentally learned of it and scornfully dismissed him. Then the father, to his surprise and indignation, discovered that his daughter had begun to look upon the manly young servant with favor. The judge dined at his club one evening, and while enjoying an after-supper chat with friends was summoned to the phone. The call was from his house, and he did not recognize the voice at the other end of the wire. He was soon enlightened, for the man informed him that he was a prisoner whom the judge had sentenced several months before, and he had just escaped from prison. The outlaw told the judge that he intended to kill his daughter and escape. The father heard his daughter's voice at the phone, and then the convict took her place and tauntingly declared that her end was near. A pistol shot rang out, and the judge staggered back from the telephone, covering his face with his hands. Meantime, in the lonely country house, a battle raged, for the butler returning to the house, discovered Mary's danger, and the pistol was fired as he seized the desperado. After a hard struggle, he crawled to the phone and told the frantic father that his daughter was safe. As she watched the struggle and knew that this servant, whose affection for her she had long known, was risking his life for her, she realized that she loved him, even though the barrier of social position separated them. The judge arrived at his home and the convict was taken away to prison, but the father was confronted with a great problem, for he realized that although his daughter loved the butler, that the barrier of caste separated them and that the future would hold much unhappiness in store for them if they married. It was the butler who solved the problem. Bravely he explained to the judge and his daughter that he felt his presence in their home would be no longer wise, and with a smiling face, which belied a breaking heart, he went forward into the world, treasuring forever a parting glance from the woman whom he loved but could never wed. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less