The Message of the Dead - Production & Contact Info (original) (raw)

George Bourdier adopts his orphan nephew, Philip. A woodcutter, Jean Gauthier, is notified by Bourdier to pay a note which is due. Too poor to pay, he visits the old man and induces him to cancel the note. He leaves, but forgets his axe. ...See moreGeorge Bourdier adopts his orphan nephew, Philip. A woodcutter, Jean Gauthier, is notified by Bourdier to pay a note which is due. Too poor to pay, he visits the old man and induces him to cancel the note. He leaves, but forgets his axe. Gaston, a scapegrace nephew of Bourdier's, calls and tries to borrow a large sum. His request is refused, and he becomes abusive. His uncle drives him out. He returns that night and forces an entrance to the house, intending to rob the old man. His uncle discovers him and a terrific struggle ensues. Gaston strikes him down with the woodcutter's axe and makes his escape, after starting a fire to hide his crime. The old man, dying, writes in a book with his blood accusing Gaston, and gives it to Philip, who had witnessed the crime. Philip's mind is shattered by the horror of the fire and murder. He hides the book in a nearby cliff. The woodcutter, whose axe is found at the scene of the crime, is accused, and in the face of such damaging evidence, is adjudged guilty, and sent to prison. His little daughter, Marie, left alone in the world, finds the insane boy and takes him to her rude hut, where she watches tenderly over him. Ten years pass. Gaston, the murderer, returns to the scene of his crime. He meets Marie, now grown up, and accosts her. Her father, returned from prison, protects her and incurs the enmity of Gaston, who swears vengeance. Gaston accidentally discovers the demented youth, who, with insane zeal and cunning, still guards the book with the dread secret. He sees the damning evidence of his guilt and tries in vain to wrest it from Philip, but succeeds in throwing the youth down an embankment, where he is found by the woodcutter. Gaston, to save himself, arouses the ignorant villagers and incites them to drive the three refugees away. The first attack fails and they attempt to burn the hut where their victims have sought refuge. Seeing the smoke and flames, a dim recollection of a similar scene is awakened in the brain of the insane boy. He follows the woodcutter and his daughter in their escape from the burning hut. They are met by the attacking villagers, one of whom attempts to strike down the old man with a woodcutter's axe. In a flash the vivid scene of the previous murder comes back to Philip. His reason returns with the shock, and he remembers the fatal book. Officers, attracted by the strife, rush in and separate the combatants. Philip shows the accusing writing in the book and the officers seize Gaston, the guilty wretch, who is led away to his just deserts. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less