The Moving Picture Weekly (1916-1917)

THE MOVING PICTURE WEEKLY -37 Left — Dempster discovers the thefts. Right — Mary fights with Jessen. "Money and Mystery" BISON Two Reel Western Drama. Story by Robert Von Saxmar. Scenario by Jack Cunningham and produced by Henry McRae, with Eileen Sedgwick and Kingsley Benedict featured. CAST. Mary Eileen Sedgwick Charlie Terrill W, E. Lawrence Jim Dempster George Pearce Ben Jessen William Dyer Dawes Kingsley Benedict Marion Dempster Martha Mattox Agatha Dempster.. Mrs. G. Hernandez ENRY McRAE produced this typical Bison, which was written by Robert von Saxmar and adapted for the screen by Jack Cunningham. Eileen Sedgwick and Kingsley Benedict are the featured players in the tale which revolves swiftly about the robbery of a mining property by the dishonest superintendent. Mary Dempster, who has lived all her life with her two maiden aunts, comes of age, and into full control of her property. She hears her aunts talking with the old man about her father, Jim Dempster, who was cast adrift by his family, and who now works in his sisters' employ as bookkeeper at the "Mary" Mine in the Far West. This is owned by Mary and the spinters, and Ben Jessen has just been appointed manager. She determines to go to her father. The aunts refuse to allow her to go, but she disobeys them. Mary is seen by Charlie Terrill, the sheriff, and by Ben Jessen, as she alights from the old stage at the mine. Terrill gallantly offers his service, takes her baggage and leads her to Jim Dempster's cabin. Jessen is immediately attracted to Mary and begins to plan. Jessen has for some time been robbing the owners of the mine, diverting carloads of ore, and having Dawes, his assistant, forge Dempster's name to the bills of lading. Dempster has been of no hindrance to this work, for his brain is dulled by whiskey. But a change takes place in Dempster; under Mary's influence he soon is a different man. He begins to see that something is wrong with the books at the mine and is perplexed. Dawes warns Jessen, but he refuses to be alarmed. Mary and Terrill have become the best of friends, while Jessen still tries to find favor in her eyes. Meantime, the aunts are so lonely without Mary that they make arrangements to go to the mine. They are terrified by the recklessness of the stage-driver, whom they amuse greatly by their screams. Emboldened by successful thefts, Jessen diverts more cars of ore, and Dempster informs him of the errors. Jessen is furious. He orders Dawes to fasten suspicion on Dempster, and the assistant immediately begins by insinuating charges against Dempster before some of the working men, one of whom calls him a skunk for talking about a man behind his back. Dawes pulls a gun and fires; the man falls, apparently shot, and Dawes flees, followed by a number of men. Terrill arrives to find the man uninjured, but nevertheless pursues Dawes to Mary's cabin. Jessen accuses Dempster, but agrees to keep silent if Mary will marry him. She repulses him, and he gives her a week in which to decide. At the end of that time Dempster is taken prisoner, but Terrill goes his bail. Jessen arrives at the cabin while Mary is alone. The aunts arrive and follow Terrill and Dempster to the cabin. Terrill, hearing a struggle, rushes into the cabin and grabs Jessen just as he is about to kiss Mary. Jessen tries to slink from the room. Mary points out to her aunts the change in her father. Dawes, having ridden frantically to the cabin, dashes into the scene. He reveals Jessen's crime and his own duplicity, while Terrill quickly covers Jessen with his revolver.