Moving Picture Weekly (1915-1920)

THE MOVING PICTURE WEEKLY 39 All Star Cast In "The Closing Chapter'* lAiMILTON WALKER, an elderly widower, is living with his unmarried sister, Martha. He is a gentleman of culture and means and of a dignified, commanding presence. His sister, however, has gained complete dominance over him by reason of her selfish, tyrannical disposition. As the story opens, the Colonel receives a letter from his daughter-inlaw, appealing to him on behalf of his grandchild, Beulah. The letter refers to the fact that the Colonel had disinherited his son, John, Jr., some sixteen years before for having married a poor girl, and that John, Jr., —————— too proud to ask his father's assistance in time of trouble, had died of worry and overwork. The wife had supported herself and the child during the following years, but now, broken in health, she appeals to her husband's father to provide for Beulah. Martha finds the letter before the Colonel sees it ; and, suspecting its source, she clandestinely opens it. As a result of the Colonel's break with his son (which was due largely to the influence o f Martha), the Colonel has willed all of his property to Martha ; and Martha, now fearing that by some possibility her brother might be influenced in favor of the grandchild, is determined to thwart the possibility and is about to destroy the letter when she is interrupted by the announcement of a caller. The maid finds the letter and returns it to the Colonel, who is greatly disturbed by its contents. After much stress of mind he determines to aid his grandchild for the sake of the love he once cherished for his boy David. He has never seen Beulah. and writes a note to his son's wife asking that Beulah call to see him. However, not to be thwarted in her selfish designs, Martha promptly interferes, and through the exercise of her sinister influence over the Colonel, she convinces him that Beulah's mother is a designing woman, bent upon gaining a hold on him. 8he persuades him to destroy the letter he has written her and to absolutely ignore her. Beulah is a winsome, lovable, impulsive girl of about fifteen. Her mother, a gentle, refined woman, unable longer to woi-k. hasexhausted all of her savings and is obliged to sell her jewels to RELEASED JULY 11. THREE-REEL drama scenarioized by H. G. Stafford from the story by Clifford Howard. Produced by Murdock MacQuarrie. Aged millionaire tool of scheming relative. CAST. Hamilton Walker. . .Murdock MacQuarrie John, Jr., his son Charles Alexander Martha Walker Adelc Farrington Lawyer Mure Fenton Hamilton Walker, Jr James O'Shea Adelaide, his wife Cynthia Kellogg Beulah, her daughter Betty JSathan her grandfather become the fact from his sister. th» bungalow home of Beulah Scenes from the intensely e sting Big V reel drama. Closing Chapter pay the rent. Failing in her appeal to the Colonel, she now tells Beulah for the first time of their desperate straits. Beulah thereupon impulsively determines to make a personal appeal to her grandfather. She calls at the house. Martha intercepts her without giving her an opportunity to see the Colonel. She tells her that her grandfather will have nothing to do with her and warns her never to come near the house again. A day or two later Beulah and the Colonel meet by accident in the park. Neither knows the other. The mother and the Colonel meet later and suddenly recognize each other. All is thereupon forgiven and the Colonel folds his grandchild to his breast. Unknown to Martha. Beulah and devoted friends. Carefully concealing Colonel calls frequently at the little and her mother and spends many happy times with his beloved Beulah. The love for his grandchild brings a uew light and joy into the Colonel's otherwise lonely life. Martha notes the change in her brother, but is unaware of its meaning until one day she discovers a postcard photograph of the Colonel and Beulah taken together on the occasion of one of their happy clandestine outings to the beach. The Colonel provides liberally for Beulah and her mother, and determines now to change his will in favor of Beulah, so that she may be provided for in the event of his death. For this purpose they call together at the lawyer's office. :\Iartha follows them there and attempts to interfere. But, for the first time in his life, the Colonel asserts his independence and refuses point-blank to lisf-n to his sister. He arranges to return to the lawyer's ofiice the following day and sign the new will. But the next day he is suddenly stricken with a fatal illness. The lawyer goes to the house to have the will signed, but Martha refuses to allow him to see the Colonel. The doctor, who is in love with Martha and in collusion with her in her determination to gain her brother's property, likewise positively refuses. Not to be outwitted, the lawyer gets into the house through the kitclien by helping the grocer to carry in a box of provisions. He succeeds, undetected by Martha, in getting the Colonel's signature to the will. Beulah, impelled 'oy a premonition that something is wrong with her grandfathi'r. hastens to the house in spite of her fear of Alartha and comfoi ts her grandfather in his last moments.