Pictures and the Picturegoer (October 1915 - March 1916)

Wkkk KNDINO I9IS PICTURES AND THE PICTURlOOEH . Tbi Marti \ 1 ia m v. reached. Austin Stoneman, now supreme (through tlio Congressional power o£ overriding President Johnson's veto, wont South to supervise his " Equality " programme. He was accompanied by his children, Elsie and Phil, ami upon arrival in Piedmont they took a house next door to the Camerons. There Elsie became engaged to the gallant little Confederate Colonel, Ben Cameron. but Phil was not successful hi his attempts to woo his old sweetheart Margaret, upon whom the shadows of war hung too heavily. The Crusaders. Meanwhile the reign of the " carpetbaggers" commenced. The ensuing State Election was won l>y the so-called '" Union League." Silas Lynch, the halt•ted Lieutenaht-Goverrior. A Legislature, with " carpetbeg " and negro members in overwhelming niajority.looted the State. Everj thing was in disorder, and htwleswiei)tf' ran Whites wore knocked* down in the street, overawed at the polls, and (ebbed everywhere. As a la-t resource Ben Cameron determined to lead the white men of the country in organising the invisible empire " of the Ku Klux Klan. Faithful and devoted women of the South spent their days and nights behind locked doors making the white, ghost-like costumes of these crusaders. Over this new development Austin Stoneman boiled withrage. and Lynch's were sent out. They returned with evidence that garments were being made by the Camerons. and that Ben Cameron was night-riding. Stoneman desired Elsie to disavow her "traitorous " lover, and she. surprised and hurt that Ben was employed in such work, .rave him back his troth. Ab,„n this time little Flora Cameron, the delight of the Cameron home, was Bought after by the renegade family servant ("us. who had joined forces with the Militiamen and become one of Lynch s crew. Time and again Flora had been warned by her parents and brothers never to go unaccompanied into the woods hard by the cliff called l.iv.'i.x .1^ phi) ill In .l.i-.]i'\ |li'iiat>er\ . Lovers' Leap. Liitlo heading the admonition, she took her BUokel one day and started off to the spring. She was followed by (Jus. the renegade* Frighteiied by his approach, she broke into a run. Gjis raced after her. Ben Cameron, hearing that she had gone into the woods alone, hastened forth and made a third person in the chase. In desperation the little girl tore this way and that, dodging her cruel pursuer until, almost cornered, she climbed to the jutting edge of Lovers' Leap, from" which, as Cus approached nearer. slie leaped to certain death. Ben Cameron discovered the dying child a few minutes later, and a heartrending scene took place when he reached home with his sister'* body in his arms. Sweet Flora's Death Avenged. .Cus escaped! at the time, hut. was" afterwards captured, tried, and found I'n ■ Kn KI11 l. 'i' to I lie Til. 1 ■ ii\ asking for rninfu til era >\ 8 t he on 1 pel b it ■ ■_• -i i:i.l Tl exl outrage upon li ! ' 1 ni. ion lanillv W l|! I li. ai !■• -I .'I I >r I 'a run for hll fbfl elan-m-n \ j I hi iic biin to -.i .1 Phil Mo 1 >ni in, > thoroughly in sympathj villi Si ml herons, .1 | ion "t a res -ii.' I'.o 1 \ . Ti dow n lb Militia. ' »■ ami bi « ife Mai y.i.'.-t . I'liil. and I h ■ fail bl'u I servants awaj to tin cnunl where they found refuge and killdlj hospital it j in the fog cabin of some ( 11). hi \ eterans. In I In m. 'ant mi ! El :•■ 81 1 the absence of her. fat her. wenl to l.i.'iil.'ll.llii CrOl 01 'li.. i l.\ ii.1l. oil b.'half of lice biotlur and the 1 Bill . irlfitedo of helping the daughter of his " friend;" L\ nob seized lb" opportunity Of declaring "love" for the beautiful girl, Baying he would make bet tic white queen of his empire. In view oi her rebuffs be ordered a aegro Chaplain to be sent for to performa forced marriage. At this crucial moment news wag received of Stoneman's return to the town, whereupon Lynch wenl out to tell him that he intended to marry his daughter Elsie. Thus Stoneman, the "social equalise?,'1 the theoretical upholder of the intermarriage of blacks and whites, found all his theories 11] by the simple personal event. But. 1 and storm as he did. Stoneman was also altogether helpless, There was but one hope anywhere th» courageous^ nd chivahric host of Ku Kmx riding for dear life Piedmont-ward. At their head rode Ben Cameron, the ''Little Colonel.'' They wo-. armed bo the hilt, and pledged to victory or death. As they dashed into the town their guns mowed down the militia troops opposing them. The Lynch mansion was taken, and Ben and his men burst into the The remarkable scene (from the film) in the Ford Theatre. Washington, showing the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, in a private box by Wilkes Booth, ail Apr'; Uth, 1865 ' *