The Night of Love (United Artists) (1927)

Serial Strips Order this six-day pictorial serial story feature, for newspaper use with -‘The Night of Love.” This is a tabloid novel, with six 6-column 55-screen halftone mats from photographs carefully retouched. Ask for NL-10—Special Story Strips; price for all, $3.00, from United Artists Exchanges. Note that the story for each day goes under the strip. Copyright 1927 by United Artists Corporation. SIX ISSUES THIS WEEK “THE Scenes from Samuel roldwyn’s Presentation of the George Fitzmaurice Production of LOVE” = WITH = From an original story by Lenore Coffee. RONALD COLMAN and VILMA BANKY COMPLETE IN SIX ISSUES THIS WEEK , V MONDAY K •• , Qf old, the lord of the manor possessed unlimited powers over his vassals. It so chanced that Bernardo, Duke de la Garda, snatched from the arms of a gypsy, a young bride. “I’ll send her back,” sneered the tyrant, “tomorrow.” Men of his tribe restrained the gypsy, Montero, from a Ifc. foolhardy attempt to rescue the bride. . . . Next day the ^ girl was returned to him—a corpse. She had preferred death to dishonor. Over her body Montero swore a ter¬ rible revenge. Soon the borders of the duchy rang with the exploits of an invincible bandit, whose fancy was to rob the rich and aid the poor. Meanwhile Bernardo had brought from France a beautiful lady for his own bride. But, Princess Marie of France had been sacrificed to Bernardo for reasons of state. , She recoiled from his ad¬ vances even at the great wedding feast in her honor. A cynical looker-on was Donna Beatriz, a cast-off favorite of the groom. TUESDAY While the Duke lavished unwelcome attention upon his reluctant bride before the carousing wedding guests, the ambassador from France arrived with an empty chest once filled with rare gifts. Montero, the bandit, had looted it of jewels and silks. Thus Marie became aware of the feud between the Duke and the Romany outlaw. She revolted at the cruelty of a lord who would tear a wife from an humble man’s arms and insist upon the barbaric “right of the first night.” She visioned the helpless bride disgraced, and felt a real sympathy for the husband. While Bernardo stormed at the loss of his wedding gifts and hurled orders that the robber be taken alive or dead, a bold voice cried, “Here am I!” In a moment Montero and his band slashed all the company into complete sub¬ mission. Master of the situation, the gypsy chilled the blood of all when he turned his gaze upon the fair and lily-white bride. In spite of her resistance he seized her. “The tables are A turned 1” he announced to the cowering Duke. “I’ll return ■ her to you—tomorrow.” The Duke grew impatient, Her vision of the pocr gypsy lass. The Romany bandit fought like a demon. “As the Duke claimed my bride, I claim youl” In their nuptial hour they had to part. Over his bride’s corpse f,he gypsy took an oath. “This is our night of love,” gloated the Duke. Marie shrank from her brutal spouse. FRIDAY When Bernardo had almost forgotten his lost bride—such is the hardness of selfish dissolute men—Marie walked into the palace, free and unharmed. His passion for her instantly returned as he roughly seized her. It was a bitter pill however for Donna Beatriz his old flame. Her brow dark¬ ened at the princess’ return. Marie, on her part, spurned her lord and master—for he haded her not as his bride but in the status of a favorite Raging with jealousy he would not believe that she had been held captive without harm. a j U . r ‘ ou . s D u ke had a willing ally in Donna Beatriz. c 1 "is dotation she forged a letter to Montero, ostensibly from Mane. It was intended to lure the bandit to the castle and to his undoing. Receiving the false message, the dashing outlaw left his secure refuge among the gypsies to venture into the jaws ot the lion. Meanwhile the princess had definitely admitted her love for him, and had been thrown into a dungeon. Careful nursing by the women Marie back from death’s door after her leap from the towi window to escape Montero’s vengeful purpose. The ham some bandit now regarded her with high respect. Mar grew also 'to envy his camaraderie with the gypsy girls. She became kindlier to him—and he to her. They bega to understand each other. Nor had she ever closed h< eyes to the fact that his wrongs were real. On one moot lit night he cast all reserve to the winds. The princess melted-at his embrace, and confessed h< secret love for him, the bandit and despoiler. But Moi tero proved himself noble. He agreed that their love woul be a sin. She was by law another’s. He must restore h< to the Duke. Such was the heart-breaking climax to the night of love. Meanwhile the Duke—deprived of his bride—did m languish. He found relaxation with Donna Beatriz h one-time charmer, who allured him with seductive danct and Bacchanalian fetes. He was not as loyal to a lost brid as the poor gypsy had been. Her lord and master clutched her. “So you lcve that bandit?” “Write him this letter—signed ‘Marie’ 1” Doomed to the torture. WEDNESDAY She felt herself jealous of a gypsy lass. I can never let you gol” And we who have found each other must part. Beatriz basked in the smiles of the Duke. SATURDAY Beating down those sentinels who obstructed his'way the dauntless Montero penetrated the Duke’s stronghold and found Marie in the dungeon. He saved also a dwarf who was his spy in the castle. Leaving the princess in the dwarf s care, the bandit advanced to clear the wav for their flight. Trapped by a strong force of ducal henchmen, Montero succumbed after a hopeless struggle. Presently the bandit was tied to a stake with fagots burning under him. Even the gypsy’s cohorts stood subdued while the Duke ordered the fagots piled higher. Stealing to a balcony Marie also witnessed the plight of her lover. She knelt and prayed for aid from heaven. As by an inspiration she solved the problem. With an awe- sonje cry she showed herself to the multitude in the vest¬ ments of a holy statue. “A miracle! A miracle!” cried the assemblage. In an¬ other moment the crowd had rushed the pyre and rescued Montero. They carried him off in triumph to Marie. And as the lovers embraced, the Duke was hustled away to a deserved fate. “Whatever happens, keep her hidden there. A disaster to all his hopes. She prayed as never before. Theirs, through life, a Night of Love.