Reel Life (Sep 1914 - Mar 1915)

Sixteen REEL LIFE Concerning a Man's Search for His Dream-Girl and How He Found Her "The Quest" FROM his earliest years, John Douglas, had had a dreamgirl, without whom he felt that life would be wasted. The most eligible bachelor in the most exclusive social set in his city, he was wooed by many hostesses, who had unattached daughters, but all in vain. Even Helen Carruthers, prettiest and wealthiest of all the girls, who laid their snares for the young millionaire failed to make any impression on the heart which this dream maid had preempted. When Douglas tired of society and sailed away on a freighter for a trip through the Orient, there were many who mourned him. Later when word came that the ship and all on board were lost, they all but forgot him. But Douglas did not perish with his shipmates. The sole survivor, he drifts for many hours on a piece of wreckage. In the darkness he is always conscious of the vision of his dream-girl beckoning him on, as if to a place of safety. When day comes he is washed up on an island, inhabited by a strange race of white people, who have never seen> anyone but members of their tribe. Nai, daughter of Neto, chief of the tribe, rescues Douglas from the sea, and to his astonishment he recognizes her as the maiden of his dreams. Summoning help she has him carried to the village, where he is received as the guest of the tribe. Soon, however, the jealousy of Kaura, the sub-chief and her ardent suitor, is aroused While Nai, who is a musician of great ability, plays on a rude harp, the old priest tells Douglas how there is a legend, that the tribe is descended from a party, who long ago were wrecked on the island. Kaura, seeing this, grows more jealous, and demands that Nai be married to him at once. But Nai, her love awakened for Douglas, appeals to him to save her. In a primitive battle with Kaura, however, he is worsted and cast out of the tribe, while Nai is placed in her father's hut under guard. That night Douglas outwits the guard and escapes with Nai to the priest's cave, where they are married. The alarm is given and Kaura and his men pursue them. They flee to the rocky coast in a raging storm, and escape, but Kaura, their relentless pursuer, is killed by a bolt of lightning. For months they live in the forest, Nai growing more proficient at playing upon a larger harp, which Douglas has made for her. Then one day they see a yacht enter the cove near their hut and drop anchor. Douglas tries to signal CAST John Douglas, in -search of an ideal Harry Pollard Mrs. Chalmers, the hostess Lucille Ward De Villiers, a man about town Joseph E. Singleton Helen Carruthers, a society butterfly Nan Christy Nai Margarita Fischer Neto, Chief of the Lost Tribe Joseph E. Singleton Kaura, the sub-chief Robyn Adair The Tribal Priest William Carroll The First of the Mutual Masterpictures Produced by Flying "A" and Starring Margarita Fischer Kaura Demanded Threateningly that Be Married to Him at Once it, but before he can attract attention night comes on, and the two return to their dwelling. There they find the old priest, who has come to invite them back to rule over the tribe, Nai's father having repented of his act as he feels old age coming on. Douglas refuses the offer and takes up his accustomed place before the hut to guard Nai for the night. There he falls asleep and dreams of their rescue. On the ship is De Villiers, his former close friend, a wealthy bachelor and man of the world Nai is soon fitted out with a set of civilized clothing by the other women guests on the yacht and although at first she is a bit awkward, she is so bewitchingly beautiful, that De Villiers cannot refrain from beginning a covert flirtation with her. His advances progress until they arrive home, where he presents her with a harp to take the place of the one brought from the island. Douglas, who has observed De Villiers' attentions to Nai, who has no suspicions of the man's designs, becomes insanely jealous. He forbids her to play on the harp he has given her. The climax wonderful fete, which Nai gives Douglas is deeply depressed and Nai comes soon after, at a her new found friends, harbors evil thoughts. A day or two later, he finds a note on her table from De Villiers, urging her to come to his apartments to view a rare painting. The subterfuge is at once apparent to Douglas, who fails to realize that Nai's innocent nature is incapable of suspecting evil in another. In a? frenzy of jealous rage, he takes a pistol from a drawer and sets out to the home of De Villiers, determined to kill his former friend. Dashing aside the servants, who would stop him, he enters the room where De Villiers has received Nai, just as that worthy has seized her, despite her protests, in his arms. Without hesitation Douglas fires, his bullet finding refuge in his island wife's heart and the next instant he throws himself upon De Villiers, intent on strangling him. As they struggle desperately together, Douglas feels a gentle touch on his arm and awakes, finding Nai trving to rouse him. He realizes that it was all but a dream, though he shudders at the recollection. Without a word, he tears down the signal he had so painstakingly erected the evening before, and with Nai and the venerable priest beside him, watches the yacht sail away. Then the three start back for the village of the tribe.