Universal Weekly (1917-1934)

32 ■THE MOVING PICTURE WEEKLY Seeds of Redemption REX Two-Reel Society Drama. Written and produced by Robert F. Hill, with Claire Mersereau, the younger sister of the Bluebird star, in the lead. The story of a charming orphan, a jealous woman, a social vampire, and a kiddie whose innocent theft makes trouble for everybody. Rita and Jack understand each other. I OW the innocent theft by a baby of a string of pearls, which she takes for seeds and plants in garden nearly caused a I tragedy, is the theme of this Rex two-reel picture, which was written and produced by Robert F. Hill and stars Claire Mersereau, the younger sister of the well-known Bluebird star. Rita Ashley is the guest of Mrs. Warren, but she is expected to put in most of her time taking care of the little girl. Jack, the son, is the only one who pays much attention to her. Cora Maitland is the other guest, with designs on Jack. She tells Rita that her clothes are getting positively shabby. Rita then refuses to appear at the musicale that night, and Cora offers to buy her a gown. Rita rather angrily refuses. Thomas Houpe is a young man with a curious position in society, who lives by a refined form of blackmail. He needs money, and reads in the paper of the house-party at the Warrens. He sees Cora's name among them, and sends word to her which compels her to go with him. At h i s looms he tells her that it ought to be worth something to her to keep her past from Jack Warren. In the Warren home, Rita is playing with the baby. They go into the garden and watch the planting of seeds. Rita tells the baby that flowers will grow from them. Jack returns and gives the baby a package, which she hides in Rita's room. That night Rita is dressing for the musicale in her old gown. The baby says that Santa Claus will be angry if she doesn't wear his gown. She opens the closet door and there is the box. Rita puts on the frock and goes down. Jack proposes to Rita, who asks him to be very sure before announcing their engagement. In the meantime, the baby is searching in Cora's room and finds her string of pearls. She thinks they are seeds, takes them out in the garden and plants them. Later in the night Houpe and his pal come to the house with the intention of robbing it, and Cora lets them in. They chloroform Mrs. Warren, and are searching her room, when Jack, hearing a noise, comes in with a gun. Houpe trips Jack, who falls, and then shoots. Houpe falls dead. Rita awakens and comes in; she revives Mrs. Warren. The whole house is aroused and the police summoned. The following morning the missing pearls bring new complications, as the police think it is an inside job. Cora says that it is strange that Rita should wear a new gown the night the CAST. Rita Ashley Claire Mesereau Jack Warren Stanley Walpole Cora Maitland Marguerite Straselle Mrs. Warren Nellie Slattery Thomas Houpe Johnnie Walker Baby Warren Violet Axtell pearls were missing, as she has no income. Jack, who has bought the frock, remains silent, as he fears to compromise the girl. As they are about to accuse Rita, the baby enters and says that Rita fibbed, as the pearls have not come up. She takes Jack out in the garden and shows them to him. Cora leaves the house, and Jack announces his engagement to Rita to his mother. "THE PLOW WOMAN," {Continued from page 13) promptly thought it Mary's, and ordered her from the house. To protect Ruth, Mary took the child and set out in the direction of the fort. Eraser later tried to arrest Buck in the saloon, and a terrific battle ensued, during which the log building caught fire and was burned to the ground. The lieutenant was severely wounded and was rescued from the flames by a troop of soldiers, who were summoned by the shots and fire. Buck escaped through a window and immediately wrought up the Sioux Indians, who with their war paint on, started to sweep over the prairie. They met Mary as she was fleeing with the baby, and surrounding her, were about to murder her, when Buck saw the child. His white blood for once aroused, he fought the angry and blood-thirsty Indians, keeping Mary behind him, where they desperately struggled until rescued by Eraser and his troop. Buck was fatally wounded and died after being forgiven by Mary. Meanwhile, Jack had come to Andy's cabin to warn him of the Indians and was happily surprised to find Ruth there. Andy, seeing him, and believing him the betrayer of Mary, managed to rise and, grappling with Jack, was about to strike him with a bowie knife, when Ruth in a frenzy threw herself before Eraser and told her father she was Jack's wife and it was their baby Mary took away. Andy was then pacified.