Universal Weekly (1914-1915)

THE UNIVERSAL WEEKLY 27 Shoots Herself After Causing Murder HE story of "The Temptation of Edwin Swayne", a two-reel Rex drama, in which Frank Lloyd, Helen Leslie and Gretchen Lederer are featured, and which will be released on Sunday, January 24, is as follows : Edwin to settle wealthy Grissel's Swayne, well dressed and refined in manner, is a gambler. He still retains a wholesome respect for the finer things of life, however, and despite his irregular relations with Dado Scholl, a beautiful adventuress, Swayne would like nothing better than to meet a clean, wholesome young woman and down. Swayne and Davidson, a young man-about-town, visit gambling house. After an evening's sport at the roulette wheel they are about to leave when they meet Grissel's niece, who has just arrived from a small country town near the great city. The child, for she is little more than such, does not realize that her uncle intends to use her as a "come-on" in the gambling resort, as a magnet to attract the world-weary roues who visit the gaming tables. The freshness and beauty of the girl make a deep impression on both Swayne and Davidson. Swayne, thereafter, visits Grissel's even more frequently and neglects his old flame, Dado. When Dado sends him a note, begging him not to neglect her, Swayne replies that he will not see her again, as he intends to marry Frances, if she will have him. That night he proposes to Frances. She accepts. Swayne's valet delivers his master's note to Dado, who flies into a furious rage. The valet, who has a secret passion for Dado, is easily made a tool for the execution of Dado's revenge. Meanwhile, Frances and Swayne are married. Weeks later Swayne finds Davidson despondent, broke, down and out. His passion for gambling has ruined him. Swayne decides to take the boy home and to set him on his feet again, since he was the means of starting Davidson on the downward path. Frances is delighted with the plan, as it seems to prove to her that her husband has definitely put his gambling career behind him. Time goes on. Davidson and Frances, of an age, play about the pretty garden and the house like two school children, drifting, although they do not realize it at the time, into a regard for each other that is warmer than friendship. Absorbed in his love for her, Swayne does not notice the attachment of the young couple, and the two themselves are equally ignorant of the real nature of their own feelings for each other. Gambler's mistress, in "The Temptation of Edwin Swayne", in despair at having effected her sweetheart's death, commits suicide. Gambler, jealous of young man he has taken into his home, attempts to strangle him. Shot from ambush, the gambler forgives the young man he has ruined at the gaming table. Real murderer confesses. Two-reel Rex drama. Written by Ruth Ann Raldwin. Released Sunday, January 24. CAST. Edwin Sivayne, Gambler .... F rank Lloyd George Davidson George Larkin Dado Scholl Gretchen Lederer t'rances Bridges Helen Leslie Hart Grissel Marc Robbing Grissel. Meanwhile, Swayne is playing in hard luck. Funds are running low, and he de cides to take one more flyer at the "kitty". He plans to gamble just once more and then buy a partnership in a good firm and stop forever. He leaves a note for his wife, telling her of his intentions. As the door he meets a messenger with a note from Dado, saying that she is dying and begging him to come. Swayne hurries out and drops the note as he goes. The valet finds it. Jealous, because Dado has sent for Swayne, the valet fol lows. Swayne finds, upon arrival at Dadoes home, that he has been duped and that Dado is in good health. Dado, when Swayne starts to leave, tells him angrily that he is a fool to love Frances, that she is too young for him, and that even his valet can see that she is rapidly learning to love Davidson. Swayne, infuriated, leaves for home. Meanwhile, Frances finds the note her husband has left and begins to sob. David son tries to comfort her and awakens her love. The girl clings to him, and Swayne returns, to find them in a compromising position. Meanwhile, in Dado's apartment, the valet accuses her of double-crossing him. Dado assures him that she hates Swayne and begs him to avenge her on the man. Inflamed by his love for her, the valet follows Swayne to his home with a pistol. As Davidson is trying to explain the situation to tbe enraged Swayne the valet creeps to the curtains in the 1 i b r a r y and shoots Swayne down. He drop« the pistol near Davidson and the housekeep er, who runs in, think* Davidson has murdered Swayne. Davidson is arrested and Swayne taken to a hospital. An operation fails to save the wounded man and young Da vidson is brought before him for identification a* his assailant. Swayne, realizing that he is dying, decides to make Frances happy, and declares that Davidson did not shoot him. Detectives decide that the evidence against Davidson is too strong to permit of his release, however, and he is detained The valet tells Dado that lie has killed Swayne, but she drive* him out in anger when she learns that he has killed the only man she ever loved. Dado then shoots herself in despair. Tbe valet, in remorse, gives himself up and confesses. Davidson i« released and Swayne passes away, realizing that he has played his last game, but happy to have arranged for his wife's future as the wife of Davidson, tbe man whom he first introduced into the gambling world. Several months later Davidson and France* are happily married. the Gambling House Proprietor, Sneers at the Man Who Would Woo His Niece.