The Courtesan (1916)

Mayda St. Maurice is a courtesan, who has sacrificed her whole existence that her son may advance in the world. Glenn Manley, her son, believes that his parents died in Alaska, leaving him an estate which paid an income sufficient for his education and needs. In order that her boy should have no inkling as to the source of his money a specified sum is paid each quarter to Bayard Vance, an elderly lawyer, who turns it over to Glenn, who is studying in the same profession. Mayda tells Vance about her early life, how she eloped with Jim Brice, a gambler, but was deserted before her child was born. And she had been compelled to lead an immoral life in order to support herself and her son. Glenn is in love with Betty, who has been studying abroad, but is returning home. Murdock Grandby, Sr. the political boss of the city, has obtained through fraudulent means a contract for public construction. To head off any possible investigation while the work is being done he decides to have his son elected District Attorney. The taxpayers' league is aroused and Glenn is persuaded to run for the office in opposition to Murdock Grandby, Jr. Grandby, Sr., alarmed at the progress that Glenn is making, sets his henchmen to work to discover some dark spot in the young man's past. Glenn is shadowed to Vance's office. An agent of Grandby calls on the old lawyer and makes inquiries into Glenn's early life, but Vance puts him off. While Vance is answering the telephone the man notices two receipts, one showing that Glen Manley has received a certain sum of money from Mr. Vance and the other that Vance has received the same sum from Mayda St. Maurice. The henchman jumps to the quick conclusion that the courtesan is contributing to the campaign fund of the would-be prosecutor and he pockets the receipts. These he turns over to Grandby, Jr. Murdock shows Mayda the receipts and promises her immunity from vice raids if she will make an affidavit that Glenn has accepted money. She pretends to fall in with the plan, but as soon as she obtains the receipts she hurls them into the fire. Murdock now bribes Mayda's maid and is in the act of searching her trunk when he is cornered by Mayda and at the point of a pistol is compelled to relinquish possession of a photograph of his father and a document that would prove that Mayda is Glenn's mother. He orders that Mayda be shadowed day and night. Murdock is unable to obtain legal evidence against Glenn, who is elected by a small majority, but he finds small comfort in his victory for it has cost him his sweetheart. In the meantime Vance had followed Grandby, Sr., to Palm Beach and he proves that the political boss was known as Jim Brice, and that he was the cause of Mayda's misfortunes. Vance obtains an agreement by which Grandby sets aside a sum of money for Mayda's use and he also recognizes Glenn as his legitimate son. Grandby, Jr., attempts to circulate a recall petition and events move rapidly to a startling climax. Glenn is lured to his mother's illegal residence by a bogus note and Betty is also phoned for. Mayda protects her boy as long as she can, but is finally compelled to admit that she is his mother. "Yes, and that man," said Vance pointing to Murdock, "is your brother." The excitement is too much for Mayda and she succumbs to an attack of heart failure. Lawyer Vance explains everything and Betty and Glenn are reconciled.