The Heart of Midlothian (1914)

Effie and Jeanie are the two daughters of a humble Highlander, Crofton Deans. Jeanie is engaged to a young minister, but Effie is secretly married to a notorious outlaw, her sister alone being aware of this. Effie obtains work in an Edinburgh harness maker's shop. A letter from the outlaw tells her that he has succeeded in finding a home for her with Old Margery, who lives in the woods with her half-crazy daughter, Madge Wildfire. Here a child is born to Effie and the outlaw begs her to keep silent, assuring her that both their lives depend upon it, for in those days if a woman concealed the birth of her child and any mishap overtook it, she was held to be guilty of murder. Madge, who has been driven mad by the loss of her own baby under somewhat identical circumstances, steals the baby and hides it. In her despair, Effie wanders away in search of the little one and eventually arrives at her father's home, distraught and in a sad plight. The outlaw, in the meantime, hears of Effie's misfortune, and abuses Old Margery for her carelessness. Thereupon, in order to be avenged on the outlaw, Old Margery informs the authorities and Effie is consequently dragged from her father's home and arrested on a charge of murdering her baby. Meanwhile, Crazy Madge, leads the soldiers to the outlaw's hiding place but he eludes them. Effie's trial comes in, and everything hangs upon whether Jeanie will admit that she knew of her sister's condition. Although loving her sister devotedly, Jeanie cannot tell the lie that would save Effie and the sentence of death is pronounced. Jeanie then shows the depth of her affection by going on foot to London, to get a pardon from the king through the influence of John, Duke of Argyle, but Crazy Madge and Old Margery plan to kidnap the girl lest their scheme of vengeance should miscarry. They are successful but at the last moment the discursive mood of Crazy Madge changes and she assists Jeanie to escape. She at last arrives in London and, by the aid of John, she secures an audience with Queen Caroline and Lady Suffolk and although at first start the case seems hopeless a pardon is promised to her. A few days later the pardon arrives, and Jeanie sets out for Edinburgh. She arrives on the outskirts of the town on the morning of the execution and is again waylaid by Madge and Old Margery. Old Margery attempts to shoot her but once again the unstable mind of the mad girl veers round and, stepping in front of Jeanie, she receives the bullet and is mortally wounded. Jeanie hastens on and arrives at the place of execution. The outlaw, in the meantime, finds the baby in Madge's keeping and arrives upon the scene. Thus the complete innocence of Effie is proved. The final tableau shows the Outlaw, his wife and child happily reunited.