Footfalls (1921)

Hiram Scudder is a blind cobbler, with a son named Tommy. Hiram passes the time listening for the footfalls of passersby, correctly identifying who they are. His son Tommy is in love with Peggy Hawthorne, the village belle. Peggy tells Tommy he must get a job and make a name for himself before she will marry him. Tommy becomes jealous of Alec Campbell, who shows interest in Peggy. Campbell, an engineer, lives above the shop where Tommy's father works. Tommy has a fight with Campbell in the latter's room. Hiram hears the struggle, and goes upstairs, but is tossed back down to the floor of his shop, where he breaks his leg. During the struggle, a lamp is overturned, the room catches on fire, and one man is killed. The survivor creeps downstairs, carrying a satchel of money. Hiram grabs the man's hand, but is beaten off by a wrench. The man throws the money behind a wall and runs out. The body found in the fire is charred beyond recognition, but since Campbell's clothes and watch are found, the body is assumed to be his. Tommy is then wanted for murder. Hiram, whom the villagers now think is insane, listens for footfalls night and day, certain the killer will return for the money. One night, Hiram hears familiar footsteps and struggles with the intruder, choking him. The intruder is revealed to be Campbell. Tommy is posthumously cleared of murder.