Madame X (1920)

Jacqueline Floriot is married to Louis Floriot and they have a young son, Raymond. Jacqueline has a love affair with Floriot's friend, which Floriot discovers. He banishes her from his house. When she learns that Raymond is desperately ill, Jacqueline returns to the home against her husband's wishes, and a servant lets her in. But Floriot discovers her and refuses to let her see their son. He forces her out of the house for good. Jacqueline's life becomes wretched, and she sinks lower and lower. Twenty years pass, and she meets Laroque, a disreputable Frenchman traveling in South America. He consents to take her back to Paris as his companion. After they arrive in France, her history becomes known to some blackmailers named Parissard and Merivel. Laroque decides to profit from this and calls upon Floriot, who is now has a high position in Paris. Jacqueline, fearful her son will learn the truth about her, shoots Laroque. She is arrested and taken to prison, where she refuses to talk, calling herself "Madame X." When the trial begins, Raymond is appointed as her attorney, unaware of her identity. He grows fonder and fonder of her, and is able to win her freedom. Although Jacqueline now knows that the attorney is her son, she does not tell him. But Floriot recognizes her, and tells the truth to Raymond. Mother and son are briefly reunited, before Jacqueline commits suicide by poison.