As Ye Repent (1915)

The plot is centered about Roma Sano, an Italian actress, who has achieved success on the London stage, but whose popularity and prosperity have caused her to become arrogant to the extent that she ignores her peasant uncle and aunt, who befriended her when she was a child in Italy. Roma has been receiving the attentions of Edward Grimshaw, a man about town. Grimshaw is married and dependent on his wife's income for support of his profligacies. In order to bring Grimshaw, whom she loves, to her feet, Roma carries on a secondary affair with Harry Somers, a wealthy young London bachelor. Roma learns that her little cousin, Marea, has been left destitute by the death of her parents, and that the priest of the Italian village in which she was born is sending Marea to her. The parents of the little girl, Marea, are the uncle and aunt of Roma, who cared for her when she was a child. In a letter, Marea implores her cousin to aid her in recognition of the aid that was once given the actress. Roma is furious at what she considers the burden of caring for Marea. She receives the news with every evidence of displeasure. Marea arrives at Roma's home while the latter is at the theater. She is taken in charge by Roma's housekeeper. In the next few days Marea becomes somewhat accustomed to her new surroundings. When Harry Somers calls at the house he is attracted by the beauty of the little Italian girl and volunteers to teach her English. A friendship is thus established between them. Roma becomes jealous of Somers' attitude toward the girl. Somers takes advantage of Marea under a promise of marriage and the child is frantic with shame, urging that they be married immediately. Confronted with this situation, Marea goes to Roma for aid and comfort, only to he denounced as a schemer. Marea is turned out of the actress' home and becomes a wanderer. When she is almost in the depths of despair her child is born, and having no means of caring for it, she leaves it at the gate of a mansion. This turns out to be the home of John Gordon, a wealthy philanthropist, whom Roma has married since the collapse of her affair with Grimshaw, though she maintains a liaison with the latter. Roma has refused to accept the responsibility of motherhood and so it comes about that Marea's child is adopted by the Gordons. Soon after, Roma is caught in a compromising situation with Grimshaw. Gordon turns her off. During the dramatic scenes that attend Roma's exposure, Father Anselm, a fine old priest, tries to compose the family difficulties, but without success. Gordon attaches himself to the mission conducted by Father Anselm, settling part of his fortune on his faithless wife. Marea, reduced to penury and want, enters the church in which Gordon is playing the organ. Gordon insists upon aiding the girl; Marea discovers plots laid by bad characters to attack Gordon because of his crusade against vice. One day when he goes to the theater in an effort to induce Roma to surrender the boy, Marea follows him, with the idea of protecting him from harm. There she finds the little boy at play. By a cross about his neck she recognizes her own child. Confronted by Marea, Roma becomes panic stricken and sets fire to the structure accidentally. Marea seizes the child and escapes. She is overpowered by smoke and is fainting when rescued by Gordon who later marries her.