Black Fear (1915)

In an allegory Satan is seen on his throne, disgusted with the age-long monotony of ensnaring mankind with the old devices and passions. Miss Cocaine presents herself, and offers to go to Earth as his ambassador to lure souls to perdition. Horace Ely, head of a big messenger-service company, is starting on an automobile ride with the two Ellsmere sisters, Lillian and Mary, when their attention is attracted to a group on the corner and find that their younger brother Billy has been engaged in a fight with two messenger boys employed by Ely. The trouble arose over Billy's efforts to dissuade the boys from taking cocaine. Ely champions the boys' cause, but the police lead them off to the station. One of the boys is the son of Mrs. Martindale, the Ellsmeres' housekeeper. Judge Le Roy, who presides at the Juvenile Court, has long been friendly with Lillian Ellsmere, and when her little brother and Mrs. Martindale appear in court next day, he agrees to be lenient and arranges to have the boys take a drug cure. Soon after, the Ellsmere siblings' father loses his fortune on Wall Street and ends his life. The girls take a small flat, and Billy gets a place with Ely as a messenger boy. Through Ely's direction, Billy is introduced to cocaine and soon becomes a confirmed addict. Mrs. Martindale has learned from her son that Ely, who has been posing as a single man, is married. Mary has become fond of Ely and refuses to believe it. Lillian forbids Mary to see him, and Ely uses Billy as a go-between in arranging meetings with Mary. Mary is finally lured to Ely's apartments, and when she resents his advances, he drugs her. Billy's health has been undermined through using the drug, and he is taken to the hospital, near death. Lillian learns of this and hurries to the hospital, arriving there as he breathes his last. Crazed with grief Lillian seeks out Ely's apartments to avenge Billy's death. She forces her way into the apartment just as Ely and Mary, who is recovering from the effects of the drug, are in a terrific struggle. Mary hides before her sister can see her there. Lillian fights with Ely and attempts to shoot him, but he wrenches the revolver from her hand. Ely trips over a rug; as he falls the pistol is discharged and Ely is killed. Mary witnesses the whole affair, but fearing Lillian's wrath and wanting to save her own reputation, she flees. Miss Cocaine reports her success to Satan and is commended. Lillian is arrested and charged with murder. She convinces Judge Le Roy of her innocence, and he resigns as judge to defend her. But it is not so easy to convince the jury. Mary is about to flee the city when the figure of a traffic officer appears in front of her as the implacable Justice. She turns and hurries to the courtroom, just as the jury has decided against Lilian. Mary gives her testimony, and recounts how Lillian saved her from outrage at the hands of the monster, Ely. The jury returns a verdict of "Not Guilty," without leaving the jury-box, and Judge Le Roy is rewarded by Lillian's acceptance of his suit for her hand.