Mother's Roses (1915)

Wall Street financier John Morrison is in the habit of bringing home to his wife daily a bunch of beautiful roses. Delevan, a recognized Money King, meets Helen, the financier's daughter, upon whom he immediately exerts a hypnotic influence, and she becomes infatuated with him. Payne Morrison, Helen's brother, recognizes Delevan as the man who forcibly took the last life-preserver from a woman in a shipwreck, and warns her against the man. She ignores the warning and Delevan secures her promise to elope with him. The sudden illness and death of her mother prevents this. The shock of Mrs. Morrison's death deranges John Morrison's mind, and the business is carried on by Payne. Delevan again tries to get Helen to elope, but at the critical moment her mother's face appears to her in a vision and she refuses. The rascal then schemes to ruin the Morrisons through their holdings in railroad stocks. He discovers they hold a thousand shares less than his company in a certain stock and plans to have himself elected president of the road. Delevan's stenographer, whom he professed to love, prior to his attachment for Helen Morrison, hears of his engagement, and in revenge, informs Payne of the scheme to ruin him. Remembering that his father had once presented Mrs. Morrison with a block of that particular stock, Payne realizes if he can locate them, it will throw the balance of power into his hands. He seeks his father about them, but John Morrison remembers nothing of it. In despair, Payne is about to give up when the spirit of his mother appears and points straight at the family Bible. Between its leaves are found the five thousand shares and the excitement of it all clears John Morrison's mind. At the directors' meeting, the Morrisons vote in the extra shares, completely defeating Delevan, and John Morrison, now himself again, is asked to take the president's chair, while a beautiful vision of Mother appears and smiles upon them.