April (1916)

Judge De Voe and his wife are robbed of their baby girl, Mary Katharine, by a nurse in retaliation of her discharge. The nurse takes the baby to the mountains seeking the aid of her cousin, Martha Fagan, in hiding the child. Martha is the wife of Tim Fagan, a brutal mountaineer. They have a baby, the same age as the De Voe child, whom she calls April and who her husband cares nothing about. While he is on a hunting trip, their baby dies. The nurse arrives while Martha is at the grave of her child, and leaves the stolen baby while she goes out in search of Martha. In passing a deep canyon she makes a misstep and is dashed to death. When Martha returns and finds the child, she thinks that it is a gift from heaven to take the place of her child, and names it "April." When her husband returns she lets him believe it is their child. Eighteen years later April is still in the mountains with her supposed parents. Martha Fagan has aged with the hardships of life, and has become sullen and bitter, but she still loves April. Tim Fagan is engaged in counterfeiting with a young mountaineer, Casper, who wants to marry April. Tim agrees to sell April to Casper for $500. April dislikes Casper, though unaware of the bargain. The only one of the mountain folk who appreciates April is Doc Jenkins, and between these two, there is a strong affection. Jerry Gordon, of high social standing, has written a book of poems. He takes a trip to the mountains for his health. He meets April and she recognizes him as the author, having read his book, and friendship is established between the two. He pitches his camp nearby and she brings him his vegetables, milk and eggs. As the days go by, they become more interested in each other, but he hesitates to tell her of his love as he feels the gulf of social standing between them. One night Casper comes to Fagan and induces him to sell April for $3.50. April overhears this and goes to tell Jeffery about it. Jeffery is out hunting, a storm takes place and April stays in his tent for the night. He is obliged to find shelter elsewhere. In the morning Fagan discovers April's absence. He and Casper start out immediately in search of her. Just as they are nearing Jeffery's tent, Jeffery returns as Fagan is about to shoot him, April comes between them and at this moment. Doc Jenkins appears on the scene. Casper declares that he loves April and that she belongs to him, while April clings to Jeffery who, declares that he is going to marry her. Doc Jenkins says that the ceremony must take place at once in order to settle the matter and performs the ceremony while covering Fagan and Casper with his gun. In the meantime Martha Fagan becomes seriously ill and dies. Before her death she tells Doc Jenkins of April's identity and that the baby clothes she wore when she was first found were concealed in a chest. In the meantime, the De Voes are visiting Jeffery and when they find out of his marriage to a girl living in the mountains, are very much horrified and shocked. April hears this and decides to throw herself into the ravine. Just as she is about to leap off the rock, Casper finds her and tries to save her. She struggles with him, and in the struggle, he loses his balance and falls to his death. When Doc Jenkins goes to the camp and meets the De Voes they quickly discover that they are the parents of April as they recognize the baby clothes that Doc has with him. In the excitement Doc asks for April, he finds her standing on the rock preparatory to sacrificing her life. She is saved from her impending fate, learns the truth regarding her parentage, and that Jeffery really loves her and wants her.