The Daughter of the Hills (1913)

Sergius, one of Nero's most powerful gladiators, prior to an impending contest in the arena, goes into the country, where, in his travels, he encounters Florin, a shepherdess, with whom he falls in love. Floria makes Sergius her idol, worshiping his enormous strength. But the vast divergent trait in their characters is disclosed when one of Floria's lambs is wounded, causing her genuine misery, which completely mystifies Sergius, who ridicules her anxiety for the suffering animal. A little later, Sergius marries Floria, and takes her to Rome, where he intoxicates her to the wealth and luxuries of the city. All is new and wonderful to the simple shepherdess, but one day, prompted by curiosity, she follows Sergius to the arena. Through an opening in the wall, she sees her husband, stripped for battle, awaiting his opponent. Soon the contesting gladiator appears, unwilling to fight, and driven out by lashes. With a sickening heart she watches the cruel contest. Her husband gains the mastery, and at a signal from Nero, with cheers from the applauding multitude, runs his sword through his opponent's body. The slaves enter, throw a robe over the corpse, and drag it off. The grim sight fills the gentle girl with complete revulsion, and at that moment all her love dies. In fear and trembling, she runs home and crouches in a corner, afraid of the strength which, until now, she had so admired. When Sergius returns he tries to make her understand, but she cannot forgive him, and in the dead of night she escapes from the house and wanders away. Sergius sends his slaves to seek her, but their quest fails, and Sergius decides to search for her himself. Floria takes refuge at the house of Paul, the Apostle, who, at that time, while considered a prisoner, possessed the liberty of his home and the right to continue his preaching, though always chained to a Roman. He listens to her story sympathetically, but before the interview is terminated, Sergius, in a towering rage, arrives on the spot, and brutally insults and threatens Paul. Paul attempts to overcome the savage instincts of the other, and after some thought, advises Floria to return with her husband. Against her will, Floria obeys. Sergius brings Floria home, and is about to beat her, when he sees a vision of the girl with the wounded lamb. On the instant, he seems to understand Floria's tender sympathies, his better nature awakens, and that night he steals back to Paul's house, where he finds the disciple preaching to the rabble, accenting his speech with the rattle of his chains. The gladiator, impressed by Paul's gentle words, is regenerated. He returns home and receives an edict from Nero ordering him to prepare for a gladiatorial fight. He realizes that if he disobeys the mandate he win be deprived of his power and wealth, against which is balanced only Floria's love. He undergoes a terrific struggle with himself, and the next moment he breaks the sword across his knee, tosses the pieces away, renouncing all material possessions for the love of his wife. The two, deprived of all but their faith and love, go back to the hills, and peace.