The Dawn of Understanding

Billy Brooks, a lawyer, sets out to get a divorce for a client by framing him in a compromising situation. But the scheme goes askew when the client's wife gets a job as Billy's new stenographer and he, not knowing who she is, selects her as the correspondent to frame her own husband.

Three part adventure serial starring Clara Kimball Young. Chapter Titles: 1. "Treachery in the Clouds" 2. "The Treasure Temple of Bhosh" 3. "A Race for Life"

Coaxed by sharpers, who seek to profit by his rustic innocence, the boy from the small town goes to the city with them and become, innocently enough, a successful swindler, but he learns of the deception and returns home, too ashamed to seek his old sweetheart. The crooks return to try a blackmail game, but Ernie's eyes are opened now. He cleans up in whirlwind fashion.

Ranchmen try to play a joke on one of their associates by signing his name to a letter addressed to Sarah Smith, who has advertised in a matrimonial journal. A mix-up occurs on the day of the arrival of the lady when a younger woman, sent to buy stock, also appears on the scene and is mistaken for the prospective bride.

Dolly Mainard, en route to her father, a major at Fort Blaine, is escorted through dangerous Sioux territory by a cavalry detachment and Army scout Jim Cardigan. When Captain Blackwell offends some braves of Chief Gray Wolf's tribe, Jim is sent ahead to the Indian camp to ask for peace. Imprisoned by the Indians, he sends a message to Blackwell not to advance; Donlin, a renegade scout, tears the note in such a way that the message is distorted, and the entire force is killed. When Jim escapes, he is accused of treason by Blackwell, court-martialed, and sentenced to death; however, he escapes and rescues Dolly, her father, and Blackwell from Donlin's band of renegades. Jim discovers the missing portion of the note in Donlin's hat, proving his innocence. Dolly remains to become his wife.

Billy takes his friend Tom out for a drive in his new car. Tom asks Billy to wait while he makes a purchase. Along comes the beautiful Marian who assumes he is a public chauffeur and hires him. Billy goes along with the misunderstanding and tells Marian that she may always have his car at cut rates if she phones him at the garage. This leads to comic adventures and eventual love for the couple.

Cobbler’s daughter May has beautiful, long blond hair. Her fiancée Billy, her father's youthful apprentice, loves both May and her hair. But Billy has a weakness for long hair and is ensnared by Madge, who wears an elaborate wig. Billy wants May to fix her hair as prettily as Madge does, but when Madge’s hairdresser demands payment for the wigs she refuses because the hairdresser has turned her hair green. The case lands in court with Billy summoned to serve on the jury. When Madge pulls off her wig Billy runs back to May ready and willing to eat his humble pie.

Anxious to be a detective Billy buys a “how to” book and thinks he’s stumbled on a case when he finds the diary belonging to Dora Burns. Seeing an entry about buying a revolver and a hatchet for killing Edward, Billy shadows Dora to her home. She discovers him and forcibly convinces him that he should skidoo. Billy runs to get the police, but when they arrive, finding blood spots on her apron Dora takes the police to the kitchen and shows them a bleeding rooster. Billy's career as a detective ends at once.

Billy Quirk starts out in the morning for his office. Billy has important papers in his valise (grip) and important matters on his mind. The trouble starts when Billy takes a streetcar and, in his hurry, he grabs not his but a similar valise which happens to belong to a woman with a bad temper. When Billy discovers that his valise, instead of containing valuable papers, contains lingerie and false hair, he panics. Billy tries to get his back before his wife misinterprets the situation, but she finds it just as the rightful owner enters the scene and the two clash, Billy runs for dear life complicating things still more.

Old Betsey Older lives in a boarding house in which money-loving Bud Doolittle and wise Tom Dear are also unfortunate boarders. Poor Betsey loses her heart to both of these gentlemen. Betsey tries hard to win the love of these gentlemen, but the harder she tries the less progress she makes. In fact, she gets so tangled up that before long she thinks she "sees things." Bud and Tom try to stake her to each other, for they are both victims of flirting Marian. Tom finally gets Bud to propose to Betsey, misleading him with a phantom legacy. Bud learns the truth of the heiress' real financial position and then leaves her at the altar.

A reporter and a detective team up to solve the murder of a nightclub singer who had been involved in a divorce scandal.

Miner John Walsh leaves his wife and baby behind on his barren claim taking their small store of gold to the settlement and gambling it away. He becomes embroiled in a fight with cowpuncher Burns and is killed. Shortly afterwards Mrs. Walsh, weakened by her attempt to work, her husband's claim collapses. The doctor declares only a transfusion can save Mrs. Walsh's life. Burns, now a fugitive, appears and volunteers. Mrs. Walsh's life is saved, but Burns, weakened by hunger and exposure, succumbs, happy in having made amends for his crime.

Mr. Hadley shows Bill a photograph of his fiancée, Alice Mordaunt, and instructs Bill to admit her immediately should she arrive at the office. Bill leaves for lunch. Upon his return, he discovers his boss kissing Ethel, who is Mr. Hadley's sister, not his fiancée. Bill, unaware of their family relationship, is horrified, believing his boss is being unfaithful to Alice Mordaunt. Feeling a strong sense of loyalty to the absent fiancée, Bill decides to get even with his boss. He informs Mr. Hadley's real fiancée, Alice, about his boss's perceived "duplicity". The outcome is a comical situation as Bill's interference leads to misunderstandings and fallout, which is how Bill "squares it" with his boss.

Adolph is a great pianist who prefers the simple pleasures such as frankfurters and sauerkraut but is so constantly pursued by society women that he gets no peace and comfort. After being chased everywhere in the end he escapes by donning a disguise and finally finding peace and quiet.

Mining foreman Jimson is fired by Pedro and Madro when they falsely accuse him of trying to steal ore. When they attack him, he is forced to strike back, and they swear revenge. Their enmity intensifies when Jimson rescues Nina, a Mexican girl, from Pedro's unwanted attentions.

Deputy Sheriff Martin of Arizona is in love with Lola a waitress at the Gold Dollar restaurant. However, complications arise when Martin encounters James Kinney, a wanted murderer working under an assumed name in the local mine. Deputy Martin discovers that Kinney is also interested in Lola, fueling a rivalry between the two men. During a mine accident, Kinney is placed in a dangerous situation and Martin must decide whether to act on his personal feelings or uphold his duty as a lawman.

Jeremy Dexter, Sheriff of Sherman County, warns Lanky Mason to leave town after being involved in a shootout the night before killing a Mexican. The sheriff tells Lanky that although he remembers that Lanky had saved his little daughter's life by swimming across a stream during a flood and that Lanky's heroic work during a time when the smelter caught fire had saved the town from destruction, it was imperative for the good of the town that Lanky leave.

The sheriff loses his office and a new sheriff comes in. Now the ex-sheriff is going bad, drinking, etc., with no ambition. The tough guys take advantage of his loss of ambition and indignities pile up on him and he makes no protest. He meets the new sheriff's little boy and they become fast friends.

Jerry Kane, a man down on his luck who inherits money but selflessly gives most of it to Maizie Wallace and her sick father. The money is then stolen by two crooks, Pinny Falk and Big Dan Jaffry, leading to a series of events involving a pursuit, mistaken identity, a fight, and a rescue by a posse. Ultimately, the crooks are captured, the money is recovered, and Jerry and Maizie agree to share their future together.

Miner Jim Mann is indifferent to the new baby and sees him as nothing more than an additional burden. His wife Lucy looks after the baby and is unable to help much with the work, and Jim's dinner is often late. He grows to dislike the child and refuses to hold or pet him. Dawson, another miner, and his wife and their small baby occupy the cabin on the adjacent claim.