Wilful Youth

A father-and-son team of cons gamble their firm’s assets. The son is caught investing money that doesn't belong to him and is indicted on a swindling charge. The plot gets spicy when the District Attorney handling the case is his former sweetheart's husband. This situation gives the DA an opportunity to prosecute his romantic rival.

An author's nephew loves his mother's companion, who turns out to the the author's bastard.

When Lois Folsom's continual complaints about her husband Roger's sloppiness finally drive him out of the house, Lois seeks solace in the company of their friend, Henry Carter. Roger's brother Tom, angry at Lois because of her interference in his courtship of Dorothy Halstead, the ward of Jewish storekeeper Abe Guth, informs his brother that Lois has kissed Carter. This knowledge propels him to accept Jack Harkness' invitation to join in a gold mining expedition of Arctic City in Alaska. Unaware that his wife is pregnant, Roger leaves, and Lois, who is now desperate, accepts Carter's care. In the meantime, the Guth's store is destroyed by fire and Tom sustains the family by stealing food, but is jailed for his efforts. After Lois' baby is born, Carter ventures North to inform Roger. After an initial confrontation between the two men, Roger returns to his wife and frees Tom from jail. Tom, realizing the damage that his lies have caused, confesses his deceit and wins Dorothy's heart.

Scheming golddigger Count Bertrand Delande is pursuing wealthy Irene Waterloo, but has already proposed to Gwendolyne Vanderbilt. Gwendolyne and her social-climbing mother find evidence that Irene is actually black--shocked by this stunning revelation, Irene travels to Europe, where she finally finds out who she really is.

Ruined by a powerful financial ring, Farrington commits suicide, after which his daughter Paula vows to take vengeance in her own hands and hunt the man behind the ring. At a house party, Paula meets Dr. Smith, who falls in love with her, but a misunderstanding separates them. Unsuccessful in locating the man but knowing that papers in the house of Van Brunt, one of the ring members, will identify the leader, Paula secures the papers with the aid of Old Bill Fitch, a reformed burglar. To her horror, she discovers that the man is Dr. Smith's father. Paula relinquishes vengeance for love, and Dr. Smith's father, realizing the error of his ways, agrees to make reparations.

Paul La Blanc graduates from the seminary with high honors with plans to enter the priesthood, a much-desired outcome for his parents. But when he meets one of the local parishioners Rose Miqueleon, they are mutually attracted. An amateur artist Paul paints a picture of the Madonna, with Rose as the subject. When the portrait is seen gossip spreads and his parents are enraged at the thought, he might abandon the church. Events reach a danger point until Paul’s father sees the young pair in the moonlight and realizes the inevitability of events.

Old shoemaker Peter is beloved by the children in his neighborhood. His daughter, Rose, elopes with an artist named Harmon after Peter forbids their relationship. Heartbroken, Peter becomes embittered and loses his fondness for the children. Later, Rose returns, having been mistreated by Harmon, and Peter is reconciled with her, rediscovering his kind nature.

Johnson, a pharmacist, makes an illicit traffic in cocaine and morphine, which he cleverly sells through his drug counter to a select clientele. In his richly furnished office, the head of the Kurson Chemical Company counts the receipts of Kurson Consumption Cure, a patented drug that contains a large amount of morphine.

John Sprague, a promising young minister, wins the love and hand of a simple country girl, Margaret. Her father does not view the match favorably because of Sprague's rather advanced ideas on social relations and pleasure. He had earlier encouraged an amateur theatrical performance in which Margaret had made a success as Juliet.

The 15-chapter plot follows, in a fanciful manner, the General Fremont expedition into Spanish California to acquire California for the United States, and the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill. Chapter titles: 1. Soldiers of Fortune 2. Red Men and White 3. A Night of Terror 4. The Empire Builders 5. A Web of Lies 6. Demetroff's Vow 7. Facing Death 8. Under the Bear Flag 9. A Ride of Peril 10. Yellow Metal and Blue Blood 11. Gold Madness 12. Crimson Nights 13. Vigilante's Justice 14. For Life and Love 15. Trail's End

Pogrom

Harlander, a media mogul and war profiteer, has been told that he has six months before his sanity will leave him completely. He hires a young nurse, and decides to spend all his money before his six months are up.

In medieval Italy, a group of men plot to kill a cruel and despotic duke.

Young minister Brand Cameron meets stage star Adrienne Durant at her father's humble country home. Believing her an innocent country girl, Cameron falls in love with her. She confesses her racier life and returns to New York. Cameron follows, unable to give Adrienne up, his parishioners denounce him and force him to resign. He departs, accepting a post in a tough lumber camp while Adrienne accepts the charge of a school for poor children. Later Faro Kate falsely accuses Cameron of fathering her child enraging the lumbermen who set fire to his church. Discovering Kate's baby is trapped inside Cameron risks his like to save the child causing Kate to retract her lie and Adrienne comes to join him in his new ministry.

Because of the loss of three generations of women in her family during childbirth Ellen Locke is frightened to have kids. Frustrated by her decision, her husband John finds himself drawn to his old love, Constance, now a widow with a child who bears her name. After her sister Marion dies in childbirth, Ellen becomes more obsessed, however one day when Ellen is driving little Constance home they have a car accident. An incident in the hospital changes her perspective leading to a reconciliation with John.

Wealthy Joshua Anson expects his son Chadwick to marry a woman of their class, but much to his chagrin Chadwick falls in love with factory girl Mary McClintock. Anson schemes to break up the romance by framing Mary in a compromising situation, but she outsmarts him and marries Chadwick. Not to be defeated, Anson offers his daughter-in-law $100,000 to divorce his son, but Mary outfoxes him once again by accepting the money, getting a divorce, and then remarrying Chadwick. Mary's last trick wins her father-in-law's respect, and he finally offers the couple his blessings.

Attracted by his wealth, avaricious Germaine marries D'Artois, then leaves him for a more sophisticated man. D'Artois retaliates by moving to the city and learning the proper social graces. His new life style proves to be too expensive for him, and at the end he is left with nothing but one suit of evening clothes and his now contrite wife.

Suspected of smuggling, Eileen Caverly boards the Connecticut Limited where she befriends Helen Raymond who is traveling with her new husband Bob Guerton. Helen confides they had recently married impulsively, the service performed by a justice of the peace. Shortly after their talk the train is wrecked, Helen is killed and Bob injured. Seizing the opportunity Eileen poses as Bob's wife to avoid capture. Bob’s mother visits him, learning that they were married by a Justice of the Peace, insists they be married by a minister. Bob becomes successful with Eileen’s support, and they have a son. All is well until Cromwel Crow, who knows of Eileen's past, is released from jail. Demanding $5000 for his silence they struggle, Bob enters and in the ensuing fight, Crow is killed. Eileen's secret dies with her adversary, freeing her to continue her life.

Heiress Mary Anderson feigns poverty during her romance with struggling artist Bruce Haldeman, however her status-conscious mother puts an end to the affair. Mary secretly goes to Bruce's studio, misconstrues the situation with one of his models and tells Bruce she hates him. Upset Bruce wants to destroy his portrait of Mary, but the model stops him, enters the painting in an art contest, and explains the mix-up to Mary's father. Mr. Anderson then meets with Bruce and Mary's persistent suitor Smythe Addison pretending he has lost his fortune. Smythe quickly drops out of contention for Mary's hand, but Bruce remains eager. Resolving their differences Bruce finds out during the planning of the wedding that he has won the art contest, finding overnight fame as a painter.

Ever since Henry Falkins had caused Newt Spooner to be sentenced to prison, Newt has nursed a red-hot hatred for him and a desire to see Henry dead. That is until he meets and falls in love with Minerva Rawlins who makes him reevaluate his obsession. When fate throws the two men together in the Philippines during wartime and the opportunity to slay Henry occurs Newt realizes that he has resolved his inner torment. He returns to Minerva a man at peace with himself.