A Deadly Hate

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Charles Meredith is jealous of his brother, John, who is the favorite of Lady Constance. When Sir Randolph, father of the young men, on his deathbed, calls the members of the family to him, Charles, who is subject to epileptic fits, is unable to join the sad gathering, as he has just recovered from a violent spasm. Sir Randolph wishes it understood that he wants his son, John, to marry Lady Constance, his ward. When Charles, the dissolute son, hears of this, he swears revenge. Despite the fact that John importunes Charles to take up his residence with him at Fernleigh Grange, Charles will not listen to it. When his money gives out and he is besieged by his many creditors, and the administrator of his father's estate refuses to give him any more money, he decides to go to Fernleigh Grange. While there, he comes in contact with the administrator of the Meredith estate, and after an argument Charles kills him. John appears upon the scene just as Charles is looking fiendishly at the prostrate form before him. Charles is taken to an insane asylum, and is locked up after an examination by alienists. John and Charles are twins and there is a wonderful resemblance between them. On the night of the dinner in celebration of John's engagement to Lady Constance, Charles escapes from the asylum and enters the Meredith home. After the dinner, Charles attacks John in the hallway after the former has stolen out from behind a suit of armor in which he has been hiding. Charles overcomes his brother, whom he throws out of the window. When Lady Constance and others appear upon the scene, Charles poses as John and because of the marked resemblance, he is not discovered. Lady Constance is shocked at his rudeness, however, and when he handles her roughly, wonders at the transformation. At the asylum where John has been taken by the guards, who found him unconscious outside the Meredith home, he is unable to convince the authorities that he is not Charles. On the wedding night, when all is ready, Jasert, a guard, who has learned the identity of John through a blemish on his body, goes to Charles and demands money of him for silence. Charles realizes that he is caught, and in a struggle with Jasert, kills him, throwing his body over a cliff. That night, there is a fire at the asylum and John escapes. He hurries to his home and arrives just as Lady Constance is putting on the bridal veil. There is a scene in her room, and at the height of it, Charles is taken with a fit. He is quickly taken away. John explains to the satisfaction of the guests, and the wedding goes on as if nothing had happened.