Could a Man Do More?

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Upon her deathbed Mrs. Sherwood entrusts her son Richard to the care of his older brother Darrell. Years pass and Darrell becomes the village preacher and Richard a lawyer. Darrell is a favorite of the community; Richard is a would-be daredevil and a modern swashbuckler. Clandestinely Richard has been meeting Molly Foster. One night while at his club gambling and drinking heavily, he receives a note from Molly asking him to see her at once. At the gate of her home Molly tells him her dread secret. Warning her to keep silence and making promises he leaves. The following Sunday, when the services at Darrell's church is over, Richard greets Faith Richardson. Faith shows an interest in Darrell, which Richard notes with disfavor. The brothers accompany Faith and her father Colonel Richardson, to their home. At the Foster home, Molly lies in bed with the newborn babe. Her father demands to know the name of the child's father, but Molly refuses to answer. He gives her the option of telling her secret or leaving home. She accepts the latter course and goes to live in a cottage on the edge of town provided by Darrell through Faith. Later at a meeting of the "Ladies' Aid Society" the cat element decides that Molly and her baby must leave town. Just as the Society, which has gone to Molly's abode with two constables, is denouncing her, Darrell, who has been apprised of their decision, arrives and in a fury of indignation he berates the committee soundly and they leave the room. Molly is taken very ill and realizing that her end is near, takes her child and makes her way to Darrell and Richard's home. She begs Richard to give her child a name, but he throws her off as Darrell enters; Molly confesses her secret to him. Darrell insists that Richard marry Molly at once and the ceremony begins, but Molly dies before it is finished. Richard steals from the room. Making his way to the Richardson home he leads Faith back to the window giving a view of Darrell's study. He is seen carrying Molly in his arms to the sofa. Richard points to the scene and swears to the truth of the situation the action implies. With Molly gone Darrell adopts the baby. Later Richard and Faith are married. Time passes. Richard grows tired of Faith and gambles heavily. He takes all of his brother's money, and heavily masked holds up Col. Richardson. He commits a number of robberies in the vicinity, and a vigilance committee is formed, headed by Col. Richardson. Hounded, Richard makes his way to the cottage wherein Molly lived. As he rushes into the darkened room he becomes conscious of the fact that he is not alone. He draws his pistol hut before he can use it the figure jumps upon him and unmasks him. Richard faces his brother, whose sorrows had driven him from his study that night. Richard pleads with Darrell to save him, and remembering his oath to his mother the latter assumes the guilt when the committee arrives. An impromptu court is held and Darrell is ordered to leave town the following morning. By morning Richard has not returned and fearing for his safety, Faith starts in search of him. Intuition leads her to Molly's cottage. In the center of the room she finds Richard dead. A scrap of paper beside him tells the story. In the meantime Darrell has started his weary way. Realizing the great wrong done him Faith hurries to her father with Richard's dying confession. Mounting his horse Col. Richardson starts after Darrell. At a fork in the road he overtakes him and there gently breaks the news of Richard's death and shows him the message. The Colonel grasps Darrell's hand and starts to lead him home.