Prosecution

• Watchlist

The miners of a large Western mining camp, informed of a general cut in wages, hold a protest meeting and the rougher element prevailing, they in revenge determine to blow up the mine hoist. Cliff McClellan undertakes the job and that night places a box of high explosives under the hoist house and puts the mine out of business. Collins, the mining company's local attorney who is in love with Cliff's sister Marcia, confronts brother and sister and charges Cliff with the crime. He is sneeringly told to prove it. The attorney is ordered to prosecute and as he feared, Marcia turns from him coldly. A couple of nights later, the miners kidnap Collins, carry him far out in the desert and leave him there, with a single canteen of water. Marcia hears of the abduction and, her sympathies aroused, induces her brother to drive out into the desert with her to find Collins. They arrive in time to save the suffering man from death, nurse him back to health, and knowing Cliff is guilty. Collins' gratitude prompts him to offer to resign his position as attorney, withdrawing from the prosecution, but Marcia insists that he go on with it. As the warrant is about to be served on Cliff. Collins, for her sake, commands the officer to stop. Marcia, however, turns to Cliff and says, "You committed the crime and he shan't suffer for it." She orders the officer to do his duty, kisses her brother good-bye and as he is led to prison, she buries her face on her lover's breast, to hide the tears that give expression to her intermingled sorrow and joy.