The Three Black Trumps

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Robert Clark falls in love with the daughter of a rich merchant. He rescues her from her burning home by climbing up between two buildings. When her parents object to his attentions, claiming that his social position is beneath that of the rich merchant, they elope, and a year later, when their baby comes, they are reduced to poverty. Robert continues at his trade, that of a chimney sweep and steeple jack, and undertakes to clean the tallest chimney in the city, when no one else will dare attempt it. He loses one of his scaling ladders just at the top, and hangs, between heaven and earth, while flames and smoke belch from the chimney. His wife manages to repay her debt to him by rescuing Robert from the very brink of death, when all other efforts of the fire department and the city authorities failed. While Robert is ill, following this terrible ordeal, she takes up the burden of his work and by her winning personality wins success as great as his. They come across an advertisement of a circus manager who wishes a ladder trick, and offering a good salary. This they eagerly accept, and work up, between themselves and little Robert, who is now five years old, an unusual and thrilling scaling act. Their success is instantaneous and "The Three Black Trumps" soon become known throughout the country. Fame and increasing salary come to the daring performers. In their journeys they come back to Martha's home town and when the stern but loving father sees his little grandson his heart softens, and Martha and her husband are received back into the home circle.