Underneath the Paint

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Walking through the Ghetto, Arthur Kellogg rescues Tryphena Winters, an actress, and her little sister, Salome, from starvation. He falls in love with, and proposes marriage to Tryphena, but she tells him she must first make her success on the stage. Kellogg, Senior, a theatrical backer and financier, learns of his son's love affair, and asks Tryphena to give up Arthur. She refuses, and finding his son equally obstinate, Kellogg angrily disowns him. The financier learns of Tryphena's burning ambition to become a star, and cunningly appeals to this one weak spot in her opposition. He demands she renounce Arthur in his (Kellogg's) presence, promising to fulfill her ambitions should she carry out his plans. She agrees, but secretly sends a note to Arthur beforehand, begging him not to believe anything she may say or do at the meeting. Unfortunately, the note miscarries. Arthur meets her and not understanding her dissimulated renunciation of him, bitterly says farewell and plunges into a life of gaiety. Later, conscience-stricken at the wrecking of his son's life, Kellogg destroys himself. Arthur visits the theater to see Tryphena, now a prominent star, and there is handed the long-lost note. He interrupts the performance to ask Tryphena if she sent it. The curtain is rung down and Arthur tells her he never received the note until this moment. She now understands it all, and after a joyful reunion with her lover, steps out upon the stage again and the play goes on.