Edward Earle and Bessie Learn in The Hand of the Law (1915)

Bessie Learn

Edward Earle

Bigelow Cooper

Charles R. Angell

In the presence of the village crowd, Reuben Hazelton, stupefied by drink, threatens Squire Evans and Hiram Gregory that he will &quot;get even.&quot; The Squire, whom Reuben accuses of having defrauded him and his grist mill, is determined...

Edward C. Taylor

The Hand of the Law

In the presence of the village crowd, Reuben Hazelton, stupefied by drink, threatens Squire Evans and Hiram Gregory that he will "get even." The Squire, whom Reuben accuses of having defrauded him and his grist mill, is determined to marry Betty, Reuben's daughter. Betty, however, has given her heart to Dan Chamberlain, and makes it plain to the Squire that his attentions are obnoxious to her. Dan and the Squire are rival candidates for the office of prosecuting attorney. Hiram Gregory is the only one who knows the secret of the Squire's former life. Using his knowledge of a murder committed by the Squire many years previous, Hiram is extorting money from him. A short while passes. Gregory has been murdered near the grist mill, and the Squire relates to the sheriff how he saw Reuben, in fulfillment of his threat, kill Gregory. Reuben, in a drunken stupor, is arrested for the murder on the Squire's evidence. Betty and Dan maintain their belief in Reuben's innocence and prepare to work for his defense. Abner, the farm-hand, who has been reading all about Nick Carter, and who has been taking a correspondence course in "detectuffing," is determined to solve the mystery. Boxum Sally, the cook, promises to marry him if he does. Reuben, recovering from his stupor, finds his mind a blank. Betty and Dan have little grounds to work on for the defense. Election day comes and Dan is elected prosecuting attorney. As such, he must prosecute Reuben for murder. Fearing that the truth will become known and that he will be held for the murder of Gregory, the Squire attempts a ruse by which Reuben can be legally killed. He plans with the sheriff to liberate Reuben from the jail, and then to shoot him as an escaped convict. Betty, however, foils the plot. Then, the great victory for Abner, special correspondence agent of the "National Correspondence Detective Bureau." He solves the mystery, finds the stocks which are rightfully Reuben's, and proves the Squire's guilt. Fearing Gregory for his knowledge of the old crime, the Squire killed him. Confronted by the evidence, the Squire falls dead from a stroke of apoplexy. Dan and Betty are brought together in the firm bonds of love. Reuben is restored to his old position and wealth, and Abner gets Sally.

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The Hand of the Law

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