The story
“Tom Hampton, senior partner in the legal firm of Hampton & Gray, is of a domineering, sarcastic disposition. His partner is mild mannered and inoffensive, and gives no indication that Hampton’s taunts and sharp barbs of wit affect him. Secretly, however, Gray broods over his fancied wrongs. Hampton is found murdered. When inquiry is made at his law offices, Gray and a clerk are found poring over the books. They exhibit all the symptoms of surprise and grief. For a time the police hold them under observation, but investigation into the crime eventually is dropped. Years later Gray’s daughter, now grown to womanhood, is injured in an accident. A young man, who proves to be Hampton’s son, saves her from serious injury, and a romance develops. Gray, although secretly unwilling to have his daughter marry young Hampton, displays every outward evidence of satisfaction. He rises to announce their engagement at a banquet given in honor of the young couple, but the words of felicitation die upon his lips when an attack of heart disease seizes him. Upon his deathbed Gray confesses to his physician that years before he killed Hampton and leaves it to the doctor’s discretion whether to make the fact known after his death or not. After Gray’s death the doctor hesitates to make use of the confession, inasmuch as Hampton’s slayer has passed beyond the fear of any earthly punishment and to besmirch his name would only injure the innocent. While the doctor still hesitates, the young couple take things into their own hands, and settle his doubts by marrying.”
Summary from Reel Life · 28 March 1914
