The story
“His love for his wife means more to Milton Calhoun than his honor. He racks his brain to find some way of sending her to the mountains where she shall regain her health and be able to care for their baby girl. Then Jacob Morris, director of the Scoville bank, offers Calhoun bribe money if he will help convict Jonathan Moore, the bank president, indicted for false financial statements on the eve of failure. Calhoun does not stop to go into the merits of the case. He sees within reach only the long desired opportunity for Mary, his wife—and accepts the bribe. Then comes the trial. As the case progresses, it becomes more and more clear to Juror No. 10 that the president is innocent. Still Calhoun holds out doggedly. Telling his counsel that he must get some air, Moore hurries out of the courtroom and down to the river. In the jury room things are at a standstill. Calhoun, gazing from the window, trying to think only of sick wife, notices a boat drifting down the river. In it lies a sleeping child. Presently the youngster wakes. Her doll falls over the side of the boat, and in an effort to get it, she tumbles headlong into the water. With a wild cry, Calhoun flings himself out of the window. But the bank president is before him. Calhoun receives from Moore’s arms his half-drowned baby girl. A little later, in the courtroom, Calhoun makes a clean breast of everything. Moore takes pains that Calhoun and his wife shall lose nothing by the confession of the tenth juror.”
Summary from Reel Life · 30 October 1915
