The story
“The light of Gresham Island for many years has guided ships through the dangerous reefs into safe waters. The lighthouse keeper, John McCabe, lives on the island with his granddaughter, Ruth, and his assistant, Will Banks. Ruth falls in love with George Davies, a wealthy young man from the mainland. When Will learns of this, he steps aside in favor of Davies, though he long has loved Ruth in silence. Davies’ mother objects to the match. She writes Ruth a letter telling her that she has neither the birth nor the education to make a fit wife for George, and Ruth breaks the engagement. Her reason for doing so, however, she conceals from her lover. But Will Banks finds it out and tells George. Davies comes to the lighthouse, confident that he can induce Ruth to change her mind. But she is firm in her refusal to marry him. Soon after this, John McCabe is called away. Knowing of his absence, a gang of wreckers try to prevent the light from being lit. While Banks is holding the besiegers at bay, Ruth climbs the tower and lights the great lamp. All night she keeps her vigil in her grandfather’s place, and the ships pass in safety. She is mortally wounded by a shot from one of the wreckers, but the girl clings to her post until dawn brings the rescuers. Before Ruth dies, scarcely twenty-four hours later, the story of her heroism is in every mouth. George Davies, grief stricken, finds his mother shamed and silenced.”
Summary from Reel Life · 22 August 1914
