The story
“Lyell, head of an organization whose object is to injure the rich members of society, interests old Professor Hilton in his cause and persuades him to join the association. Arthur Grennell, the son of a wealthy manufacturer, also becomes a member, having mistaken the organization for a reform movement with peaceful methods. Lyell falls in love with Hilton’s daughter, Mignon, but soon realizes that she prefers Grennell. He then decides that he will put his rival out of the way. He selects Grennell to execute the death sentence of a capitalist, who, the society has voted, must die. Realizing now the nature of the organization, Grennell, on Mignon’s advice, flees the city. Some months later, Lyell, Hilton and Grennell all meet in a factory town. Lyell and Hilton, as secret agents of the anarchist league, are working in one of the big mills. Lyell determines this time to be rid of his rival. He is employed to handle a huge magnet which lifts several tons of iron from barges in the river and deposits them in the factory yard. Knowing that Grennell and his friends are to visit the factory, he plans to drop the rails upon his victim. Lyell persuades Mignon to enter the car from which the magnet machinery is operated, and at the last moment he tells her what he is going to do. The girl has presence of mind enough to pull a lever, thus causing the magnet to drop its load a few seconds too soon. The plot is discovered. In an attempt to escape, Lyell is killed. And Grennell and Mignon plight their troth.”
Summary from Reel Life · 20 March 1915
