The story
“Several centuries ago there was a pitched battle between Satan and Dan Cupid, the prize being the hearts of young lovers. Each claimed the right to the couple, Satan because he tempted the man first, Cupid because he had shot them with his magic arrows. As it ‘is love that makes the world go ‘round,’ Cupid is naturally a very busy little sprite, and for a time the contest went against him. Satan, who always finds some mischief for idle hands to do, had everything his own way for a while, but when Cupid woke up to the seriousness of the affair, there was something doing. Satan lured the young man away from the church, by showing him a vision of some boon companion gambling; he induced them to rob his own father to obtain funds to continue his play, and he brought forward a siren who for a time lured the boy from his sweetheart. Then he tricked him into a duel, and the indications were that the youth would lose both his life and his soul.
“But Satan had not counted on the energy of Cupid. There is an old saying that ‘Hell hath no fury like a woman’s scorn,’ but this is really mild compared to the feelings of Cupid when his magic arrows are made a mockery of. And Cupid went after Satan hotfooted. They met on the duelling ground, and Cupid, arming himself with Satan’s dagger, made short work of the King of Evil. Then he escorted the lovers home again, and they live happily forever afterward, as they were under the careful watch of Cupid; for the little God did not intend to have this romance spoiled. It would have hurt his professional pride.”
Summary from The Moving Picture News · 30 September 1911
Another synopsis, from The Moving Picture World · 7 October 19111 min
“The myth, which is beautifully told in the screen, shows the stages of the struggle between the little love god and his enemy, Satan. Although Satan has the better of the struggle for a time, it is Cupid, ‘who makes the world go round by love,’ and naturally is a busy sprite, who is compelled to temporarily neglect his protegés. He comes to the rescue, however, at the right moment, and the devil is thwarted. Satan in the picture begins his operations by luring the young man away from church by showing him a vision of his boon companions enjoying themselves at the gambling tables. The King of Hell with his evil influence draws the young man to the gambling den. At the gambling tables, when luck goes against him, evil spirit appears and induces the young man to rob his father. The father, however, appears in time to protect his son from losing all of an immense sum of money. Thus frustrated, Satan brings forward a siren, who lures the boy from his sweetheart. In this way he is tricked into a duel with the siren’s lover and we soon find him with sword in hand facing his rival and Satan at his back leering with delight.
“But Satan did not count on the energy of Cupid. There is an old saying that ‘hell has no fury like a woman scorned,’ but this proverb is really mild compared to the feelings of Cupid when he realizes that the influence of his love-darts is questioned. So Cupid goes after Satan with an unquenchable thirst for vengeance. They meet on the dueling grounds, and Cupid, arming himself with Satan’s dagger, makes short work of the King of Evil. Then he escorts the lovers home again. They live happily forever afterward, under the careful guidance of love.”
