Volume II: Filmography

FOR ANOTHER'S SIN

April 25, 1913 (Friday)

Length: 2 reels (1,500 feet this subject) (the second reel was split with Priscilla's Pets at the end)

Character: Drama

Cast: Harry Benham (the ex-convict), Eugene Moore

Note: This was what Edwin Thanhouser called a natural length film. The subject did not use up all of the second reel, and a filler, Priscilla's Pets, was added.

ADVERTISEMENT, The Moving Picture World, April 23, 1913:

The man who has erred and paid the prison penalty finds to his horror that a friend is treading the selfsame downward path; the friend has a family and a future, the ex-convict has neither, and he persuades the friend to allow him to take the blame and the punishment.

ARTICLE, The Moving Picture World, April 26, 1913:

WAS NOMEL RIGHT? Nomel shall be his name here. He has stolen from the very bank that now employs him - re-employed him on his leaving prison, that is. You see, the president of the bank has some faith still in his erring employee, and when Nomel finished his 'time' for the theft the official gave him another chance. You will see from this that it is squarely up to Nomel to keep 'straight' - to vindicate the president's faith in him. But at the bank none of his associates have any faith in Nomel, any patience or sympathy with him. Except - the exception we shall call Heart. He is paying teller at the bank, the man with the most responsible position, a wife - and she is the girl that Nomel loved before his fall from grace - and child. He proved a true friend to Nomel. Nomel discovers that Heart is following in his footsteps - defaulting. The bank president finds large sums missing. He starts an investigation, and Heart decides to confess. But Nomel pushes him aside and confesses 'everything' to the president. The official is shocked - and Nomel is returned to the dungeon! Nomel did not care, as he had no great future anyway. He knew that Heart had - a future, a wife, a baby! Did Nomel do right? Better have a look at the film-story, entitled For Another's Sin in two Thanhouser reels released Friday, April 25.

SYNOPSIS, The Moving Picture World, April 26, 1913:

A young bank clerk lived beyond his means, associated with vicious companions, and finally attempted to pay his debts by borrowing the funds entrusted to his care. His fate was the usual one, and ten years later when he emerged from prison, a physical wreck, he realized that his follies were not worth the price he paid. He was practically penniless and old friends shunned him. After many struggles he secured a subordinate position in the bank where he formerly had been employed, and for a time worked diligently, unheeding the snubs and sneers of the other clerks, who were either honest or had not been found out. Among the employees was a young teller, the only person in the bank who was decently civil to the ex-convict. The teller, sad to relate, was in rough waters himself. He dearly loved his wife, and longed for the day when she would have silks, diamonds and a retinue of servants. Hoping to realize this dream, he thought of speculation, and like the other man 'borrowed' the money over which he was guardian.

The very day his crime found him out, for the bank examiner paid an unexpected visit. The teller was called in, questioned, and was on the verge of making a confession when the ex-convict entered the room and said that he was the guilty man. The only man who could not understand was the teller, for he had the money in his own pocket at the time. A second later the ex-convict slipped a note into the teller's hand. In it he explained that a prison term would make the teller a 'friendless wreck like myself.' The ex-convict knew that his days were numbered, and was willing to sacrifice himself to save another from becoming an outcast. The teller accepted the sacrifice, for he had a wife dependent upon him. The other man was lonely and friendless, but the good deed he did looked after him, for the teller never forgot that the liberty he enjoyed was won by his pledge to be an honest, upright man for the rest of his days.

REVIEW, The Moving Picture World, May 3, 1913:

A two-reel story, notable for the strength of its acting. The story is rather obvious, but nevertheless it grips the observer and holds his attention closely throughout. Harry Benham gives a very commendable characterization of the embezzling bank clerk who serves 10 years and then appeals to the bank for re-employment. The scene between him and the president was particularly effective. Later he assumes the blame for another man's crime because the man had befriended him when others shunned him. The scenes in this move in a leisurely, well-ordered way and the story sinks into the mind of the observer. A good offering.

Note: The same review, paraphrased only slightly, appeared without credit to The Moving Picture World in The Bioscope, July 10, 1913.

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