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Photograph: Silent Era image collection.
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One Man’s Evil
(1915) United States of America
B&W : Two reels
Directed by Joseph De Grasse
Cast: Edna Maison [Bliss Daly], William Clifford [Harvey Clay], Queenie Rosson [Lucy Kent], Lule Warrenton [Mrs. Kent], Arthur Shirley [Sheriff Howe], Ray Gallagher [Bert Daly], Mr. Harris [Jim Daly], Harry Nelson [Mr. Kent]
New York Motion Picture Corporation production; distributed by The Universal Film Manfacturing Company, Incorporated [Bison]. / Scenario by Ida May Parke (Ida May Park). / © 10 June 1915 by The Universal Film Manfacturing Company, Incorporated. Released 19 June 1915. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format. / Universal release number 0589. The film was marketed in the USA with one-sheet, three-sheet and six-sheet posters. The film was released in Canada on 26 June 1915.
Drama: Western.
Synopsis: [The Universal Weekly, Volume VI, Number 24, 12 June 1915, pages 27 and 32] William Clifford and Edna Maison are featured in “One Man’s Evil,” a two-reel drama, which is to be released under the Bison brand on June 19. The feature photodrama, written by Ida May Parke, has been lavishly staged by Joseph De Grasse. Besides the principals, the cast contains Queenie Rosso, Lule Warrenton, Arthur Shirley, Ray Gallagher, Harry Nelson and Mr. Harris. The story of the play follows: / Harvey Clay is called “The Stranger” in Boulder. He never talks of his past, and there is no one who has known him before his arrival in the Western town. He is well liked by the young folks because of his happy-go-lucky ways, but the parents, suspicious of his silence, will have none of him. Jim Daly is especially prejudiced, for his son, Bert, has taken to drinking and gambling since “The Stranger” arrived; he has also made inroads in the affections of Bliss Daly, who has many stormy scenes on his account with her father. / The sheriff of Boulder county loves Bliss, and wishes to make her his wife, but he lacks the courage where his love in concerned, and after the stranger arrives he sees Bliss gradually slipping away from him. / Lucy Kent arrives home from college. She is the daughter of the wealthiest rancher in the village. The Kent and Daly raches adjoin. Back in their childhood, Lucy plighted her troth to Bert, so it is natural that when she returns, a beautiful young lady, Bert feels he has a claim on her. She encourages Bert until “The Stranger” crosses her path. Then, like the rest of the young folks, she feels the charm of his manner and poor Bert is slighted. Bert resents this and is the hidden observer of many secret meetings between Clay and Lucy. / At last Clay urges Lucy to elope. She consents but later backs out, a little frightened at taking so decisive a step. Bert comes from hiding, confronts Clay and accuses him of evil intentions. Clay taunts him; Bert jumps upon him. A struggle takes place between them. In the tussle Clay’s gun drops to the ground “The Stranger” throws Bert from him and with a sneer at Bert’s poor showing as a fighter, walks away. Bert finds the gun and is about to shoot when he thinks better of it. But later, under the influence of liquor, the murderous inclination again seizes him. He starts our determined to find Clay. He goes to the lovers’ rendezvous intent on preventing the elopement at any cost. Hidden in the brush, he sees Lucy about to depart with Clay. He becomes crazed, levels the gun and fires at Clay. Lucy, however, makes a sudden move away from Clay and receives the bullet intended for him. She falls apparently dead. Bert is horror-struck. / He throws the gun from him and runs away filled with terror. A crowd of ranchers soon gather. Clay is dazed at the sudden turn of affairs and remains silent; the gun is found and is recognized at once as “The Stranger’s.” The townspeople, already suspicious of Clay, naturally attribute the crime to him and he is soon placed behind prison bars. Bert returns home to Bliss, looking for money with which to clear out of the country. He breaks down, and confesses to Bliss. She is heart-broken but helps him to get away. Later she learns through the sheriff that Harvey Clay has been arrested for the crime. Then a terrible struggle begins for her. Shall she let another suffer in her brother’s place? The sheriff sees by her manner that she is very unhappy and believes it is grief over Clay’s plight. / An immense mob surrounds the jail intent on lynching Clay. The sheriff asks Daly to assist him in restoring order and again Bliss is thrown into a panic, for she realizes how futile their puny efforts will be against hundreds of men determined on lynching “The Stranger.” By careful maneuvering, she leads the sheriff into a love declaration. While in is embrace she contrives to get the keys to the jail. Another urgent call is made for the sheriff and he tears himself away from his lovemaking. Bliss, on horse back, loses no time in making a cross-cut to the jail. She creeps along the rear of the buildings, and sees the guards called off to assist in holding the front of the jail against the mob. She enters the rear of the jail, finds Clay’s cell and leads him out to liberty. Clay tries to embrace her. She becomes disgusted and orders him to her horse, telling him to ride for his life. / Bert has reached the nearest large town. He sees an account in the newspapers of the shooting, learns that Clay has been arrested and that mob violence is feared. Bert decides to confess all. / The crowd in front of the jail is beyond control. The sheriff, seeing that other lives are in danger, promises to hand over the prisoner. He reaches for his keys but finds them gone. The mob will not wait, however. They force an entrance, find the prisoner gone and abuse the sheriff. / The sheriff returns to the ranch, believing he has been tricked by Bliss so she could set her lover free. At this moment Bliss staggers in and falls fainting, the keys in her outstretched hand. His suspicions confirmed, Sheriff Howe is about to leave when Bert bursts into the room and confesses his guilt. All is then explained, Lucy recovers and soon afterward there is a double marriage between Sheriff Howe and Bliss and Bert and Lucy.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 6 January 2010.
References: UnivWeekly-19150612 pp. 27, 32, 34 : Website-IMDb.
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