A Moonshiner's Heart (1912)

• 85%
• 1912
• Western
• Gilbert M. Anderson
• Gilbert M. Anderson
• Vedah Bertram
• Arthur Mackley

Old Seth Stevens and his pretty daughter Vedah, live in their rough hill-shack. Stevens conducts an illicit "still" in an abandoned shanty, and the "moonshine" whiskey is concealed in loads of hay and sold in the nearby town. One of the moonshiners is Tom Jackson, who loves Vedah. Stevens encourages Tom's attentions, but Vedah declares that she does not love the young moonshiner and his heart is broken in consequence. Meanwhile, word of the "still" trickles out to civilization and the county sheriff dispatches Ross Chalmers, a young deputy, into the hills in the guise of a wandering artist, to run down the moonshiners and destroy the "still." One morning as Chalmers is tramping the hills he meets Vedah and speaks with her. The girl is attracted by his culture and good looks, and, in succeeding meetings their friendship ripens into love. Driving to town one morning with a load of whiskey, Tom discovers Chalmers and Vedah in each others' arms. Later word is brought to the moonshiners that Chalmers is a revenue officer, and Tom instantly takes to the hills with his rifle, locates Chalmers and Vedah and is about to savagely shoot the deputy down when Vedah desperately promises to marry him if he will conduct Chalmers to safety. For a moment Tom hesitates, then lowers his rifle and leads them off down the trail. Coming to the parson's cottage, Tom surprises them all by calling him out and ordering him to marry Vedah and Chalmers. Realizing what the young moonshiner is sacrificing, Vedah thanks him with tears of gratitude In her brown eyes and Chalmers wrings his hand warmly. Then while Tom strides away to the hills, stifling the love that cries out within him, Vedah and Chalmers are united in marriage.