The Award of Justice (1914)

• 65%
• 1914
• Drama
• Carlyle Blackwell
• Louise Glaum
• Raymond Hadley

Horace Clark, a young evangelist, first thrashes and then reforms Tim Downs, a drunkard and a gangster. Horace wins the gratitude of Tim and his wife, when he saves their children from death. The gang, angry at having lost its leader, plans to waylay the evangelist. Horace is too much for the holdup men, however. In the battle, one of their number is slain with his own knife. Horace is arrested and tried for murder. Owing to the perjured testimony of "The Rat," one of the band, the evangelist is sentenced to prison for life, despite the efforts of his brother, Arthur, a lawyer, in his behalf. Later, Horace, aided by Tim and his wife, escapes from jail and strikes for the mountains. Horace is rescued from starvation by Hester and her father, Hale, a mountaineer. The evangelist makes his home with them. He learns that the mountaineer is a moonshiner and gradually gets him to give up his illicit business. Hale, in destroying his still, accidentally starts a fire and is burned to death. Years pass. Horace has married Hester and is happy and content as a farmer. "The Rat," now a prominent politician, comes upon Horace while hunting in the mountains. He recognizes the evangelist, and determines to send him back to prison. It happens that Arthur is now the local Justice of the Peace. He listens to "The Rat's" story. Declaring that he knew Horace, Arthur, without revealing the fact that the man is his brother, informs "The Rat" that he will accompany him to the mountains for the purpose of identifying the man. The following day the brothers face each other. Arthur, gazing steadily upon Horace, tells "The Rat" that the mountaineer is not the escaped prisoner. Baffled, "The Rat" apologizes and withdraws. Clasping Horace by the hand, Arthur turns and hastens from the house.