The Cattle King's Daughter (1912)

• 81%
• 1912
• Western
• Gilbert M. Anderson
• Gilbert M. Anderson
• Arthur Mackley
• Marguerite Marsh

May Barclay, returning from the east, is met at the station by her father, a wealthy cattle king. On passing the town saloon, two members of Buck Brady's gang, known and feared throughout the country for lawless depredations, see May and determine to steal her and hold her for ransom. The two ruffians now decoy old Barclay from the ranch by means of a fake warning that sheep-men are cutting his fences, then gain entrance to the ranch house, find May alone and unarmed, force her to sign a note advising her father she is being held for ransom, then conduct her to their rendezvous. Leaving her on a rough pallet, they depart. Worn out and weary, May is on the point of falling into an exhausted sleep, when she suddenly hears faint cries coming from an adjoining room. Entering, she finds Buck Brady, who is tossing in delirium on a bunk and moaning for water. She discovers he is wounded in the head, secures some water, relieves his pain and restores him to consciousness. Amazed at seeing the pretty girl, Brady questions her and learns of her abduction by his men. Realizing what she had done for him, Brady experiences a change of heart and asks to be allowed to escort her to her home. Meanwhile, Barclay and the sheriff are searching the hills for her. Out on the trail May suddenly spies her father down in a ravine, calls to him, then runs off, leaving Brady standing gazing after her longingly. For a moment he watches, sees her safe in her father's strong arms, then turns and makes his way slowly back over the rocks with a song of joy in his awakened heart and realizing he has done one decent thing in all his crime-stained career.