In Death's Pathway (1916)

• 70%
• 1916
• Thriller
• J. Gunnis Davis
• Helen Gibson
• George A. Williams
• Scott Pembroke

Burkett, superintendent of the Western Railway, opposes his daughter's friendship for Dick Benton, one of the company's lawyers, favoring the latter's fellow-worker, Guy Warren. Warren succeeds in putting through a scheme which results in Dick's discharge. The lovers plan to elope and enlist the aid of Helen. But Eleanor's father learns of the move and wires ahead to police officials to board her train and arrest her while he follows in his special. By a daring leap from a handcar to the train Helen succeeds in warning Eleanor of her peril, but is too late, and Helen and Dick are forced to stand idly by while Burkett starts on the return trip in his special, carefully guarding Eleanor. While Pembroke and Helen speed in an auto on the road alongside the track they suddenly see the engineer and fireman of the special flung to the ground by a bursting steam valve. Their warning cries unheard by the passengers on the special. Helen decides on the desperate course and they take a short cut, bringing them to a bridge over the tracks before the wild train. Pembroke climbs over the railing and allows his body to sway in mid-air, while Helen drops until she has only a perilous hold on his feet. As the speeding train whizzes by beneath she abandons her hold and lands atop the tender. In a few seconds the train is brought to a stop. Helen's pleading combined with the evidence of Dick's courage soon breaks down Burkett's stubborn will and the lovers are happy.