Motherless (1910)

• 75%
• 1910
• Drama
• Georges Monca

In the days of Louis XV of France there lived one Diana de Vaudrey, to whom was born a little daughter totally blind. Diana's father-in-law, the proud Count de Vaudrey, insisted that his daughter should get rid of the afflicted child, and it was by his order that the little blind baby was placed on the church steps, where it was rescued by a poor family, who brought it up as their own and as the real sister of their daughter Henriette. After the death of these good people the two girls were left orphans, and Henriette, the older of the two, was the real mother to the little blind girl, who depended upon her for everything. But the sisters, becoming separated by an unfortunate accident, the younger one falls into the hands of an old hag named Mother Frochard, who believed she could raise money by having the pretty blind girl be on the street. The sufferings of the poor child while under the old hag's roof are indescribable; one must see the picture to get an idea of what she endured when compelled to stand for hours in the street and smilingly beg from every passerby. The faithful Henriette, who had never ceased her search for her little sister, finally finds her in the old witch's hovel, and through a chance acquaintance who happens to be related to the blind girl's own father, the sisters meet Diana. Countess de Vaudrey, who has never had a moment's happiness since she deserted her little blind baby so many years ago. Through the means of a tiny locket that the blind girl had always worn and which Henriette bad wrested from old Mother Frochard, who had stolen it when she held the girl prisoner, the Countess discovers that the blind girl that fate has brought in her path is none other than the wee babe she so cruelly deserted. Her happiness knows no bounds now that she can make up to the child for all she suffered during these sad years of separation. Henriette is also received by the happy Countess as her own, and the last pictures show the joy of the two orphans and the just punishment of the wicked old Mother Frochard.