The Grip of Jealousy (1916)

• 66%
• 1916
• Drama
• Joseph De Grasse
• Louise Lovely
• Lon Chaney
• Grace Thompson

The Grant and Morey families have been enemies for generations. Beth Grant and Jack Morey marry secretly, and when the expected result of marriage is near at hand, decide to leave home rather than betray their secret. Virginia Grant overhears their plans to leave, and thinking Morey has dishonored her sister, tells Harry Grant, who proclaims vengeance upon Morey. Silas Lacey, a rich planter, asks of Harry Grant consent to Marry his sister, Virginia Lacey, not being of the proper social strata. Grant is indignant in his refusal and throws Lacey bodily from the house. Lacey kills Grant, but everybody suspects Jack Morey, who has fled when his secret wife gives birth to a child and dies. Only Jeff, an old slave of Lacey's knows that Lacey is the murderer of Harry Grant. Virginia, in the belief that Beth's child is illegitimate, conceals the fact of its birth and secretly leaves it upon Jeff's doorstep. Inside Jeff's cabin at the time was Jeff's daughter Cora, safe from bloodhounds that have been trailing her, but ill unto death by childbirth. When Jeff finds the baby on his doorstep he believes it is his grandchild and rears her as Linda. When fifteen years elapse the story is resumed. Hugh Morey lays siege to Virginia's hand, hut she will not marry him because she believes it was Jack Morey who had killed her brother Harry. Lacey is also a persistent suitor, but is disdained by Virginia who really loves Hugh Morey despite the family feud. Virginia's greatest burden is the secret knowledge that Linda, who is being raised by Jeff as his grandchild is actually her niece, the daughter of the dead Beth Grant. Lacey claims possession of Linda, as she is supposed to be the offspring of one of his slaves. Lacey's son, Harvey, covets the girl Linda. To old Lacey, however, Linda is valuable. Virginia's care of the girl at Jeff's and her great interest in the welfare of the supposed slave-child gives him a strong influence to bear upon his suit for Virginia's hand. Finally Virginia consents to marry Lacey if he will free Linda. Harvey Lacey hears of the bargain and while old Lacey is "waiting at the church," kidnaps Linda and takes her aboard a river boat. By the coincidence of moving picture license, Jack Morey, who has never been heard from since he left home, following the murder of Harry Grant, is travelling on the same steamer. Seeing Linda carried on board the boat and locked in one of the cabins, Jack Morey rescues her in the nick of time. Complications are soon set right. The ending of the story is the wedding of Hugh Morey and the proof, through Jeff's disclosure, that Lacey was the murderer of Harry Grant.