The Stampede (1911)

• 82%
• 1911
• Thomas H. Ince

Jose Almedo is a cattle thief. Marie, his wife, endeavors to assist him. Jose and his band plan to run off some cattle belonging to a rancher. Marie goes to warn them, carrying her little girl, Nello. In her desperation, she struggles across the range but is in the path of the cattle which are being pursued by the thieves. There is no escape by flight. Breathing a prayer to her Maker, she lies down with her child beside her. The affrighted cattle sweep on, over the. Marie is trampled to death but the child is unharmed. Years elapse and Nello has grown to be a woman. She is riding one day with the son of the rancher and becomes lost from him. She is captured by the band of Jose, who has not forsaken his life of crime. She is taken to a cabin and held for ransom. Jose intimidates Nello and is struck by her beauty. Becoming bolder, he makes improper advances only to discover by a locket she wears that she is his daughter. Parental love triumphs and he bids the girl go. Left alone Jose is stricken with remorse and fear. Realizing that he will pay the penalty with his life, which is worthless to him, he deliberately goes to the window, thrusts his body out and is shot by the guard and falls dead.