The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-03-03
THE Devil STONE
| new FARRAR PLAY
Black Cats and Superstition
Play Important Part in
Great Film.
MARSHALL SUPPORTS
Nan Who Gained Reputation
in "Paid in Full" Wins
Fresh Laurels.
MARSHALL SUPPORTS

Black cat superstition plays an i'm
pcrtant part in the new Geraldine Far
I-ar riav 1.-THE Devil Stone" which will
a't ear today, Monday and Tuesday AT
g Empress theater. With her is Tul-
Marshall, who in Paid in Full"
aiHed a nation wide reputation as
screen actor Mr.. Marshall takes the
part of Silas Martin, a misery and un-
scrupulous character, and does it with
telling effect.
Geraldine Farrer is Marcia Manot, "a
simple Breton fisherwoman 1t is to
her the black cat appears on two diff
ferent occasions. What effect super
stition has on the outcome of the play
may be debatable, but the unfolding
Of the plot has a punch that carries in
terest until the final flicker.
Summary Of Play.
Si1as Martin, a misery and unscru-
pulous American owner of vast fisheries
along the Breton coast. marries Marcia
Manot. Il simple Breton fisher girl in
order to get possession of an extremely
valuable emerald which the girl has
found, believing that it is a relic OF the
ancient Morse Queen Grenelda, upon
whom a curse has been visited for hav-
ing wrested this stone from a Christian
priest
Marcia agrees to the marriage with
Martin only to bring riches to her hard
working old mother and little crippled
brother. and to aid her fellow villagers
in their rightful struggle with Martin
for better wages.
Stays in Self Defense.
Bitter disappointment comes to Mar
cia when she is placed in her American
home by Martin. where his penurious
instincts are given full play. AS soon
as Martin has arranged for the sale
of the valuable stone, he plans to get
rid of his wife, and deliberately sets the
stage to divorce her. naming Guy Ster-
ling, his business manager. who has
displayed a friendly interest in the girl.
Through the efforts of "A great crimi-
noIogist. Sterling and Marcia discover
Martins plan. Marcia attempts to re-
gain the stone from Martin, and in a
struggle with the enrased man she kills
him in self-defense.
Sterling is accused of murder. but is
acquitted when certain evidence makes
it clear that Sterling is not guilty. A
little later. when Sterling desires to
marry the girl, Marcia, conscience
stricken, at first refuses, but is later
brought to a happy marriage. Believ-
ing that Marcia suspects him of being
guilty of Martins death, Sterling en-
lists the aid of the criminologist in
tracing the real murderer of Sias
Martin.
Freed From Charge.
The expert reconstructs the events OF
the death of Martin and is convinced
that Marcia is responsible. He proves
this to Sterling when Marcia is trapped
destroying evidence of her guilt Ad-
hitting her act, Marcia asks for a
months leave to return the fatal Devil
Stone to its rightful owner. Bearing
in mind the curse which the dying
Christian priest laid upon the legen-
dairy Queen .Grenelda when the stone
was stolen from the church. Marcia
journeys to her Breton home and places
the gem in the hands of the good
Father Jean, to be sold for the benefit
of the poor of the church. Returning
to America and meeting the criminolo-
gist and Sterling on the appointed
date. Marcia is freed by the former,
who tells her that he is convinced that
she killed her husband in self defense
and that he AS "a consequence will not
give her up to the law.
Freed from the imaginary curse
which the Devil Stone carried with it,
Marcia Is reunited happily with her
real lover. Sterling.