Drums of Fate
Drums of Fate is a 1923 American silent drama film directed by Charles Maigne and written by Will M. Ritchey based upon a novel by Stephen French Whitman. The film stars Mary Miles Minter, Maurice 'Lefty' Flynn, George Fawcett, Robert Cain, Casson Ferguson, Bertram Grassby, and Noble Johnson. The film was released on January 14, 1923, by Paramount Pictures. Plot. As described in a film magazine, young and socially successful Carol Dolliver (Minter) spurns all suitors until she meets famous African explorer Laurence Teck (Flynn), who is equally attracted to her. They marry and Laurence leaves for  Portuguese East Africa where he is captured by a band of Mambava warriors. Cornelius Rysbroek (Cain), who was a disappointed suitor, wires home to Carol that her husband has been slain. Later, to please her guardian, she weds crippled musician David Verne (Ferguson). Laurence's captor, the Mambava king (Johnson), takes a fairly strong fancy to the white man. Laurence finally gets away, reaches Fort Pero d'Anhaya, and learns of Carol's marriage. He returns home and his sudden appearance so frightens Carol that he believes she no longer loves him. He returns to Africa and the Mambava king, leaving  a note for Carol stating that she can now get a divorce based upon desertion grounds. The shock of Laurence's appearance kills David, and Carol goes to Africa to find her husband. After several adventures, she finds him in the Mambava village and she and David reconcile. Preservation status. "Drums of Fate" is now a lost film.