WARNER'S FEATURES

PRESENT—

WHEN MEN HATE

THREE REELS

THE STORY

PART ONE

For years a feud has been in progress between the Morrison and Weston clans. Donald Weston, handsome and daring, has sworn to avenge the death of his father and rides armed into town hoping that he may encounter Jem Morrison. The enemies meet at the village store and exchange shots; Morrison is wounded and the feud is renewed. A letter is sent to Ruth, Morrison's daughter, to leave the convent where she is being educated and return immediately to nurse her wounded father. She is warned to beware of the Westons and never on any account to leave the boundaries of the Morrison plantation.

One morning, a week later, Ruth slips down to the river bank to fish; here she is surprised by Weston, who rows his boat beneath her seat in the fork of an overhanging tree and with true gallantry lifts her to the ground. The sight of her fresh, young face turns his head and he attempts to kiss her; with all her strength, Ruth fights him off and leaves him dazedly rubbing his face which she struck with her fishing pole.

The next day, unable to forget Ruth, Donald again makes his way to the river and follows her as she starts homeward. Overtaking her, he renews his assertions of love but is repulsed. At this moment, Ruth's brother fires at Weston from behind a tree and draws Weston's fire in return. Terrified, the girl seizes the gun from her brother and commands Weston to go.

When this clash is reported to Jem Morrison, he rallies his sons about him and sends a warning to the Westons that it's a case of shoot on sight if one of their clan crosses the path of a Morrison. The inevitable clash between the two families takes places in the main street of the village and the Morrisons ride off leaving a Weston badly wounded to be captured by the sheriff and placed in the village lock-up. A week later, the Westons, under the leadership of Donald, storm the flimsy jail by moonlight and rescue their kinsman while the sheriff stands helpless, fearing to draw his gun.

PART TWO

A month later, Donald the reckless, determines to visit Ruth. With his gun ready for instant action, he approaches the home of the Morrisons, knowing full well that he may never return alive. Fortune favors him. While passing through a wooded copse, the Morrisons ride by him on their way to town. Knowing that his path is clear, Donald hurries on to the house which he enters by means of a side window. It proves to be Ruth's bedroom, and he hastily conceals himself behind the curtains of her wardrobe. Ruth enters carrying a pail of water which she sets down in front of her mirror. By its reflection, she sees the curtains moving

WARNER'S FEATURES

and attempts to escape, but Donald is too quick for her and has locked the door and seized her in his arms before she can make an outcry. With inhuman strength, she wrenches herself free and taking up the pail of water, dashes it full in his face. At this moment, Ruth's brother hears the scuffle and pounds upon the door demanding admittance. Fear for her own safety quickly changes to terror for the fate of Donald if he should be caught in her room by one of the Morrisons. Grasping him by the shoulders, she pushes him towards her window imploring him to hasten and make good his escape. With a forced smile upon her face, she admits her brother and explains to him that the noise he heard was caused by her tripping over a chair and upsetting the bucket of water.

That evening, Donald determines upon a different course to satisfy his hatred for the Morrisons and his love for Ruth. He writes a decoy note, representing that it is from Aunt Sally Brown, an old slave. It implores Ruth to come to her at once. The note is delivered to Ruth by a little piccaniny, and she at once prepares to visit her old Aunty to do what she can for her comfort.

RUTH RETURNS TO NURSE HER WOUNDED FATHER

Ruth leaves the house without telling the members of her family where she is going. As she crosses the bridge, a little black kitten follows her. Scolding will not drive it back, and she proceeds on her way with the kitten nestling in her cape. Once across the bridge, she enters a wooded path, at the end of which Donald is lying in wait for her. As Ruth reaches him, Donald springs out and stifles her cries by throwing a black cloth over her head. Then lifting her lightly to his saddle, he gallops away to a deserted cabin that he knows is safe from prying eyes.

Once inside, with his clansmen on guard, Donald releases Ruth from her bonds, and begs her to marry him. Ruth emphasizes her refusal with a vigorous slap on the cheek which infuriates Donald but only strengthens his determination to marry her and thus revenge himself upon the Morrisons. Leaving a guard in the house, Donald mounts his horse, and rides away to get a minister. During his absence, the guard falls asleep, and Ruth at her wits end, writes a message for help on her handkerchief with a piece of charcoal from the open fire, ties it on the kitten's neck, and drops her pet out of the window. With true instinct, the kitten returns home where it attracts attention, and warns the Morrisons of Ruth's peril. Before the Morrisons can arm themselves, and reach the old Moss cabin, Donald has returned with the minister and the ceremony is performed at the point of a gun—the minister having refused to continue when appealed to by Ruth.