Love and Sacrifice

During a birthday party in New York City for her six-year- old daughter Alice, Ray Steinfield tells her that her father Bernard is delayed on a business trip in Cleveland and won't be home until next week. On the day Bernard is to return home, Florence Ehrlich, his cousin, who desires him, visits his partner, Julius Rosenheim, who has designs on Ray, and recognizes Rosenheim's butler and chauffeur James as "Kid Shy Bloom," her former criminal cohort. James, who has escaped prison, threatens to shoot Florence, who has gone straight, if she squeals. Florence and Rosenheim scheme to cause Ray and Bernard to divorce. As part of the plan, James phones Ray and tells her to come to Rosenheim's hotel room because Rosenheim, who, James says, has suffered a heart attack, must give her important papers for Bernard. When Bernard returns and learns from Florence that Ray went to see Rosenheim, he gets angry and takes off after her. In his hotel, Rosenheim tries to embrace Ray and locks the door. She grabs a gun, which James has left, and when Bernard knocks, Rosenheim tells her that if she doesn't hide in the other room, Bernard could divorce her and take the children. Bernard sees Ray's coat and hat, and Rosenheim says that she is sleeping in his bedroom and that he loves her. Ray then comes out with the gun and orders Rosenheim to tell the truth. When he continues to lie, she shoots him. Ray is found guilty of murder in the second degree and is sentenced to twenty years in the state prison. She implores Bernard to tell their children, Alice and David, that she is dead. Twelve years later, Bernard, now married to Florence, has changed his name to Stone. Alice is engaged to Edward Edelstein, whose mother, a social worker, takes them to prison to speak with the warden about a woman inmate for whom she has developed a concern. The woman turns out to be Ray, although Alice has no knowledge that she is her mother. Mrs. Edelstein wants to appeal to the governor for Ray's freedom, but Ray does not care to be free. When Alice asks Ray if she isn't anxious to see her children, Ray says that she would give her life for a glimpse of them, but that she mustn't be freed. Haunted by her encounter with Ray, Alice convinces Edward that they must do something for her. Meanwhile, James, who went back to prison after Florence squealed on him, confesses to the warden about the plan to separate Alice and Bernard. The warden arranges a meeting between Ray and James, who begs forgiveness. When she learns that Florence is now Bernard's wife and that his name is now Stone, she surmises that Alice is her daughter. At Alice and Edward's wedding, Alice waits nervously for Mrs. Edelstein to bring Ray's sister, a rich woman from South Africa, whom they have never seen. Ray, who impersonates this "aunt," does not reveal her identity, saying that she looks just like her sister. She holds Dave and Alice and, after explaining that she lost her own two children through a misfortune, asks if they will allow her to take their mother's place at the wedding. After the ceremony, Florence, fearing the "aunt" will open old wounds, tells Alice that her mother is alive in prison for killing the man she loved. Alice doesn't believe her, but tells Edward, so that he will have the choice to divorce her if he wants. Edward, however, is indignant to Florence. Ray brings in detectives, and they arrest Florence, who the Chicago police have sought for eighteen years. Ray then takes off her wig and reveals to Alice and Dave that she is their mother. Ray tells Bernard that she feels the situation was not his fault, and Bernard vows to start life anew with her.