The Way of the Strong

During Prohibition, bootlegger Handsome Williams is renowned for his ugly visage and for his fits of violence whenever he catches a glimpse of his face in the mirror. When he muscles in on Tiger Louie's business, stealing all of his shipments, Louie plots revenge, asking his moll Marie, who is a barmaid at Handsome's tavern, to watch for a time when Handsome is alone. One night, Marie sees Handsome admiring a blind street violinist, Nora, and notifies Louie. Handsome evades the gunfire that soon erupts, then carries Nora back to his tavern after she faints. Handsome falls in love with Nora, and showing her every kindness, hires her to play in his club to the accompaniment of Dan, the pianist. When she insists on feeling his face, Handsome pushes Dan in front of him so Nora continues to believe that Handsome is indeed good-looking. Marie and Louie kidnap Nora one day when Handsome is out buying an engagement ring, and their ransom is that Handsome does not interfere with their booze shipments. Handsome agrees, but the kidnappers keep her too long, and Handsome and his gang raid the hideout, tipped off by Marie, who becomes jealous when Louie tries to seduce Nora. During the gunplay that ensues, Dan rescues Nora and then returns for Handsome, to whom he owes a debt of gratitude. When Handsome stops the getaway car for water to revive Nora, who has fainted again, she feels his face and is repulsed. Realizing that Dan and Nora are in love, Handsome lets them escape, while he leads the police on a chase. When he sees his face in the rear-view mirror, however, he realizes he has little chance for happiness, and turns his gun on himself, after which the car careens over a bridge and sinks into the river.