Vengeance of the Dead

Michael Tcheoff, a foreign spy, is plotting to steal the secret plans of a new submarine. He enlists the help of Lilas Velso, a Russian ballerina who is in love with ship designer David Royston. Royston, however, gives the plans to his cousin, Captain Salwin of the United States Secret Service. After a ballet performance, Tcheoff instructs Lilas to ask Royston to bring his cousin to the ball. At the ball, again following Tcheoff's instructions, Lilas feigns dizziness and asks Salwin to take her home. [print is missing almost a full reel at this point.] point, almost a full reel, is missing.] Before she dies, Lilas tells Royston her life's story: In Russia, she lives in a hovel with a brutish drunkard for a husband; she kills her husband in an effort to prevent him from seizing her meager savings hidden in their baby's crib; Tcheoff, whom she had met after being discharged from ballet school, witnesses the event and promises to take care of her and her daughter Mignon. Now that Lilas is dead, Tcheoff swears revenge. Royston now takes care of Mignon, who has grown into a beautiful young woman. Royston realizes that he loves Mignon and the two marry. Tcheoff, now ill and weak, moves into a home near the couple and wins Mignon's favors by staging an attack on her and chasing the "intruder" away. Royston, however, is suspicious and disapproves of his wife seeing Tcheoff. After Tcheoff dies and leaves his wealth to Mignon, Royston succumbs to the rumors about his wife's relationship with the Russian and orders her out of the house. After their divorce becomes final, he receives a message from Tcheoff, sealed on the day of the old man's death, informing him that his wife is innocent and that it was all a plot to get back at him for Lilas's death. Royston visits Mignon's lawyer and finds out that she has given birth to their child. Although angry at her husband for letting himself be deceived by Tcheoff, Mignon eventually agrees to see him.