The Common Law

Two men, one of them a villainous hypnotist, contend for the same woman, unaware that she suffers from dual personality disorder.

The cabaret act of husband-and-wife dancing team Peggy and Joe Blondin is broken up when Joe becomes consumptive and is ordered West to recuperate. Peggy remains in New York to maintain the couple's income but gradually becomes desperate when letters sent her by her husband request more and more money. Joe's letters actually are being intercepted and rewritten by millionaire Harlan Quinn, who has designs on Peggy and wishes to portray Joe's situation as hopeless. After receiving a particularly alarming letter, Peggy consents to sell her honor to Harlan.

On a beach in southern Italy, Gianna Russelli practices her dancing with her devoted brother Russino, looking forward to the day when she will begin formal dance studies. One day the beautiful Countess Michetti comes to the village and engages in a flirtation with Russino, but when her former lover, Prince Viscomte, arrives with his closest friend, Count Paul Trovelli, the countess resumes her affair with the prince.

Lewis Dumont, a Northern officer in the American Civil War, works undercover behind Confederate lines in an attempt to lead Southern forces away from an area in which a Northern attack is planned. But Dumont falls in love with a Southern girl and when she proves useful to his plan, his conscience begins to tear at him.

Alick Wylie agrees to give railroad porter John Shand $300 to help him secure his education and political ambitions on condition that his daughter Maggie has the option of marrying him within five years. Though not in love they marry, and John becomes successful, thanks to Maggie’s input on his speeches, in time being elected to Parliament. Eventually John strays with Lady Sybil and Maggie diplomatically arranges for them to be together. However his next speech without her assistance is a failure and Sybil leaves him out of boredom, it’s then he sees Maggie’s true worth.

The man is a mystery in the little town. He lives alone in his cabin and will not meet the advanced of his neighbors. One night he talks and tells the story of his life. He had been a prosperous lawyer in an eastern town and was engaged to be married to the sweetest of girls. The night before the wedding day she died and in his anguish he called in the devil. The devil said that he would bring back the departed life, but that if the man laughed he would lose his love again. And in the man's joy at his sweetheart's recovery he forgot and laughed and straight the girl died. "Here is Satan now," said the man, as he fell over dead.

Malvini, retires to a monastery after his wife elopes with another man. After 20 years, Malvini returns to find his daughter, Valeria, accused of murder. Her lover, Mario, had actually shot the man in self-defense, but the dying victim blamed Valeria. Mario, initially driven insane by the event, recovers and explains what happened. The priest intervenes with the King, Valeria is freed, and Mario is pardoned. The film ends with the priest marrying Valeria and Mario.

Female gang leader, "The Tigress," is married to a master criminal. She steals a child from a wealthy family and raises him as her own, giving him all her love while keeping him unaware of her criminal activities. She becomes the de facto leader of the gang and rules them with an iron will.

The Allen spinsters adopt Bradley Nickerson, who grows up with Gussie Baker, the little girl next door. Fifteen years later he is first mate of the Thomas Doane, owned by Granny Baker. A plot to sink the ship is averted by Bradley and a sailor, but ultimately the ship is sabotaged.

A gentleman burglar is a detective, which acts as a shield to his more shady pastime.

The film explores the journey of Nora Dowen as she rises to fame and stardom, facing the challenges and temptations that come with the industry.

Tom loves Patsy, but she lives in the city while he is every bit the country bumpkin. When an invention of his sells, he decides to take the money and go to the city. There he will show Patsy that he can be just what he thinks she wants: a city slicker. But Patsy yearns for the simple pleasure of her country boy, Tom, and is shocked at what shows up at her door.

A young girl living a secluded and unsophisticated life is suddenly thrust into a great wealth and a frightening social whirl.

Ambitious press agent Jack Murray introduces two of his clients, Follies dancer Mabel Vandegrift and prize fighter Joe Cain, to each other and they fall in love. After Brock Morton, the owner of the show, says that he will bring down the curtain on the show in the middle of opening night unless Mabel renounces Joe, the latter goes on the stage and announces that, in spite of his prior refusal, that he will fight the English boxing champion. With the money he gets from boxing promoter Tex Rickard, he buys out Morton and the show goes on. Prior to the fight, Morton dopes Joe, but he is brought around so that he is able to fight and eventually wins the match. Joe's father comes east and then brings Joe and Mabel back west with him. A lost film.

In a New York boarding house, owner Daisy Bowman becomes romantically involved with new tenant Jake while among the other residents taxi driver Eddie, fiancé of Betty, is framed for murder by a gangster and imprisoned without telling Betty. The faithless Jake makes a play for Betty, causing him to quarrel with Daisy. Attempting to strangle her he is shot dead by Betty’s blind son. One of Jake’s cohorts, Pete, tries to take advantage of a drunk Betty but when Daisy tries to intervene, he threatens to tell the police who really killed Jake. Meanwhile, Eddie has been released from jail, he returns to find a drunken Betty with Pete and misunderstands. Jake's brother arrives looking for vengeance and believing Eddie murdered Jake, but Daisy tells him it was Pete. In the ensuing shoot out both are killed, and Daisy helps Eddie and Betty reunite.

John Stoval, a guard in a New York subway, thinks that Philip Hurd, who owns a concession at Coney Island, would make a good husband for his daughter Sophie. Sophie, however, has her sights set on Bill Hedges, the son of a wealthy farmer in upstate New York. Her father arranges for her to marry Hurd in exchange for a 25% interest in the concession, but matters come to a halt when John slips and falls off a subway platform and is injured.