The Final Curtain

Broadway actor Lyle, is playing one-night stands in the West. One afternoon he drops into a small theatre where a repertoire company of the 10-20-30 sort is playing. He is struck with the beauty and talent of Ruth Darrell, a young member of the company, and sees in her just the type demanded by a new play in which he is to be featured the following season. He takes steps to meet the girl, arranges with his New York manager for an interview with her, and the following autumn finds her playing in his support in one of the new Broadway successes. Here she is seen by Lord, a wealthy manufacturer of woolen goods, who falls in love with her and asks her to marry him, in spite of his maiden sister's protests. Ruth accepts him. Ruth is a happy, carefree woman, and has earned the title of "Our Lady of Laughter." Lord, who is a hard-headed business man, is in great financial difficulties because he has spent a huge sum in filling a government contract, for which he finds his business demanding most of his time. One night she gives a dinner to her former friends of the stage, including Lyle, Banks, the Broadway manager, and her old friends of the theatrical boarding-house, whom prominent among are the Marvelous Sylvesters. Lord and his sister Jane are shocked by the theatrical people's antics and insists that Ruth sever all connections with her former friends. This awakens her spirit and when she continues to find herself deprived of the company of her husband because of his application to business she goes back upon the stage and plays m support of Lyle. In the meantime, Lord, pressed more and more by his creditors, has made arrangements with bank president Robbins, for a loan to be made on the date when a number of his notes shall fall due. Cole, head of the woolen trust, sees an opportunity to wreck Lord's business completely. He brings pressure to bear on Robbins, and together they play to disappoint Lord at the last moment. When his notes fall due the loan from the bank will not be forthcoming. One night Lord goes to the theatre to see his wife play. Lyle notices him in the audience, and being half drunk, plays the love scenes with Ruth with more-than-ordinary ardor. Lord notices this and becomes furious. When the play is over, Lord makes his way to Ruth's dressing room. Meanwhile Lyle follows Ruth to her dressing room and has her in his arms when Lord enters; how they are positioned, Lyle is unable to see that she is resisting him. Mad with jealousy, he tears L