A Delayed Reformation
Sid Rand, crook, escapes imprisonment through assistance tendered him by his sister, Bess, who is the wife of John Sterling, a magistrate. Bess, an innocent girl, zealously conceals her relationship to Sid. In freeing Sid from jail she unwisely borrowed the necessary money from Norton, a money lender. Norton, owing to Bess's obligation, makes improper advances toward her during their meetings in his quarters. Meanwhile, Sid, repentant, has married Nell, a girl of the rural district, and has settled down upon a small farm, trying to live the life of a civilian. After a few months, farm life grows irksome to Sid and he determines to return to the city for a final plunge into the pickpocket game. Through a friend he obtained a two weeks' membership into a club. It so happens that Sterling is a member of the organization. On the night that Sid enters the club and "lifts" several pieces of jewelry from the members, Sterling is having an argument with a friend, Bates, on the psychology of criminals. Bates claims that a thief who wishes to live right can be trusted in an environment where stealing is easy. Sterling takes the opposite viewpoint. At this moment Sid, having discovered Sterling's identity, becomes conscience-stricken at the remembrance of the sacrifice his sister made and voluntarily returns the stolen articles to the club members. Here is a chance to test the argument under discussion. Sterling is finally prevailed upon to draw lots with Bates to determine at whose house Sid shall spend the night as a guest, thus affording a test as to his honesty. Sterling finds himself obligated to take Sid to his home, and Sid does not dare reveal himself to Sterling because of his sister. On the night Sterling takes Sid home, Bess, rendered desperate by Norton's insistent demands for money, has agreed to meet him in her home at midnight, she believing at the time that Sterling is to be absent from the city that night. It is her intention to pay Norton with money taken by herself from her husband's safe. Bess is dumbfounded to see Sterling enter the house with Sid at 10 p.m. Sterling simply introduces Sid as a "guest" and eventually all retire. At midnight Bess creeps downstairs to admit Norton and Sid follows her. Sterling, wakeful because of his suspicions of Sid, creeps downstairs. Sid hurries Norton by force from the room before Sterling enters, and what Sterling sees is Sid in possession of the bank-notes apparently held at bay by Bess with a revolver. It is a hurriedly conceived scheme on Sid's part to sacrifice himself for Bess. Sid is arrested and Sterling, as magistrate, convicts him. Bess, conscious of her deception, labors more and more under a tense nervous strain. One night Sterling, by accident, discovers that she has had dealings with Norton. Learning this much, he imagines much more. Enraged at the thought that he has convicted an innocent man because of Bess's duplicity, he drives her from home. He frees Sid next morning. Sid explains the entire affair to Sterling and both men start a search for Bess, which finally ends at Sid's farm, where Bess has sought refuge with Nell. Sterling and Bess effect a reconciliation, while Sid, having learned the lesson of his life, emphasizes his desire to reform for good.
