The Blood Taint

Mrs. Van gives a grand ball for the coming out of her daughter Ethel. Coombs becomes enamored with her beauty and youth, which infatuation is incompatible with his dissipated self. Coombs is under the care of Holt, a specialist for an incurable disease, but utterly heartless he calls on Mrs. Van and seeks an alliance with Ethel. Mrs. Van is delighted, and bids him call the next afternoon. The mother and daughter have a stormy conversation, in which Ethel is forced to submit to her wishes. Coombs calls, has a scene with Ethel, and leaves the home engaged to her. The papers announce the engagement, and Coombs' and Ethel's pictures are printed side by side in terrible contrast, a man prematurely aged by every folly, a girl in beautiful womanhood. Holt sees the announcement and is horrified. He hurries to Mrs. Van and tells her as much as a man can tell a woman, but she tells him the marriage must take place. Still determined to prevent the alliance Dr. Holt sends for Coombs. Dr. Holt tells Coombs the absolute truth concerning his condition, but Coombs laughs. David Howard, Dr. Holt's assistant, finds the doctor raging and inquires the trouble. Dr. Holt shows him the newspaper, saying, "I would to God that I were young, like you. I'd save that girl." The doctor's words have their effect upon David. Visions of Ethel rise before him; he sees her at his own fireside. The vision fades and David despairs. Ethel, as the time draws near for her marriage, falls ill. Mrs. Van sends for Dr. Holt. Dr. Holt sends for David. Two weeks pass and a love interest springs up between David and Ethel. Now it is Ethel who sees visions of life with David in contrast to visions of life with Coombs. Her visions end in despair. Helen Grayson, once the wife of Coombs but divorced by him, is living in a miserable room on the east side. David in his rounds among the poor is told she is ill, and enters her room, where he sees upon the table at her bedside a picture of Coombs. David learns her story and tells her of his love for Ethel. She promises to help him, but when David leaves her face lights up with a devilish purpose. The wedding day comes. Ethel is being arrayed in her wedding finery. Helen Grayson in her poor little room reads a newspaper item: "after the ceremony at the bride's home the bridal couple will journey by motor to Heather Downs, the groom's country home, where they will spend their honeymoon." Helen prepares herself for a journey. The wedding takes place and David sees the girl he loves married to the roué. The bridal couple enter the car and drive away. Helen Grayson leaves the train at a small country station and walks rapidly away. We see her heavily veiled at the gate of Heather Downs as the motor enters containing Ethel and Coombs. It is night; a light coming from the fireplace lights up the evil face of Coombs and the sad young face of Ethel. Leaning close to her and leering into her face, stroking her hand and arms with all the pleasure of the sensualist, he whispers to her. Her face shows the horror she feels as she rises, bows and exits. Alone in her bedroom, a vision of David comes to her and fades away. Sitting by the fire where she left him sits Coombs. Smilingly he rises and turns, but his smile changes to a look of horror as he stares into the face of the woman he has wronged. Coombs springs for her, but sees the gun in her hands. She motions him into his chair and he sinks down weakly. Helen speaks and a vision of a simple wedding appears and fades quickly away. She speaks again, and a vision of his awful self is staring at him, followed by a vision of Ethel in bridal dress. The visions fade, and holding out the gun, Helen speaks, "Use it first on yourself, then I will use it." Trembling and afraid, he reaches out and takes the gun from her hand. Ethel in her chamber is startled by the sounds of shots. Before the fire lie the bodies of Helen and Coombs. Two years later, a hallway in David's home, David is pacing up and down when Dr. Holt enters from Ethel's room and speaks. "It's a boy and a healthy little rascal." The last scene shows David kneeling beside the bed containing his wife and child.