Forgiven; Or, The Jack of Diamonds

While on a winter's trip in Florida, sailing on the St. John River, John Diamond with the sobriquet of the Jack of Diamonds, has as a traveling companion Daniel Peabody, known as Denver Dan, a type of the old-time western gentleman gambler. Jack discovers some card sharks cheating Willard Graham. Taking a hand in the game, he wins back and returns to Graham his money. Annie Dennison and her Aunt Cordelia are on a southern trip. Willard Graham is a suitor for Annie's hand. Jack becomes the hero of the trip by heroically plunging overboard and saving a little child, Virginia Bell. This attracts Annie's attention to Jack. Later at St. Augustine Jack and Annie see much of each other to the chagrin of Graham and Aunt Cordelia, who does not like Jack, and who constantly snubs Denver Dan, who tries to win her love. Graham receives a letter from Texas, warning him to look out for Frank Popham. Some years before, Graham, while a guest at Popham's house, had robbed Popham of his wife and then cast her aside. Popham, who has become a derelict, sees Graham in the park of the hotel with Annie and tries to stab him. Graham overpowers Popham and gives him money to return to Texas, pretending to Popham that his wife still lives. Graham sends a note to Annie that her lover is the notorious Jack O'Diamonds. This is a shock to Annie, but Jack begs of her to hear his story. Jack recites, and in a dissolve we see how his parents lost their fortune in a Wall Street panic. Jack is lucky at cards and becomes wealthy. He promises that if Annie will marry him he will swear off gambling forever. Annie accepts. Seven years later Jack is at home in Jacksonville, and they are blessed with a daughter, Leonie. Fortune, however, has been against him, but he steadily holds to his promise not to gamble. Graham has been a frequent visitor, awaiting the chance to ruin Jack. This he does by exposing him to the head of the railroad company, of which Jack is an employee, as the former notorious gambler, Jack O'Diamonds. Jack is discharged. He refuses financial aid from Graham and Denver Dan, and secures a job as night watchman, but is ashamed to tell Annie. Receiving an offer to go into the cattle business in Texas, Jack starts from home, but misses his train. Graham, meanwhile, has told Annie that Jack has gambled each night, and persuades Annie to go with him and he will prove this. As they are about to leave, Jack returns and, believing that Annie is faithless, draws his pistol to shoot Graha