King Spruce

"King Spruce" is personified in John Barrett, lumber magnate of the North woods. His domineering character is shown when his daughter Elva falls in love with a school teacher, Dwight Wade. Barrett conspires with his foreman, McLeod, to entice Wade away to the lumber camps, and finally decides to accompany the gang of men himself. He starts in to eject and burn out all "skeeters" who have settled on the land without domiciliary rights. Wade has shown his fighting blood by thrashing McLeod for an act of cruelty, and he now vainly opposes Barrett from motives of humanity. From the first shack burned emerges a wild girl, Kate Arden, who sets the forest afire in revenge. There is another vengeance awaiting Barrett. Kate is his own daughter by the wife of a woodsman who has waited years to get even. It is he who ties Barrett to a tree, where he must be burned in the fire now raging, but he is rescued by Wade. Barrett now acknowledges Kate to be his daughter. When his daughter Elva comes to take care of him the resemblance between the two girls confirms his confession. Barrett attempts a half-hearted redemption by bribing his foreman to marry the wild girl, but he is brought to his senses by Wade and Elva. Wade has become a power through his feats of strength and kindly humanity, and he finally wins the high regard of the spruce magnate himself. He is given a partnership in a newly organized business by Barrett, and Elva, to use her own terms, is thrown in for good measure. Moving Picture World, March 27, 1920