The Unwritten Law

The picture opens with a scene in the drawing room of the home to which John Wilson, the State's District Attorney, has just brought his bride, Kate. This fades out into one year later. The young wife has become the mother of a baby girl. John Wilson is now a candidate for governor. Larry McCarthy, saloon proprietor and political boss of the southern half of the State, comes to Wilson's home to plead his support, and while there meets Kate. That same evening the Wilsons have dinner at the Frolic Café, where Estelle, a popular cabaret singer and McCarthy's sweetheart is the star performer. Because Wilson and his wife, both of whom do not drink, refuse to taste the wine offered by McCarthy, he decides to harm Wilson in his race for governor. With no suspicion of McCarthy's perfidy, Wilson is confident of victory, and in anticipation of it gives a ball on the night of election. During the affair, he receives news of his defeat. He wanders into the library and there finds a decanter of whiskey. Surrendering to a sudden impulse, he begins to drink and is thoroughly intoxicated when Kate discovers him later. Wilson becomes a confirmed drunkard. Estelle has run away with another man, and McCarthy, now determined to possess himself of Kate, assists Wilson on his downward way. Kate, finding it necessary to secure an income for the support of herself. John and Baby Sue through her own endeavors, saves a few dollars from the wreck of their fortune and goes into the millinery business. John sets out to mail a letter addressed to the insurance company. Kate has enclosed in it fifty dollars in bills to pay for a policy on her store. John's intentions are good enough, but McCarthy pulls him inside a saloon. The temptation is too great and he spends the money for liquor. At home that night while in a drunken stupor he throws a burning match on the floor. It sets fire to the curtain and soon the building is in flames. McCarthy arrives in the nick of time and rescues the family. Baby Sue has been seriously burned. Reduced to the poorest circumstances, the Wilsons are now forced to live in cheap apartments in Larry McCarthy's tenement house. Kate earns a miserable existence for them through taking in washing. Finally McCarthy proposes that he come as a boarder, thus eliminating the necessity of Kate's paying rent. John is now growing jealous and suspicious of McCarthy's intentions. Although the rent is already in arrears and Kate believes John's suspicions of McCarthy entire