Captain Jenny, S.A.
Directed by Otis TurnerJim, a good fellow at heart, is thrown off by his uncle, a banker, and compelled to shift for himself. As nothing else offers, he becomes a member of a life-saving crew at the seaside resort. Here it is we have the first thrilling incident that speaks highly of Mr. Turner's ability as a producer of realism. It is the saving of a girl from drowning. Jim warns a young woman bather against a dangerous undertow. Heedless of his warning, she goes beyond her depth and is carried out into the lashing surf. Jim dashes in and saves her. His deed is the occasion for a pleasant intimacy and they soon learn to love each other. Lucy, the girl, is at the seaside for her health and lives with a widow and her invalid daughter. Lucy has a sister in the city, Jenny, a captain in the Salvation Army. News dispatches arrive daily telling of the massacre of Christians in a Boxer uprising in China. The Salvation Army calls for volunteers to go to the relief of those in danger, and Captain Jenny is offered a command. Jim is notified that his uncle is dying. He leaves his sweetheart, promising to return immediately. Shortly after his departure the invalid girl dies and Lucy returns to the city, where she joins her sister. Having inherited his uncle's fortune, Jim returns. Approaching the house, he asks for Lucy. "The girl was buried four days ago," is the reply. Believing his life wrecked, Jim again goes in for dissipation. One evening he is in a saloon when Captain Jenny enters, selling "The War Cry." One of the men attempts to be familiar and Jim interferes. Subsequently he becomes interested in her and one evening when fire breaks out in the Salvation Army hall, he fights his way through the flames and saves her life. In the meantime Lucy has written to the life-saving station, asking information of Jim. In answer to her inquiry she learns that Jim has left there and that his whereabouts are unknown. Lucy, however, confides the story of her love to Captain Jenny. Captain Jenny is still firm in her determination to respond to the call of mercy and goes to China. However, when Jim asks her to be his wife, she reconsiders and resigns from the army. Preparation for the wedding is made. On his way to his bride, Jim reads placards before a motion picture theater advertising "Life Savers at Work and at Play." He brings Captain Jenny to the theater. Captain Jenny sees the motion picture in which Jim rescues Lucy and she recognizes the girl as her sister. Jim tells her of his love affair with the girl whose life he saved. After Jim leaves her, Captain Jenny dresses herself again as a Captain in the Salvation Army. She packs her things and leaves a note for Jim. It reads: "The girl you thought dead is my sister, Lucy. Crown her with the happiness you offered me. The light of Heaven points my way to China. Pray that peace may soon rest in the heart of Captain Jenny."
