The Dread Inheritance
Directed by J. Farrell MacDonaldDying in his Western cabin, the father calls his son to him and tells him how, as a weak young man, he was led into mischief in a dance hall; how his wife suffered the consequences; and how his son might possibly suffer too--through heredity. The father dies and the son is horrified, and with white face and dead heart he goes to the girl who is waiting for him and who trusts him so much, and tells her that he is not worthy of her. She tries to retain him, but he leaves her and she goes to pour out her sorrow to her mother, who tries to fathom the reason why. A doctor who loves her tells her lover to call on him and see if he can help him, and he goes. The doctor learns the cause of his trouble and does a blood test. It is pure and wholesome, but the doctor sees his chance and by dint of suggestion he lets the poor fellow go from his presence. The mother cannot stand her daughter's grief and seeks out the lover, who has just come out of a dancing saloon where he sought to drown his troubles and from where he fled when a woman tried to tempt him. The girl's mother speaks gently to him and gently shows him the Bible passage "And Jesus put forth his hand and touched him, saying, 'I will. Be thou clean.' immediately his leprosy was cleansed." The young fellow thinks it over and he reads further and the light comes and he knows he has nothing to fear. The lover again visits the doctor, who does all in his power to make him see that he should not go near the girl. But the girl and her mother are praying in their home and the influence is felt. Finally the young man throws down the test tube and laughingly goes to seek his girl. He finds her and her mother on their knees and clasps them both to him.
Where to Watch The Dread Inheritance
