In the underworld of New York, a girl, born of shame and reared within its environments, endures the brutal usage of "Strong Arm" Riley, a crook, who sends her into the streets to steal. Upon the opening of the story she returns with a ...See moreIn the underworld of New York, a girl, born of shame and reared within its environments, endures the brutal usage of "Strong Arm" Riley, a crook, who sends her into the streets to steal. Upon the opening of the story she returns with a small amount of money. "Strong" takes her change and reprimands her upon her slim success, leaving her to join a drinking crowd in a nearby dance hall. The girl follows and finds him in the arms of another. She openly upbraids him and is thrown by "Strong" into the street. Faint with injury, she is picked up by an old apple woman and taken to her humble home. Through the kind influence of her benefactor, she awakens to new and higher things in life. She secures honest employment. She forms the acquaintance of Jerry, an honest teller, who is accustomed to dine where she is employed as waitress. "Strong" in the meantime, is picked up by a detective and sent "up the river" on an old charge. The friendship between Jerry and the girl ripens into love. Hungering for a chance at life, the girl marries Jerry without telling her former life. A year later, "Strong" is released from prison and set about to find the girl. The ex-convict, angered by the girl's refusal to return to him, informs the husband of her old life. Left by her husband, with only a repetition of her past before her, she determines to revenge herself and goes forth at night to the rooms of "Strong" prepared to kill him. Her just accomplishment is made evident by tense suggestive silhouette effects, later followed by her hurried leave from the house of the dead, to find peace and unbroken rest in the dark waters of the river. Written by
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