Lem Ransom, the village drunkard, steals the Widow Huggins' bonds while under the influence of liquor, at the instigation of Hannibal Chapman, an unscrupulous lawyer. After taking the stolen bonds from his catspaw, Chapman treacherously arranges to have suspicion fall upon Lem.

"The Brute" tells the story of a kind, hardworking man whose uncultured exterior and preoccupation with work annoy his materialistic wife. An old suitor, now wealthy, renews his advances, and the wife, tempted by luxury and his refined manner, considers eloping with him to Europe. The suitor dies of appendicitis in Denver, leaving his fortune to the wife, which plunges her into remorse and makes her realize her love for her husband. The drama culminates as she accepts the fortune, the husband discovers the truth, and he ultimately forgives his wife, demonstrating his "great nature".

A scientist resurrects his dead daughter, only to realize she now lacks a soul.

Lelia Crofton, a Louisiana belle of the 1860s, loves Burleigh Mavor. By chance, she sees one of her father's black stablemen making love to a neighbor's maid, whom she supposed was white. The incident shocks Lelia and leaves a great impression upon her. When she rejects suitor Steve Daubeney, he threatens to expose a damaging secret about her mother, whom she has never met. Remembering the incident with the neighbor's maid, Lelia worries that her mother might be black, and when Daubeney learns of her fears, he leads her to believe that they are well-founded.

Silent crime drama about the dangers of the title situation.

Jealous Ben attempts to destroy the engagement of his alcoholic brother, Dick, to the teetotaler Hattie by repeatedly sabotaging Dick's sobriety and even attempting physical harm. Despite Ben's numerous, escalating interventions—including framing Dick for assault and attempting to force a divorce after their wedding—the couple overcomes his sabotage. The story concludes with Hattie employing a unique visualization method during pregnancy to ensure her child avoids the family curse of drink.

Philip and Miles Quaintance quarrel over the love of Ellen Sheridan; Miles is rejected, while Philip is successful. Philip dies soon after his son is born, and Miles proposes to the widow. When she refuses him, he uses every means to make her unhappy.

Geraldine, the daughter of a wealthy New Yorker, is in Hungary and about to return to the United States after an absence of seven years. As a farewell, a masked ball is given in her honor at the American Embassy. Count Carlos Kinski, a distinguished young nobleman, is one of the guests and catches a momentary glimpse of her face. He falls in love with her at once and tries in vain to ascertain her identity.

After a bleak childhood, Jane Eyre goes out into the world to become a governess. As she lives happily in her new position at Thornfield Hall, she meets the dark, cold, and abrupt master of the house, Edward Rochester. Jane and her employer grow close in friendship and she soon finds herself falling in love with him. Happiness seems to have found Jane at last, but could Rochester's terrible secret be about to destroy it forever?