Summaries

Synopsis

The fool husband John Schuyler (Edward José) and his wife Kate (Mabel Frenyear) are happily married and living in a style commensurate with his large fortune at a country house at Larchmont. The child (Runa Hodges) the wife and the wife's sister (May Allison) stroll in the garden. Tom (Clifford Bruce), a friend, calls on the wife's sister who sneak away when his child and wife are beckoned by Jack to his boat.John the fool, is a virile, fine natured man, fond of his home, his wife and little child and devoted to wholesome sport. Meanwhile the Vampire (Theda Bara), who desperately wants to become a member of "society", is nearly finished with her latest victim, an intoxicated Reginald Parmalee (Victor Benoit). The couple is asked leave from a waterside resort. They summon a taxicab. Near where the Vampire and her victim are waiting, the child is playing. When Mrs. Schuyler and her daughter walk toward the Vampire, stop and move on without speaking, the vampire feels she has been snubbed and vows, "Someday you'll regret that!" John has concluded his day on the water when the doctor (Frank Powell) and his fiancée (Minna Gale) drive up and are greeted by the family. The family enjoys the view of the day's sunset together.The next day, John, who works on Wall Street, receives a letter from the Secretary of State assigning as a special envoy and directing him to sail to England the next day. Immediately John telephones the family and they are all excited to go with them. Calamity strikes, however, when Kate's sister is tossed from Tom's motorcar in a small accident. Kate determines that she cannot accompany John on his trip aboard while her sister is mending. Meanwhile, the Vampire reads in the newspaper of John Schuyler's imminent trip and orders the servants to pack her clothes. Reginald learns of the Vampires departure and accuses her of ruining him and then just leaving him. The Vampire declares it was a ruse to test Reginald's love for her. When they embrace and kiss, however, the Vampire uses that moment to free Parmalee from his billfold.John Schuyler instructs Tom to bring his family to the boat to say goodbye, as John has work in the city to complete before he leaves. A fast-moving storm with lightening darkens the sky and Kate wonders aloud if it is an omen. Tom assures her the storm is passed. Kate and her daughter ready themselves and depart for the dock. Reginald Parmalee learns that the Vamp has left their hotel and has boarded a ship to Europe. Reginald is infuriated and tears apart the room.Passengers begin to board the ship. John's family arrive on the dock to say farewell. The Vampire arrives and is recognized by a homeless man who is opening doors for tips. He chastises the Vampire for how she ruined him and yet still finds herself doing well. Then the same homeless man recognizes Parmalee leaving a cab their to chase the Vampire down. He warns Parmalee of the fates that have befallen himself and a colleague who have fallen under the spell of the Vampire. Parmalee pushes the bum aside and board the ship and checks his revolver before seeking out the Vampire.Meanwhile, Kate and their daughter have presented Tom with a box of cigars they have brought for John, waiting in his cabin before the ship leaves. Tom is not pleased with their odor and tosses them out the porthole window. Parmalee confronts the Vampire and point the gun at her. She seduces him begging, "Kiss me, my fool." As their lips draw near, Parmalee points the gun at his own temple and pulls the trigger. The crew rush to the dead man near the deck chairs They take him off the ship and scrub the deck. Tom goes out to investigate and hears about the laughing devil who pulled the trigger on himself. So as not to startle Kate and her daughter, he explains away the incident as ship noise.John finally board the ship when the body of Parmalee is being carried off. His attention turns to his wife and daughter who have come to say their last goodbyes. He notices the Vampire who has adjusted he make up and spies on John through a porthole window. Then she seats herself on the deck chair and John's attraction is immediate. He conceals it, however, and waves to his family on shore as the ship pulls out of port.Almost immediately, John is joined on deck by the Vampire. She surreptitiously drops her flower to meet John. John picks the flower up for the lady but most of his attention is still on the passing shoreline. The Vampire directs the deckhand to move John Schuyler's labeled deck chair next to hers. When John seeks out his chair, he learns from the deckhand it is in the location of the suicide telling him the woman he was with was laughing like the devil. He seats himself next to the Vampire who appears to be dozing. Kate and her daughter return to their home and Tom leaves them there. They are forlorn with the departure of their beloved father and husband.Two months later, Kate's sister is up and around and able to accompany Tom on a car ride. John's daughter remains playful and full of fun. In England, John reclines against the Vampire. He sips alcohol as they relax in the garden in Italy. A postman delivers a letter from John's wife questioning his health, the vagueness of his letters, Further, she remarks that his secretary who has returned to America is not frank with her about his condition and status. The Vampire is upset at the sight of the letter and tears it away. They argue, but the Vampire reminds John that his thoughts should not be in America, when his heart is in Italy. They embrace.Later, as his wife wait patiently as home, John Schuyler is recognized by the doctor and his wife who have traveled to Italy. The wife refuses to stay in the same hotel owing to Schuyler's disgraceful conduct. Back in New York, the "Town Tattler" column hints that a certain ambassador has fallen under the spell of a woman of the vampire species related to the suicide of Reginald Parmalee. Kate's sister reads the column and shows Tom who tears the paper in disgust.When John and the Vampire appear in society, they are outcasts among their elite associates. Kate's sister accuses John's secretary of covering up her brother-in-law's sins. She claims it would not be so if he were a woman. Kate's child draws a cross on her letter as a sign of love. John is drinking more heavily. He pens a cablegram that he is coming home to his wife and baby, but the Vampire edits his letter indicating that he is with the woman he loves now. Kate's sister finally gives Kate a letter she has been holding with information about her husband John written by the doctor and his wife when they saw John with another woman in Italy. Kate is devastated. Because of John's undignified activities, he is dismissed from his office by the Secretary of State. The Vampire changes John's attention to herself lying at his feet. That night, the daughter prays for her family.John and the Vampire return to New York. Tom is at the dock and sees the Vampire pull John into a taxi. He goes to a telephone booth to report to Kate that the woman is with John. John and the Vampire move into the Schuyler home and the housekeeper is introduced to her new mistress. Two open cars on the busy New York City street: one with Schuyler and the vampire in the back, the other with the wife and daughter in the back seat. As so often happens in heavy traffic, the two cars come to a momentary standstill right beside each other. The child looks over and sees her father in the adjacent car. "Papa dear, I want you!" He turns his head as if he has not seen her as the traffic begins the move, and they go in the opposite direction.Tom proposes to Kate's sister in a most playful manner. John stumbles into his home looking desolate and defeated. He is harangued by the Vampire for his behavior. Then she offers him a drink of alcohol from the shelf further sapping his will. A week later, Schuyler's drinking habit has only gotten more intense. The Vampire threatens to leave him and John falls on his knees begging her to stay. Tom and Kate's sister try to interest her in a table game. Kate's sister has summoned a lawyer who tries to convince Kate that she should file for divorce. Kate questions Tom, the best man at her and John's wedding, his opinion. Tom says she should stick to her vows, "'til death do us part." The lawyer excuses herself. Kate puts the child to bed and they pray again.Six months later, John Schuyler is a raging alcoholic who sits alone in darkness feeding his habit. His secretary visits to tender his resignation. The secretary reports to his colleagues outside that the Vampire has left Schuyler in despair. The Vampire has moved on entrancing yet another suitor. The news of John's condition is relayed from the secretary to Tom who tells Kate. Kate decides that her place is still with John. The Vampire learns that Kate will soon be on her way to be with her husband.Kate and Tom arrive at the house. Kate enters alone and finds John in a debilitated condition. She helps him to his feet and are about to leave when the Vampire arrives outside. Tom tries to delay her but the Vampire threatens to scream, further adding to the scandals surrounding John Schuyler in the town. The Vampire confronts Kate and kisses him in front of his wife. Kate nearly faints and surrenders John to the Vampire. Tom escorts Kate of the house. John embraces the Vampire in his weakness.The next week, the child prays that God will send her father home. Tom and Kate's sister discuss the need to watch Kate in fear that she will do something rash. Kate leaves the house to find John, but John is drunk at a bordello party. When a suitor takes interest in the Vampire, John fights him off with a bottle. The next day, Kate resolves to make one final appeal to John, taking his child to him. Tom enters the home first and tries to waken John, who is in a drunk stupor. He beats him with his fists until he is conscious. Kate and her daughter enter. John is delighted to see the child, but the Vampire is watching from upstairs. She swoops in and reclaims John. Kate removes the child from the home.A short time later, John crawls down the stairs. He recalls seeing the body of Parmalee being taken off the ocean liner and now realizes his fate will soon be the same. He begins to rebel, breaking the bottles of alcohol but dies alone. The Vampire with an inscrutable smile looks down at the huddled shape at her feet. Tearing some crimson roses from her corsage she scatters the petals, like crimson drops of blood, over all that remains of her wretched, broken victim