Two young women - a paraplegic girl sheltered by her wealthy guardians and a more experienced orphan - fall in love with a man separated from his violent wife.
Stella Maris is a beautiful, crippled girl, who is cared for by a rich family. They shield her from the harsh realities of the world, so that she has no idea of the cruel things that some people do. Unity Blake is a poor orphan all too familiar with the harsh realities of the real world. These two young women both fall in love with John, love which is complicated by the fact that he is still married to (though separated from) a bad wife.—John Oswalt <[email protected]>
Stella Maris (Mary Pickford) was born paralyzed and is unable to walk. Her wealthy guardians Aunt Julia and Sir Oliver Blount (Ida Waterman, Herbert Standing) try to prevent her from being exposed to all the bad that is happening in the world. She is not allowed to leave her room in a London mansion and is bound to her bed. Her door even has a sign on it which says: "All unhappiness and world wisdom leave outside. Those without smiles need not enter." Stella has no idea a war is going on in the world and that there are poor and hungry people. John Risca (Conway Tearle) is a well-known journalist and a friend of the family. He has been unhappily married to commoner Louise (Marcia Manon) for six years now and frequently visits Stella. John wants Stella to think he is perfect and lies about being unmarried. Louise, meanwhile, wants a servant in her house and hires orphan Unity Blake (also Mary Pickford). Unity is uneducated and has been deprived and mistreated for her entire life. This resulted in her being afraid of everyone. One night, a drunk Louise orders Unity to get some groceries. Unity does what she is told and on her way back, the food is stolen by kids. She returns to the home only to be badly beaten by an outraged Louise. Unity is severely hurt and Louise gets arrested. It is announced she will have to serve three years in prison. John is kinder to Unity and adopts her. Unity is very grateful and falls in love with him. John himself is only interested in Stella. John wishes Unity to be raised at the Blount's residence, but they don't want her. They prevent her from meeting Stella, fearing Stella will notice there are suffering people in the world. They finally convince John to raise Unity at Aunt Gladys' (Josephine Crowell) house. In order to make John fall in love with her, Unity starts to educate herself with Aunt Gladys' help. For the first time, Unity finally feels like she belongs in a loving home and Aunt Gladys is the closest she has to having a caring mother. Meanwhile, Stella gets an operation and is able to walk after three years. She meets John and they fall in love. One day she decides to give John a surprise visit. Louise, who has just been released from jail, opens the door and tells Stella the truth about her marriage. Stella is heartbroken upon learning that he lied to her about his marriage. Feeling betrayed, she tells John to leave her alone and refuses to talk to her family upon seeing how much sadness and pain are in the world. Meanwhile, Unity uses one of John's suits and pretends he is asking her to marry him. When he comes home heartbroken over losing Stella, she tries to busy herself with work. As she hears Aunt Gladys' concerns about John's inability to be free to love Stella while Louise lives, Unity realizes she and John can never be a couple. At her relatives' home, Stella reconciles with them and comes to the realization that while there will be sadness and pain in the world, there are also joy and happiness that follows it. At Aunt Gladys' home, Unity shoots Louise in her bed. The next day, at Aunt Gladys' home, John receives a suicide note from Unity. Aunt Gladys convinces Stella's wealthy relatives to give John another chance and not think badly about Unity for she helped free him from his abusive wife. John is reunited with Stella and they get married.—Moving Picture World synopsis
Stella Maris (Mary Pickford) born with a crippling paralysis, lives with her kind and wealthy Uncle Sir Oliver (Herbert Standing) and Aunt Lady Blount (Ida Waterman). Stella lives a lovely fairy tale existence, as her guardians have sheltered her from all the misery and realities of the outside world. Although confined to her bed, her days are surrounded with all things beautiful and sweet. Handsome John Risca (Conway Tearle), a journalist and a relative of Stella's aunt, is encouraged to pay daily visits, which bring much happiness to Stella. John also shelters Stella from the fact that he has a wife, Louise (Marcia Manon) who is an abusive alcoholic. Instead he has painted a picture of living in a grand palace, to which Stella hopes to visit someday.
In another part of London, living in an orphanage, is the pitiful Unity Blake (Pickford). She lives an ugly existence, never being loved or wanted. One day, Louise visits the orphanage, under the guise of adopting a daughter. Unity is the chosen one, believing she is going to live with a loving mother. Instead the abusive Louise uses her as a servant, and one day in a rage, she savagely beats Unity near death.
While Louise is sent to prison, Unity is visited in hospital by John, who is so appalled by the vicious beating inflicted by his wife, that he adopts the poor girl. Unity lives briefly at Stella Maris' home, but it becomes increasingly difficult to keep her hidden, from the protected Stella. John and Unity move in with his fussy, elderly Aunt who takes control of Unity's care.
Meanwhile Stella has been examined by a surgeon and a successful operation is performed. As Stella recovers and is able to walk, her joy becomes increasingly dimmed, as the harsh world is revealed to her. Louise has served her prison sentence and returns home even more malicious.
One day Stella decides to visit John's palace, and is shocked at being greeted by his sneering wife. She leaves shattered, completely disillusioned by everyone and the world. John is saddened by the hurt he has caused Stella, and becomes despondent.
Unity loves John, for he has been the only kind friend she has ever known. Seeing him depressed, she takes it upon herself to seek justice for John and Stella. She goes to Louise's home and kills her with a pistol, then takes her own life. When Stella learns of the shocking tragedy, she goes to comfort a grieving John. They both realize Unity has sacrificed herself for them. Soon after, John and Stella are married, and begin a new life's journey together.
