The Taint

Madame Bartlett, a celebrated biologist, employs Vera Knight as her assistant at the suggestion of a friend and soon comes to love her for the many good qualities the girl possesses. Chilton, Mme. Bartlett's secretary, is hard up for money through steady and severe losses at gambling, and begins to falsify the account books in order to replenish his funds. In the meantime, his charm of manner has created a profound impression upon Vera's heart, and when he proposes marriage she accepts with a happy heart. Relying upon his honor and promises, Vera becomes a victim of abused confidence and soon finds herself in an embarrassing position. She asks for and obtains a leave of absence and retires to a farm in the country where her child is born. Chilton, in the meantime, continually postpones their marriage on various pretexts. While the secretary is talking to one of his creditors one day, Mme. Bartlett overhears the conversation which makes her suspicious. A little later in Chilton's absence she examines the ledgers and finds proof of the secretary's speculations. Shortly afterwards Vera comes down to the city to make one last plea to the man who abused her trust in him. While she is beseeching him to keep his promise and marry her, Mme. Bartlett enters the room, confronts the secretary with his double guilt and tells him he must marry the girl or go to jail. Frantic with the fear of public exposure, Chilton that night enters the Bartlett library, and, finding the ledgers, tears the incriminating pages from the books. He also seizes the opportunity of taking whatever valuables he finds. While he is engaged in doing this, he is overheard by Mme. Bartlett, who enters and catches him. A struggle follows in which the woman is shot and killed. The commotion is heard by Vera who rushes in just as Chilton has escaped through the window. While she is bending over the body of her friend the servants come in and accuse her of the crime. She is arrested, tried and found guilty on circumstantial evidence, and receives a life sentence. While the years of her life in jail roll away her infant son. Adopted by the farmer and his wife, grows up to manhood in ignorance of his real parentage. By good conduct Vera becomes a "trusty" and, as such, enjoys the confidence of the prison officials. By a strange accident she uncovers a plot among the convicts to overpower their guards and escape. By means of her warning the revolt is nipped in the bud. For this Vera is rewarded with a pa