A WASTED SACRIFICE

Produced by the Vitagraph Company

With all his faults, Jack Martin, an Arizona gambler, has one redeeming quality, a deep love for his motherless child.  The baby is taken sick.  Leaving her with Aunt Jane, the Mexican housekeeper, Jack goes for Doctor Winton, who is also the sheriff.  The child dies.  Crazed with grief, Jack gets drunk and shoots the town Marshal.  Leaping astride his horse, he escapes into the desert.  Far out on a sandy plain, he comes across the dead body of a young Apache squaw, who has been bitten by a rattlesnake.  By the side of the lifeless form he finds a child who has nursed from its mother’s breast and imbibed the poison.[14] Jack thinks of his own child and his heart goes out to the little one.  Jack has eluded his pursuers and his horse has dropped from exhaustion.  He knows that he is free to escape.  He hesitates, but determines to save the little papoose by doubling back on his tracks and meeting the posse, of which the doctor-sheriff is the leader.  On rounding a curve in the canyon, he comes upon his followers, who cover him with their weapons.  Holding out the child to the doctor, he begs him to do something for it.  The sheriff examines it and discovers that it is dead.  Jack, with tears in his eyes, stands ready for his capture, conscious that inasmuch as he did it for one of God’s little ones, he has not done it in vain.

[Footnote 14:  The scientific inaccuracy of this statement need not now be considered.]

Mr. Epes Winthrop Sargent has well epitomized some important principles in synopsis writing when—­in The Writer’s Monthly for April, 1918—­he says that “the good synopsis: 

“Starts with a ‘punch’ fact.

“Tells the story clearly in full detail as to facts, with as few words as possible.

“Identifies as fully as possible all the leading characters at their first introduction.

“Fully establishes minor personages as they enter the story.

“Gives all of the facts required by the staff writer in the construction of a continuity.

“Presents these facts fluently and interestingly, with some suggestion of literary charm, but without the use of florid phrase or elaborate descriptive writing.

“Presents facts in their logical order, but not necessarily in the exact order of their happening.

“Is as brief as is consistent with clearness of statement, but may run 5,000 words or more IF fewer words will not permit the story to be clearly told.”

[Illustration:  Paint Frame on Which Scenery is Painted]

[Illustration:  Checking “Extras” Used in Rex Beach’s Photodrama, “The Brand.”  Produced for Goldwyn at its Culver City Studios]

[Illustration: 

     The Man who Mocked — 2 —

Dear Dwight: 

What do you say to a trip to Italy?  Father is very anxious to continue his historical researches, especially in Rome and the Campagna.  We’d be delighted to have you as one of our party.  Run up to the house tonight and we’ll talk it over.