As in a Looking Glass's primary photo
  • As in a Looking Glass (1913)
  • Short | Short
As in a Looking Glass (1913)
Short | Short
Mrs. Despard, a butterfly of society, finding herself widowed and without means, sends her little daughter Lena, to live with fisher folk in a seacoast town, while she seeks ways and means to continue the life of luxury and ease she has ...See moreMrs. Despard, a butterfly of society, finding herself widowed and without means, sends her little daughter Lena, to live with fisher folk in a seacoast town, while she seeks ways and means to continue the life of luxury and ease she has become accustomed to. With the aid of a young adventuress, she conducts a gambling house for the sons of the wealthy, and prosperity smiles upon her until her partner after a severe quarrel leaves her. Unfortunately, the partner, young and attractive, starts a rival gambling house and the scions of the wealthy soon become conspicuous by their absence. Desperate, the widow seeks other means of attracting the men, and lighting upon a letter and photograph of her daughter, decides upon bringing her to the city and make her the magnet that will draw the trade to the gambling tables. Upon her arrival at the seacoast town she first realizes that her daughter is far more beautiful than she had anticipated, and comes to the conclusion that with her innocent, unsophisticated ways, she will indeed prove an attraction for her gambling house. In spite of the girl's announcement that she loves one of the men in the village, the mother brings her to the city and to her home. Her hopes are more than realized. When her former clients hear of the new beauty they flock to their old rendezvous. Baron von Bulow, one of the habitués, falls in love with Lena, and offers the mother $50,000 if she will arrange for a marriage between them. The love of money overcomes all maternal instincts, and the mother, by professing that ruin stares her in the face, and that she will commit suicide unless Lena marries the wealthy baron, finally achieves the desired result. A year passes; the Baron becomes tired of his new toy, and soon his home becomes the meeting place of questionable companions whose Bacchanalian feasts last till the early morning hours. During one of these parties, the Baron insists that his wife mingle with his guests, and upon her refusal, tells her of the shameful barter, when he bought her body and soul from her mother. Frenzied almost to insanity, Lena rushes to her mother for a denial, and to her horror learns that the Baron's statement was only too true. Lena in an insane frenzy attacks her mother, and returns to her husband's home, vowing to make the world pay for her suffering. She soon becomes the gayest one at her husband's gay parties, and by pretending infatuation for a jockey, one of her husband's friends, she wins sufficient money to get a divorce and become independent. In her life thereafter, she becomes a social juggernaut, and all who come in her path, cast themselves before her and are crushed. Her influence in turn ruins a popular stage idol, a banker, a leader in society, and an officer in the army. She opens a gaming resort in partnership with an officer of the army, and soon the sons of the wealthy flock about as moths. Prosperity obtained, she seeks new fields to conquer, and is herself conquered by Cupid's dart. She learns that the man she loves, Algy Balfour, is engaged, and with the aid of her confederates the engagement is broken, leaving Algy free to fall an easy victim to her charms. She explains to her partner that Algy will make a splendid victim to pluck, and thus satisfies him as to her absence from the gaming tables. Love finally conquers. Lena marries Algy and severs all connection with her former associates, and tries to be what nature had ordained her for, a good and loving wife. Her happiness, however, is short lived. Her former partner finds her and threatens to expose her to her husband. Again and again she silences him with bribes, until the demands become too frequent and she cannot meet them. Horror and fear of exposure, and conscience-stricken by her past, she ultimately ends her life. Her last words are to her husband, an assurance of love that will last into the hereafter. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less
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Producer
Pat Powers
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Status
Edit Released
Updated Mar 15, 1913
Release date
Mar 15, 1913 (United States)

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1 cast member
Name Known for
Marion Leonard's primary photo
Marion Leonard
Lena Despard Lena Despard   See fewer
What Avails the Crown (1912)
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