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  • The Dead Pay (1912)
  • Short | 20 min | Short, Drama
The Dead Pay (1912)
Short | 20 min | Short, Drama
Captain King is a Northern officer who is shot and left unconscious on the field of battle, which takes place near the home of Lieutenant Kane, a Southern officer, who is also badly wounded. King regains his senses, and as he sits up and ...See moreCaptain King is a Northern officer who is shot and left unconscious on the field of battle, which takes place near the home of Lieutenant Kane, a Southern officer, who is also badly wounded. King regains his senses, and as he sits up and endeavors to take a drink from his canteen he sees a ghoul at work on a group of dead and dying Confederates, Drawing his heavy pistol, he makes short work of the human vulture, and staggers to the spot, where he discovers Lieutenant Kane with a spark of life still remaining. He gives the Southerner a drink from his canteen and extricates him from the bodies lying on top of him, and then binds up his wounds. In the meantime Kane's mother and sister learn that he is among the missing and go to the battlefield in search of him. The two officers are brought to the Kane home, where King soon recovers, while Kane lingers between life and death. King's command comes back and he joins his regiment. The officers hold a conference in the Kane home, and Lieutenant Kane is moved to an old darky's cabin to prevent his capture. One of the Northern officers is Dick Stanton, of the Confederate secret service. Helen Stanton has nursed King, and he has fallen in love with her. Stanton forces his attentions upon Helen, who is saved from an embarrassing situation by King's interference. Stanton follows Helen to the cabin and enters, intending to cause the arrest of the wounded officer, but is amazed to find that Kane knows him and introduces him to Helen. Stanton tells them he is endeavoring to secure the Federal plans for General Lee, and Helen promises to aid him. During the conference he, supposedly accidentally, knocks down the candlestick, and when the light goes out he hands the papers to Helen, who has been watching her opportunity, and she rushes from the room. The sentries head her off and attempt to capture her, and she doubles on her tracks and re-enters the house, running up to the attic. Captain King follows and is thunderstruck to find out the identity of the fugitive. He takes the papers from her and, hearing the steps of other pursuers on the stairs, he takes quick action to save her. Hiding her, he kicks the window out and shoots himself in the arm and tells the other officers the spy has leaped out. His coat is torn open to bind his wound, and the missing papers drop to the floor. He can make no explanation, and an immediate court martial is ordered. Rather than betray Helen, King accepts his condemnation as a spy. Stanton manages to stay behind during the excitement in the attic, and finds Helen. She promises to elope with him if he will leave behind a written confession that he is the guilty party, to exonerate King. He writes the confession, but refuses to give it to her, and the overwrought girl attempts to take it by force. She is roughly handled by Stanton, and in the scuffle she pulls his revolver from its holster and fires. The shot arouses the officers on the floor below, and as they come rushing up Helen places the confession in the stiffening hand of Stanton, acknowledging that he is a Confederate spy, and secretes herself. King is restored to his position, and parts from Helen in an affecting scene. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less
Read more: Plot summary
Director
Francis Ford
Writer
C. Gardner Sullivan (scenario)
Producer
Thomas H. Ince
See all filmmakers & crew (3)
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Status
Edit Released
Updated Dec 20, 1912
Release date
Dec 20, 1912 (United States)

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3 cast members
Name Known for
Herschel Mayall's primary photo
Herschel Mayall
Capt. King Capt. King   See fewer
The Beast (1916)
Howard Hickman's primary photo
Howard Hickman
Lt. Kane (as Howard C. Hickman) Lt. Kane (as Howard C. Hickman)   See fewer
Gone with the Wind (1939)
Gertrude Claire's primary photo
Gertrude Claire
Lt. Kane's Mother Lt. Kane's Mother   See fewer
Oliver Twist (I) (1922)
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