Desc: His Fateful Passion: James Brice, having lost all his money by gambling, becomes a veritable brute. His wife, Mary, neglected and abused, secures a divorce and determines to support herself and her daughter, Ethel. She obtains a position with a noted mining engineer. Driven to desperation, the gambler kidnaps his young daughter in order to force Mary to give him money. He is discovered by the engineer, who causes his arrest and he is sent to prison. On being released, be manages to get a job with the engineer, who fails to recognize him. The entire side of a mountain is about to be blown up by dynamite. Waiting his chance, Brice succeeds in overcoming and binding the engineer and ties him to a stake directly over the place which is destined to be destroyed by the giant blast. By means of a telephone, he decoys Mary to the scene and forces her to watch the terrible results of his vengeance. His daughter, however, discovers the engineer's plight and succeeds in rescuing him just as the mighty dynamite explosion destroys the entire face of the mountain. Brice is arrested and sent to prison for twenty years. Ten years pass. Mary and the engineer have become man and wife, and look forward to the marriage of Ethel, who is now a charming young lady. To celebrate her engagement, Ethel's parents give a masquerade ball. A mysterious guest makes his appearance and creates much comment. Seeking out Mary, the stranger presses a note into her hand. She is horrified to discover that it is from her former husband, the convict, who has succeeded in making his escape from prison. He demands a large sum of money and threatens to cause a scandal if she refuses him. She tells her husband, the engineer, who gives the escaped convict money. With the proceeds of his blackmail, Brice becomes helpless with drink and falls in the street, fracturing his skull. There he is found by his daughter's fiancé, who takes him in his automobile to the hospital. The young man and Ethel call at the hospital on the following day to inquire about the injured man. Ethel is recognized by her father, who, realizing that he cannot live, owing to his terrible injury, begs to see her mother before he dies. Mary arrives in time to offer her forgiveness to the dying man, who pays the final penalty for his misdeeds.