As in the Days of Old

John Van Dyne is informed by his old friend, Carl Woertz, in the far west, that the latter, who has attained great wealth, is leaving property to him. Van Dyne, accompanied by his wife and little daughter, Elsie, and a number of his neighbors, start out for the west. In the party are Matthew Warren and his nine-year-old son, Henry, who is possessed of a beautiful voice, and a ne'er-do-well of vicious propensities, Silas Kirby. After covering a part of their journey, Silas is caught stealing. He is about to be shot, but the women of the party plead for his life. The men revoke their death penalty and, instead give him a horse and provisions and send him away. Kirby makes his way to an Indian camp and tells the savages of the small band of white people. They determine to rob the party. Kirby returns with them for this purpose. In the ensuing fight, all of the party but the children, Elsie and Henry, are killed. Henry, who sees Kirby strike down his father, deals the villain a blow with all his childish might, and leaves the betrayer of the white men unconscious. The children are discovered in their hiding place by the Indians. Henry clasps the little girl, and begins to sing to reassure her. The Indians, hearing his beautiful voice, imagine him to be a spirit, and bring him offerings of food. The children pass on, unmolested. In the shelter to which they at last come, miners overhear the boy singing. They investigate, and rescue the pair. Elsie and Henry are taken to the settlement of "Running Dog," and are adopted by Jim Ring. Kirby revives, and believes the children have been killed. In dividing the spoils with the Indians, he comes across the papers bequeathing the Mohawk mine to John Van Dyne. He decides to present himself as the beneficiary of Van Dyne and claim the property. A dishonest lawyer puts him in passion of the property, which rightfully belongs to Elsie. Peter Brock, Van Dyne's lawyer, is not satisfied with the disposition of the mine, and goes west to investigate. In the town of "Running Dog" he sees Elsie, and after telling the miners of her identity, takes her back to the east to be educated. Henry, left alone, is heart-broken. But, soon after, his opportunity comes, too, when an old blind musician recognizes the wonder of his voice and takes him east to have it cultivated. Twelve years later, Silas Kirby, now known as Simeon Wells, is a conspicuous figure in Eastern society. He poses as Elsie Van Dyne's guardian, and she, ignorant of who he really is, accepts him. One night Wells gives an entertainment, at which he has invited a rising young singer to appear. At the reception, Elsie recognizes the musician as Henry. Elsie's guardian resents the devotion of the boy, and on one occasion tries to interfere. He demands to know, who the boy is. The singer recounts the story of the Indian massacre. With a sudden movement he pushes back Wells' hair from his forehead. There is disclosed an ugly scar. And Kirby, the villain, knows that at last he has been brought to judgment. - IMDb