The Mark of Cain

The Mark of Cain is a 1916 American silent drama film directed by Joe De Grasse, written by Stuart Paton, and starring Lon Chaney and Dorothy Phillips. The film's tagline was "A Thrilling Drama of the Long Arm of the Law With an Absorbing Love Interest". The film's working title was By Fate's Decree. Chaney received first billing in this film for the first time in his career. A still exists showing Lon Chaney as "Dick Temple" skulking guiltily in the background in an office scene. Plot Dick Temple is serving a five-year prison sentence because he took the blame for a robbery his father committed. His father promises to go straight, but the old man dies two years later, before he can reveal Dick was innocent. Doris is a young woman who is forced to steal by her uncle Jake until one night when she leaves home. Dick is released on parole, but is unable to locate his mother or find a job. Afraid that her uncle might track her down, Doris decides to drown herself in the river. She is rescued by Dick who came down to the river for the same purpose, and they quickly become friends. One day Doris rescues a baby from the burning house of Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, and the Wilsons hire her as a nursemaid to the child. Dick, deciding to steal to get money for food, is caught snatching a watch from John Graham, but rather than turn him in, Graham gives Dick a job as bookkeeper in his stock broker company A detective calls on Graham to warn him that Dick is an ex-con out on parole. Mr. Graham is in reality the head of a gang of thieves, and he tells Dick that he will tell Doris of his sordid past if Dick does not help him rob the Wilson home. Doris' uncle Jake has meanwhile tracked her down, and forces her to help him rob the Wilsons.