Jim Arnold, a dope fiend, calls on Quan Ming, a Chinese servant employed in the household of Dr. Franklin, to obtain some "hop." The Chinaman takes him up to his room and there provides Jim with a "layout." A little while later, the doctor...See moreJim Arnold, a dope fiend, calls on Quan Ming, a Chinese servant employed in the household of Dr. Franklin, to obtain some "hop." The Chinaman takes him up to his room and there provides Jim with a "layout." A little while later, the doctor smells smoke and rushing upstairs finds Jim surrounded by flames, the bed having caught on fire. He drags the unconscious man out of the room, quenches the fire and telephones the police who call and take Jim away. Finding some opium on his servant, he immediately discharges the Chinaman. The doctor shows the opium to his wife, who is very much impressed by what has taken place. The doctor is called to go to visit a patient. While he is away, his wife picks up a piece of opium and examines it. Her curiosity aroused, she tastes it. Suddenly a peculiar drowsiness overwhelms her. The discharged servant stealthily enters the room and sprinkles some opium into the fire. The fumes fill the air, and Mrs. Franklin is unable to shake off their effect. The Chinaman silently slips a card in her hand and leaves. The card reads: "Private Smoking Parlor for Veiled Ladies, Conducted by Hong Yee." The next day she cannot resist the temptation to visit the place designated on the card. Heavily veiled, she calls and is admitted into an Orientally furnished room by Hong Yee, the proprietor. The discharged servant then proceeds to tell the other Chinamen who the woman is, and Hong Yee becomes very much interested. They plan to keep her prisoner, and while she is under the influence of the drug they tattoo a dragon on her left cheek. Quan Ming takes some of her clothing and her pocketbook and drops them on a dock near a sleeping tramp, who delivers them to the police. The next day the papers contain accounts of Mrs. Franklin's suicide suggested by the furs and pocketbook which were found near the water's edge, and her husband is heartbroken at her disappearance. Years pass and the doctor's wife is now a confirmed fiend, unable to tear herself away from the habit. Time has robbed her of her beauty and she has become haggard and aged-looking. Hong Yee who has tired of her, has her put out, and she gets into a quarrel on the streets, is arrested and put into prison. Her daughter, Ruth, is interested in slum work. While visiting the prisons, she sees Mrs. Franklin and takes pity on the wretched woman. Before she leaves, Ruth gives her a Bible. After Ruth has gone, the doctor's wife picks up the Bible and discovers her daughter's name on the flyleaf. She is overcome with grief that her own child should find her under such circumstances, and collapses. The prison guards enter and roughly drag her out of the prison and push her into a chair. She looks about her wearily. Suddenly she sees her husband leaning over her and her child beside her. Her husband smiles and then she realizes she has been asleep. Written by
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