1911 Sins of the Father

The evil habits of George Williams had brought sorrow upon his wife and young son, Rupert. Williams went from bad to worse and finally died following an attack of delirium tremens. Twenty years later Rupert had made a name for himself as an artist in Paris. He returned home on a visit. His health had broken down and he complained of severe pains in the back of his head. His mother did all she could to comfort him and showed her great pride in his success. The young man attempted to resume his painting at home, but his physical condition became worse. Finally, his mother called in a physician, the same who had treated Rupert's father. The doctor examined him and looked serious. He ordered that Rupert must discontinue all work and explained privately to his mother that his illness was due to his father's dissipation. He asked Mrs. Williams to explain this to her son but she refused. Then the doctor broke the terrible news to him. While the physician was in the next room he abstracted a bottle of poison from his medicine case and concealed it in his pocket. A few days later his mother discovered him flirting with her maid, the daughter of the man whom his own father had flirted with and she realized with horror that he was following in the same course. Rupert tried to resume his painting, but found that the power lad gone from him and threw down his easel, tore his canvasses and confessed to his mother his utter failure. He showed her the bottle of poison and begged her to promise to administer it to him in case he became an imbecile. To quiet him she consented. After this violent excitement he sank into a chair and it was apparent to his mother that his reason was being dethroned. She remembered her promise, searched with great agitation for the bottle of poison, found it: then she hesitated, recoiling in terror from what she was about to do and here the picture dies out, leaving her undecided what course to pursue.