The Aryan (1916)

"Steve Denton" (the efficient William Hart) has been successfully prospecting for many years before he is ripped off by his fellow citizens - including the rather venal "Trixie" (Louise Glaum). By way of revenge, he rather forcibly kidnaps her and retreats to his basic hideout in the desert in which he has been reduced to living, and where she is made to cook and clean for him and his pals. Determined to have nothing to do with society any more, his attitude becomes softened when he encounters a wagon train of thirsty travellers needing water and one of their number "Mary Jane" (Bessie Love) starts to melt his heart a bit. The production is busy, but basic - the lighting really could do with some extra wattage, but the exterior photography flows well enough and the action scenes (especially the initial kidnapping one) are well executed. The story itself is devoid of much jeopardy - but the almost Porcelain-like Love is on good, delicate, form as the young gal who is certainly no pushover and the whole thing predictably passes 50 minutes with little effort on anyone's part.