“THE SPOILERS.”

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1512, 19 February 1916, Page 2

“THE SPOILERS.”

TOWN HALL MONDAY AND TUESDAY.

A synopsis ot the story of ‘‘The Spoilers," written by Rex Beach, the author, which is to be screened at the Town Hall on Monday and Tuesday next, is as follows; —■ Glenister and Dextry, co-owners of the “Midas,” the richest mine in Alaska, after celebrating their good fortune, leave Nome to spend the winter in the “States,” but before leaving Glenister arrives at an understanding with and bids good-bye to Cherry Malotte, a dance hall girl, who has become interested in him. Before their return to Alaska in the following spring a plot is hatched in Washington, D. C., to juggle the Alaskan land laws in such a manner as to rob all the rich miners of their property, and to that end a corrupt judge is appointed with instructions to obey the orders of Alex McNamara, the genius of the entire conspiracy. In due time, Judge Stillman and McNamara arrive in Nome and with the help of Struve’s rascally firm, begin their machinations. The new' faction shortly assumes control of all the mines, including the “Midas,” and Glenister, because ot his love for Helen, prevents the miners from using violence against Judge Stillman and prevails upon them to let the law take its course. Cherry Malotte, the beautiful dance hall girl, returns from Dawson City, discovers Glenister’s love for Helen and determines to combat it. In this she is assisted by the Broncho Kid, a gambler and an outcast, who has recognised in Helen Chester his own sister, whom he had not seen since boyhood, and who misinterprets Glenister's feeling for Helen. Glenister and Dextry find that the Nome court will grant them no relief and decide to send their lawyer, Bill Wheaton, back to San Francisco with an appeal to the Federal Court. Wheaton returns from San Francisco with a writ from the Federal Court which Stillman refuses to recognise, thus making plain the nature of the conspiracy. Becoming fearful of outright violence, McNamara undertakes to remove the gold dust taken from the “Midas” and other mines to a place of greater safety, but Glenister and his friends storm the bank and are prevented Irom taking forcible possession of the gold only by the timely arrival of troops. Meanwhile, Glenister becomes convinced that Helen has become a conscious accomplice of “The Spoilers,” and intends to marry McNamara; so, in a reckless mood, he spends a desperate night in the Northern gambling hall playing faro. At the crisis of the game when his money is gone Glenister wagers his interest in the “Midas” and is prevented from losing only by the declaration that “the cases are wrong.” 'The miners dynamite the “Midas” and defeat their enemies, when Glenister ihears of Helen’s danger and goes to her rescue. He rides into town and encounters McNamara and the two men fight a terrible hand-to-hand battle, in which Glenister triumphs. The box plan is at Teviotdale’s and there is no advance in prices.