THE EMPIRE.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 July 1917, Page 7

THE EMPIRE.

"MY COUNTRY FIRST" A STRIKING PHOTOPLAY. The brilliant military drama, "My' Country First," was screened for tie first time to a good attendance at the Empire last evening. The story shows how Frank Draper, a brilliant young chemist, is on the track of the secret of a marvelloiu explosive, which he plans to give to the United States Government. International spies, through a false friond of Drapers, learn of his experiments. They are in the employ of a foreign government. At the head of the gang is Dempsey and his aide 'is Nana, a beautiful but evil woman. The gang contrives to have Draper falsely accused of murder and railroaded to prison. In the meantime they employ a miserable broken down chemist to try to fathom Draper's secret by analysing some chemicals they have stolen from his laboratory. Realising that without Draper they are beaten they plan his pseape from prison when ho will be in their power. The rescue by automobile and racing aeroplane is accomplished Diaper in gratitude consents to work out his experiments for the spies' benefit in an isolated hut. In the meantime Nana has fallen desperately in love with Draper and is fiendishly jealous of his renewal of a former love aifair with an old time sweeaheart. The gang learns through her that Draper means to betray them and give his secret to Washington after all. Caught in the toils of the relent'ess Dempsey, Draper faces an awful fate. What follows and how Draper cheats "The Sands of Death" forms a breath-catching climax to a magnificent photodrama. Lavishly mounted, wonderfully acted, a photoplay you will remember always. Supporting the star i.i a unique travel picture, "Hiyu Sookum Pow-wow, La Push." taking the onlooker into a land that is little fre-<im-nted. To-night will be' the final screening of this programme*