Plot

Millionaire Hamilton fakes death to test wife's loyalty. His wife and brother plot to kill his children for inheritance. Hamilton warns kids through Hansel and Gretel story. Wife overhears, realizes her evil plan. Family reunites.

To test his wife's fidelity, millionaire John Hamilton disappears after stipulating in his will that his money will go to his two children, Roland and Rose. Through the butler, Hamilton learns that his wife and brother Mason are contemplating killing the children in order to inherit the Hamilton millions. To protect his little son and daughter, Hamilton returns and tells them the story of Hansel and Gretel as a warning: Hansel and Gretel, taken to the woods to be killed, are rescued by The Good Fairy. Later, out of hunger, they find the gingerbread house belonging to the witch. They are captured, but Gretel pushes the old witch into the oven and the two escape. The Bad Prince, who has been after the two children, catches them at last, but they are again saved by The Good Fairy. Meanwhile, Mrs. Hamilton, who has overheard the story, is so touched that she realizes the evil she was planning and the family is reunited.—Pamela Short

John Hamilton has two children. He marries a second time and his second wife does not like the children. She does, however, like Mason Hamilton, her husband's brother. John Hamilton suspects the pair and goes away on a trip, ostensibly. He draws up a will before he goes, leaving the major portion of his money to the two children, but in the event of their death the money is to go to the brother. The father sets a manservant to watch the pair. Soon after he causes to be circulated the report of his death. In a short time the manservant comes to him at a nearby hotel with the report that his second wife and his brother are plotting to destroy the children so that they can get the money immediately. Suddenly the husband returns. The wife and brother are astonished. The brother leaves the house. The father gathers around him his wife and the two children and asks the children as they sit on his knees if they would like to hear his story of the Babes in the Woods. Of course they want to hear it. So with his wife listening he begins the recital. The picture fades from the pleasant room and the fairy story is shown on the screen. Hansel and Grethel are given into the bands of ruffians by their cruel stepmother. They are to be killed in the forest. The beauty and innocence of the two children softens somewhat the hearts of the murderers, who decide they cannot kill the children, so they leave them in the forest to die. The children wander in the wood for some time and they lie down near a big tree and fall asleep. The Good Fairy, who watches over the children in the wood, brings forth her fairies to dance around the lost ones to make their dreams pleasant. The next morning the children are found by the Bad Prince, but Hansel and Grethel flee and are assisted by the Good Fairy, who, when the children reach a stream in their flight, calls two swans and on the backs of these Hansel and Grethel escape across the water. The Bad Prince then goes to an old Witch and promises her wealth if she captures Hansel and Grethel for him. The Witch sends her raven into the wood to guide the children to her house, a structure built of gingerbread. The children see the raven. They marvel at it, and as the Witch intended, follow it to her home. While the children are nibbling at the gingerbread house, the Witch comes out and invites them inside. She makes prisoners of both, intending to fatten Hansel so that she can eat him. When the roasting day comes, the Witch tells Grethel to crawl into the oven to see if it is hot enough. Grethel, guided by the Good Fairy, declares the oven is not large enough. Whereupon the Witch, to show the children it is, crawls in herself. Grethel slams the oven door and she and Hansel escape. Then follow many adventures, in which the children get into the hands of the Bad Prince, but the Good Fairy still aids them and they escape. They finally return home, tell their story, and the entire village turns out and visits deserved punishment on the bad stepmother and the uncle. The picture then returns to John Hamilton's home. The children are still on his knees. The little girl is crying softly and the boy looks angry. For a time the wife and stepmother looks at her husband, then as the full effect of the story sinks into her heart, she bows her head, then smiles and takes the children to her bosom. She loves the children now and by her act regains the affection of her husband.