The Code of the Hills

Robert Emerson, a rising young District Attorney, is ordered to the mountains for his health. While hunting one day he accidentally wounds Nancy Lane, adopted daughter of Mrs. Lane, and a love affair springs up. Nan is loved by Jim Lane, the leader of the Lane Clan, who, with his younger brother, Matt, is jealous of the "furriner." The girl loses her heart to the stranger and after an impetuous wooing a wedding takes place. Back in the city, the mountain girl soon feels the difference between her husband's friends and herself. Unused to society ways, Nan's mistakes embarrass her husband and his lack of patience starts a coolness between them. Unwittingly she offends a political power, whose assistance Emerson was seeking, and the breach between husband and wife widens, until finally stung by her husband's indifference. Nan returns to the mountains not telling Robert of her approaching motherhood. The baby girl arrives but Nan does not recover and in her delirium constantly calls for her husband. Believing his presence might pull her through, Lane travels to the city and forces Emerson to come to his wife. They arrive too late. Nan has died, exacting a promise from Mrs. Lane not to tell her husband of the arrival of the baby. Emerson returns to the city alone and ignorant of his parentage. Back in his home, he realizes Nan's true worth and his own shortcomings and devotes himself entirely to his profession. The daughter, Nan, grows to girlhood, ignorant of her father's name. She is worshiped by her "Uncle Jim and Uncle Matt" and one day insulted by a member of the opposite clan she tells them about it. Jim's gun is taken from the mantel and the man is killed. Jim is arrested for the murder, and through the strange workings of fate the two enemies, Lane and Emerson come face to face at the trial. Emerson being the Judge. Lane is found guilty and sentenced to ten years in the penitentiary. The news of his conviction is brought to the hills and Nan filled with rage and hate against the man who sentenced her Uncle Jim, starts to the city to kill him, Unknown to her, Matt has also gone to the city, where, seeking out Emerson, he confesses to the murder of Powell, explaining the circumstances. The Judge immediately writes the Governor, requesting Lane's pardon, when Nan enters and is about to carry out her throat and kill Emerson when Mutt explains the relationship between the two.