“What a contemptible type of human animal is the coward. He is totally devoid of all the elements that go to make up a man. Charles Randolph was one such as this, bombastic and haughty but with no real courage, and what was worse, a heavy drinker. His sister Agnes and mother were the only survivors of an old and distinguished fighting family. Agnes is high-spirited and lovable, and at the beginning of the Civil War, Charles is carried away by the enthusiasm, and urged by Agnes, procures a commission in the Confederate service and is assigned to General Lee’s staff. Members of the same regiment are Lieutenants Wheeler and Carter, both good-natured rivals for the hand of Agnes. The story opens with the departure of the boys with the regiment for General Lee’s headquarters, taking with them a large Confederate flag which Agnes has just completed. In Lee's tent Charles is given sealed dispatches and launched on a most important mission. It is a perilous undertaking, and during the course of the journey he becomes panic-stricken with fear, and drinks heavily, hoping to revive his waning courage. Completely overcome, he dashes madly toward his own house, where he seeks to hide himself. Here he becomes very drunk, and Agnes and the mother are horrified at the awful disgrace that threatens the family name. With sudden impulse Agnes decides to don Charles’ uniform and proceed on the mission in his stead, to return in time that he, when sober, may go back to report to General Lee the result. She makes the perilous journey and delivers the dispatch, but on the return she is caught in the battle’s maelstrom with her horse shot down. She becomes imbued with the spirit of the conflict and, rushing into the very vortex, fights as Charles never could have. In the retreat the flag is in danger of capture, and Agnes leaping over the breastworks, seizes it only to be shot down by a shell. No one has suspected that the gallant soldier was other than Charles, and news is sent to the Randolph homestead of his death. At the reception of this information, Charles realizes what a contemptible dog he is, and the mother, fully appreciating the awful disgrace the exposition of it would be, commands that Charles remain forever where he is for the good of the family name, that the world may not know his sister died protecting a coward. The shutters are closed and barred, and all is mysterious and gloomy. At the close of the war the young suitors return, but are told that Agnes is not to be seen, being crazed from grief over her brother’s death. Year and year it continues the same. The constant suitors, growing old, leave their floral tributes at the door. Inside the darkened rooms Charles goes through the bitter years from youth to old age paying the price of his cowardice until death mercifully releases him.”—13 Aug 1910 Moving Picture World