The film does not only present the usual contrast of woman as the pure innocent victim of masculine aggression but also an astonishing expression of the sensuality and clearly sexual desire of the woman. The only surviving element of this beautiful film is a negative, so the print is unfortunately missing intertitles. But the plot is easily followed and the aid of the copy- right description helps clarify the missing parts and lacuna.

“To celebrate the sale of The Empress, De Baudry took his model, Nedra, to the country for a vacation; he registered as Mr. and Mrs. De Baudry, but engaged separate rooms. The proprietor of the Inn, Peterson, had a seemingly foolish hobby for photography. Shielded by some shrubbery, he snapped the unsuspecting De Baudry and Nedra. That night De Baudry forced his way into Nedra’s room and his true intention of the “vacation” dawning on her, she crept to the room of the proprietor’s daughter for protection and returned to town in the morning. When Eric Bruce, a wealthy art patron, saw The Empress, he vowed to seek and marry the original. Fortune favored him and after a short court-ship they were married. Then a shadow crept into their happy home. Peterson makes Nedra a visit, shows the photo of herself and De Baudry’s arms, mentions the Inn register and demand money for his silence. She complies and Peterson continues his bleeding regularly. Nedra’s actions arouse Eric’s suspicions and he makes investigations that lead to the Inn, where he discovers the apparently black evidence. In a fury he seeks De Baudry. He finds Nedra there imploring him to tell her husband the truth. Eric refused to believe either of them. Desperate, Nedra ascends to the roof. Suddenly, from De Baudry’s room emerges the woman in the dark who gives proof of Nedra’s innocence. His heart sinking that he may be too late to save Nedra, he dashes madly to the roof after her arriving in time.”

CLL 10366 The Empress March 14, 1917, Copyright Pathe Exchange, Inc., U.S. Amusement Corp. p. 221