The Oubliette (1914)

Stars:

Murdock MacQuarrie, Pauline Bush, Lon Chaney

Francois Villon, vagabond, poet and philosopher, is on the road to Paris with his friend Collin when they see an elderly couple being evicted from their home. The two men turn over all their money to help the couple, but later, feeling hungry, they steal the purses of two monks. They are caught and arrested, but with Collin's help, Villon escapes. Collin is hanged and Villon is saying farewell to his friend at the gibbet when the Chevalier de Soissons arrives and mocks the dangling corpse. Villon attacks and kills the knight and dons his suit of armor. Philippa de Annonay is held prisoner at an inn by her wicked guardian the Chevalier Bertrand de la Payne. Villon arrives at the inn and, hearing Phillippa call for help, tries to rescue her. De Payne is killed in the ensuing battle with Villon. Phillippa is returned to her castle and Villon continues on to Paris. King Louis XI wishes to test Villon's loyalty so he has the poet arrested then, disguised as a convict, offers to help Villon escape if he will help him to overthrow the king. Villon denounces the man, affirming his support of Louis. The King then reveals himself and Villon is knighted for his loyalty.