Thunderbolts of Fate

Robert Wingate, a graft fighting candidate for governor, falls in love with Eleanor Brewster, his opponent's daughter. Robert is engaged, however, to Adele Hampton, a woman who is secretly involved with "man-about-town" Howard Lennox, and who only wants Robert so she can further her social ambitions. Eleanor and Robert decide that if he breaks off the engagement, the ensuing scandal would ruin his chances for election. After winning, Robert marries Adele, who continues her affair, but Lennox tires of her and pursues Eleanor. When Eleanor's brother Clifford learns of Lennox's insulting advances, he threatens to kill him. Because Lennox persists, Clifford goes to thrash him, but discovers him dead. Found with the body, Clifford is sentenced to death, and when his appeal is unsuccessful, Eleanor goes to Robert's hunting lodge to plead for a stay of execution. After she spends the night because of a storm, Adele accuses them of adultery, but later she breaks down, confesses killing Lennox, and drowns herself.