Desc: The Secret of the Mountain: Wealthy Farmer Rodel decides that his son, Julian, should enjoy the fruits of his labor and sends him to the city to be educated. Unfortunately the new environment has a bad effect on him and he falls under the influences of fast comrades. Being liberally supplied with funds by his doting parent, Julian indulges in every fancy. He meets a charming young girl, Helene, and lavishes every attention upon her, thereby cultivating in her a desire for expensive pastimes. The old man has confidence in Julian and when he receives a letter from his attorney advising him of Julian's extravagances, it makes no impression on him. Julian increases his pace but soon realizes that he must again draw on his indulgent father. Being in urgent need of funds, he motors to the farm. Entering the house, he sees a note from his father's attorney advising that Julian has frittered away all the available funds leaving the estate in a precarious condition. Stunned by the knowledge that he has caused his father's ruin, Julian returns to the city only to learn that Helene has deserted him. Searching through his papers, Julian picks up his life insurance policy which suggests a way for him to make reparation to his father. He joins an excursion which goes on an expedition to the nearby mountains. Reaching the summit, the party prepares for lunch. Julian, however, strays off and reaches the edge of a seemingly fathomless ravine. Believing that the insurance company will pay his father the amount of his policy, Julian decides to throw himself into the ravine and make it appear accidental. Leaving his gloves on the rocks nearby, thereby giving a clue to his tragic death, Julian casts himself into the depth below. But fate decrees that Julian should miraculously escape the terrible end he planned, and he lands bruised and bleeding on an abutting ledge. Getting painfully to his feet, he realizes that his suicidal attempt has failed and that he must now feign death in order to carry out his plans. He places his hat on the edge of the ledge and makes his way to the base off the mountain where he is taken in by a laborer who binds up his wounds. Julian decides to leave the country as soon as he recovers. Without inquiring as to the financial condition of his aged father, he goes to South America. Meanwhile a careful search is made for Julian by the other excursionists which of course proves futile. The sad news of his death is carried to his father, who has gone to the city to make inquiries for him. Broken in spirit, the old man returns to the farm. Pressed by his impatient creditors, Julian's father is forced to sell his home and once more sets out to build his fortune. But time has robbed him of his strength and after many vain attempts to secure work, he becomes a rag picker and frequents the city dumps. He is found by a party returning from a carnival, who take him protesting to their banquet table. There he is surprised to find the girl whom he blames for his son's downfall. She is stricken with remorse when she realizes the depth of the old man's poverty and determines to rectify her error. She takes the faltering farmer to her home and there tends him day after day, depending on her frugal salary to supply their wants. After several years Julian returns from the Transvaal, where he has amassed a fortune and goes to the farm to ask for his father's forgiveness. But sad is his homecoming when he learns of his parent's fate. Diligent searching through the large city, he finally locates the feeble old man and his faithful protector, Helene. With a heart full of forgiveness and gratitude for the safe return of his boy, the aged farmer folds his prodigal son to his breast. It is then that Julian recognizes the true worth of his former sweetheart, whom he vows will never again have cause to leave him.