The Bells (1918 film)

The Bells is a lost 1918 American silent drama film released by Path Exchange and based on the play, The Bells, by Emile Erckmann and Alexandre Chatrian. The play had been a favorite vehicle for actor Henry Irving.

As reported in a film publication, Mathias, the struggling innkeeper in an Alsatian hamlet, murders a wealthy Jew who comes to spend a night at the inn in order to pay off debts and a mortgage.The murderer is never discovered, but the season passes into local history as the Polish Jews winter. Mathias prospers, and years later his daughter becomes engaged to the captain of the gedarmes. Mathias prepares her dowry, and the sight of the gold coins brings again to his tortured conscience the everpresent sound of the sleighbells that heralded the approach of the illfated Jewish guest. In his sleep he dreams he is on trial and a hypnotist wrings a confession from him. In an ecstasy of fear he expires in the arms of his wife and daughter, the victim of Heavens justice. ........

Source: Wikipedia