Fate's Turning
Fate's Turning is a 1911 short silent drama film directed by D. W. Griffith and produced by the Biograph Company. It stars Charles H. West and features Stephanie Longfellow. It survives in the Library of Congress.
Plot
Young man John Lawson, Jr., has a nervous breakdown. When the father recovers, John leaves his fiancée Grace for a "rest cure" at a hotel, accompanied by his valet. In the hotel's dining room, he admires his pretty waitress, Mary. He becomes so enamored with her that he soon proposes, and she accepts.Then he is notified that his father is dangerously ill. He rushes home, leaving his valet to break the news to Mary. John returns just in time to have a few moments with his father before the latter dies.
After the funeral, John writes back in response to Mary's letter, breaking off their engagement due to the great disparity in social status. She goes to see him. First encountering Grace, Mary tells her about her situation. When Grace does not believe her, Mary shows her her engagement ring. Lawson appears, but is unmoved by Mary's pleadings.
On the day of the wedding of John and Grace, he is puzzled by her cold reception. She sends him into the next room, where Mary is lying down... with their child. Hostile at first, John eventually goes on his knees to her and takes her hand.