Driven by Fate

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Driven by Fate (1915) is a short American silent drama directed by John G. Adolfi. It stars William Garwood and Violet Mersereau, with Florence Crawford, Tammany Young, and Conrad Cantzen. The film was released on August 13, 1915, by Universal Film Manufacturing Company’s Imp brand. It is a silent film with English intertitles.

Plot:
A poor young woman supports her blind and ailing mother and is pursued by a wealthy man of questionable character. In the same tenement building lives a young artist who is also struggling. Both decide to end their lives by turning on the gas. A draft from the hallway blows out the artist’s gas flame, he wakes up, learns of the girl’s plan, and rushes to save her. Their near-death experience brings them together, giving them hope for a better life.

Reception:
The Moving Picture World review (August 7, 1915) called it a very appealing offering, praising its pathos and the performances of Garwood and Mersereau, and noting its wholesome moral.