1911 The Romance of a Dixie Belle

Shirley and Nell, school chums, vow eternal friendship. The girls graduate and leave for home. Three years later Shirley meets Norman Logan at a Christmas party and falls in love with him at first sight. A few days later Shirley invites Nell to her home for a visit. Soon after her arrival Shirley introduces Nell to Norman, who is greatly impressed. During Nell's visit Shirley sees the mutual attraction between Norman and Nell and learns what it is to be jealous. Shirley by chance overhears Norman avow his love for Nell. Nell immediately leaves for home and shortly afterwards Shirley learns that Nell and Norman are married. Three years later, on the breaking out of the Civil War, Norman leaves for the front. While on a secret service mission Norman is pursued, and takes refuge in Shirley's home, who, out of consideration for her former love, hides him until danger is past. As he is about to leave the house, however, she demands, at the point of a pistol, that he deliver her the dispatches he is carrying. As refusal means death, he is compelled to surrender the dispatches, which Shirley quickly destroys. Her love for Norman saves his life, but love for her country's flag proves the stronger.