The Alibi (1916)

To help his dying father, assistant bank cashier Arthur Mansfield enters a fake sum in the bank's account book, but before carrying out the pilferage, he confesses to cashier Slayton, his superior. Slayton, who needs money to pay for his unsuccessful speculations, goes at night to take the money that Mansfield planned to embezzle, so that Mansfield will take the blame. Slayton shoots a watchman who confronts him and leaves evidence to frame Mansfield. Despite Mansfield's conviction for second-degree murder, his fiancée Enid, the bank president's daughter, believes in his innocence and hires a detective. When Slayton, out of curiosity, visits Mansfield in prison, Mansfield vows revenge. Slayton gradually becomes overcome with fear that Mansfield will escape, and when Mansfield does escape and arrives at Slayton's home, Slayton commits suicide. Mansfield is sought as Slayton's murderer, but Enid's detective finds a suicide note to Slayton's wife that establishes Mansfield's innocence. Mansfield regains his former position and resumes his romance with Enid.