Vendetta (1919)

When the Corsican Antonio Paoli is killed in an honorable duel, his sister Mariana swears a vendetta, or blood revenge—a not uncommon custom in those parts. Count Musso Dannella, who loves her, is to carry out the deed, and she promises to marry him once it is done. The two travel to Gibraltar, where Mariana meets the English naval lieutenant Edwin Alcott, who is ill at the time. She quickly falls in love with the handsome young man. Mariana returns home without knowing the Briton’s name. The passionate Corsican also does not know that Edwin is the man who defeated her brother in the duel. Soon Antonio’s death seems forgotten, and Mariana marries Alcott. Count Musso, who has discovered that Edwin is responsible for Antonio’s death, is beside himself and wants revenge on them both: on Edwin for snatching “his” Mariana away from him, and on the woman who has so callously cast him aside. On their wedding day, Dannella tries to carry out the vendetta with the help of his servant Tomasso. Edwin could enter the bridal chamber at any moment, and the servant is already waiting to murder the Englishman. Mariana suddenly grabs his arm and tries to wrestle Tomasso down to prevent the vendetta. The bedroom curtain moves, and the servant lunges at it and stabs, not knowing who is behind it. At that moment, the strong lackey kills his own master, Count Musso. A little later, Edwin Alcott enters the room. His life and the love between him and Mariana are saved.