The Old Guard

Decorated by the Legion of Honor for his services in the Imperial Guard, under the Emperor Napoleon, on the burning sands of Africa and the snows of Russia. Havresac, one of the Old Guard, in his second childhood, lives on the memories of his past. His niece, Melanie, works as a maker of artificial flowers and manages to keep a meager home over their heads. Two French officers, Colonel Weston and Colonel Millard, learning of their poverty and the past history of the old soldier, call at their home and provide for their needs. Colonel Weston falls in love with Melanie and asks her uncle's consent to their marriage. At first Havresac refuses, but later, he places Weston's hand in hers and gives them his blessing. Just after this has occurred, the old man hears the playing of the band of a passing regiment, and looking from the window. Insists upon taking his musket and joining the march. He is restrained by the Colonel and Melanie from leaving the room, but to satisfy the spark of his old-time valor, they allow him to stand in front of the window with his musket at "shoulder-arms." He becomes so inspired it is too much for his waning strength and he falls into his old arm-chair and passes through the last great battle of life into the presence of the Great Commander of those who have fought the fight and passed into the great beyond.