Character Relationship Map: Faith

Characters

• Faith (played by Mary Miles Minter) — protagonist

  Faith is Helen's daughter, raised in an orphan asylum after John Thorpe concealed her birth and told Helen that the baby had died. Guided by her belief that life is ultimately good, she helps people a...

• John Thorpe (played by Clarence Burton) — protagonist

  John Thorpe is Helen's father and the family patriarch. Angry that Helen secretly married a man he disapproved of, he hid her newborn daughter Faith in an orphan asylum and falsely told Helen the baby...

• Helen (played by Lizette Thorne) — supporting

  Helen is John Thorpe's daughter and Faith's mother. She secretly marries a man her father disapproves of, and after her husband is killed, she confesses the marriage when she is expecting a child. Joh...

• Laura (played by Margaret Shelby) — supporting

  Laura is John Thorpe's seventeen-year-old stepdaughter and the daughter of his second wife. Raised under the same strict discipline he imposed on Helen, she becomes involved in a secret love affair. A...

• Mrs. Thorpe (played by Josephine Taylor) — supporting

  Mrs. Thorpe is John Thorpe's second wife and Laura's mother. When Laura's secret love affair ends badly and Laura steals money from John's safe, Faith assumes responsibility in order to protect Laura'...

• Mark Strong (played by Perry Banks) — minor

  Mark Strong is a former brilliant lawyer who has fallen into dereliction and becomes Faith's friend after she brings kindness to the neighborhood. When he learns that Faith has been blamed for the the...

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• John Thorpe → Laura (Family Stepfather) — John is Laura's strict stepfather.

  John treats his seventeen-year-old step-daughter Laura with the same rigorous discipline he imposed on Helen.

• Mrs. Thorpe → Laura (Family Mother) — Mrs. Thorpe is identified as Laura's mother.

  Faith assumes guilt for Laura's theft in order to save Laura's mother.

• John Thorpe → Mrs. Thorpe (Family Husband) — John is married to Mrs. Thorpe in the later period.

  Fifteen years later, Thorpe has married again, and Laura is described as the daughter of the house.

• John Thorpe → Faith (Family Grandfather) — John is Faith's maternal grandfather.

  John is Helen's father, while Faith is revealed to be Helen's daughter through Mark Strong's investigation.

• Helen → Faith (Family Mother) — Helen is Faith's biological mother.

  Helen's baby is placed in an orphan asylum without her knowledge, and later investigations disclose Faith's parentage.

• John Thorpe → Helen (Family Father) — John is Helen's strict and disapproving father.

  Helen is secretly married to a man John Thorpe disapproves of, and John reacts furiously when she confesses the marriage.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Mark Strong → John Thorpe (Conflict Adversary) — Mark's investigation exposes John's wrongdoing.

  Mark's investigation discloses Faith's parentage and John Thorpe's roguery.

• Faith → Mark Strong (Social Friend) — Faith's kindness creates a meaningful friendship with Mark.

  Faith has been kind to the neighborhood and has won Mark Strong, a formerly brilliant lawyer, as a friend.

• Faith → Mrs. Thorpe (Alliance Protective Supporter) — Faith sacrifices herself to protect Mrs. Thorpe.

  Faith assumes responsibility for the stolen money specifically to save Laura's mother rather than Laura.

• Faith → Laura (Social Protective Acquaintance) — Faith protects Laura during the theft crisis.

  When Laura steals money from Thorpe's safe after her clandestine affair causes trouble, Faith assumes the guilt.

Story Analysis

A hopeful orphan's self-sacrifice exposes a buried family secret and restores a mother-daughter bond.

Plot Progression

1. A Marriage Hidden Away — Helen secretly marries a man her father rejects, and his death leaves her facing pregnancy alone. John responds to her confession by separating her newborn from her.
2. Years Beneath Authority — Fifteen years later, John has remarried and imposes the same severe discipline on Laura. Faith remains in an orphan asylum, sustained by hope of finding her mother.
3. The Servant Comes Home — The old housekeeper brings Faith into the Thorpe home as a servant. Faith's generosity wins Mark Strong's friendship while Laura's secret affair begins to collapse.
4. Truth Breaks Through — Faith takes the blame when Laura steals money from John's safe, intending to protect Laura's mother. Mark intervenes, frees Faith, and investigates the hidden family history.