Children of Dust on AllMovie

This simple little character study was well directed by Frank Borzage. Old Archer, the caretaker of Gramercy Park (Bert Woodruff), is jailed for beating Terwilliger, a young orphan (Frankie Lee). The boy, however, adopts the old man when he is released. Terwilliger loves Helen Raymond (Josephine Adair), the little daughter of one of the richest families in New York. Archer gently tries to discourage him, pointing out that she is destined to marry Harvey Livermore (Newton Hall), the last of a distinguished clan. The three children grow to adulthood, and when World War I breaks out, Terwilliger (Johnnie Walker) and Harvey (Lloyd Hughes) enlist (even Archer makes a stab at enlisting, showing up in his Civil War uniform). Helen (Pauline Garon) waits at home for the young men to return at war's end, but only Harvey comes back. Everyone believes that Terwilliger has died, but he finally arrives and Helen admits that she loved him the best all along.