The silent enemy

William Douglas Burden, a trustee of the AMNH, hired professional cinematographer Marcel Le Picard to make this film in an effort to show the Ojibwa people as they were before acculturation changed their ways forever. Chief Yellow Robe explains the purpose of the film in a prologue and expresses gratitude for the opportunity to tell the Indians' story. Titles are used through the rest of the story. The story centers around Baluk, a young brave, and the evil medicine man, Dagwan, both of whom are in love with the maiden Neewa. After Dagwan predicts a famine, Chief Chetoga sends Baluk and the other braves out to hunt. Their search is fruitless and the jealous Dagwan, professing to know the will of the gods, says that Baluk must be sacrificed. As Baluk lies on the pyre on which he is to be burned, caribou are sighted and he is saved. Dagwan is banished from the tribe amid rejoicing celebrating the end of hunger, "the silent enemy."