The Law of Compensation is 1917 American silent drama film based on a story by Wilson Mizner and directed by Joseph A.

The film starred Norma Talmadge, who played a dual role, Fred Esmelton, and Chester Barnett.

While her husband (Chester Barnett) is out of town, Ruth (Talmadge) is approached by Wells (Edwin Stanley), a small-time song plugger.

But when she tries to ante up the funds, her father (Frederick Esmelton) takes her aside and tells her the story of her mother (also played by Talmadge) who found herself in a similar situation.

[2] Although Talmadge is the star with two roles, the men of the film hold all the power and make all the decisions on behalf of the women; the one choice made by a woman, the mother Ruth, has immence consequences for her and her daughter as deviates it from the straight path.