The Pawn of Fate is a 1916 American silent drama film directed by Maurice Tourneur and starring George Beban, Doris Kenyon, and Charles W.

As described in a film magazine,[3] André Lesar, a wealthy Parisian artist comes to the Normandy farm of Pierre Dufrene and his wife Marcine seeking a rest.

In a spirit of mischief, Lesar tells Pierre he has natural artistic genius and persuades him to come to Paris to complete his art education, agreeing to foot all the bills.

In a maudlin state, Pierre barely realizes he is the butt of a cruel jest and is dimly conscious that the visitors to the studio are laughing derisively as they depart.

A review in Variety, when describing the bucolic existence of the couple on the farm in the opening scenes of the film, states that "Marcine is young and full of life, and when she disobeys, Pierre lays her across his lap and spanks her".