The violent exchange in the 54th minute when Mackie aimed a wild kick at Silkmen striker Jon Parkin to leave the East London side on the back foot, but Macclesfield could not capitalise against a superbly marshalled defence.
Macclesfield opened more brightly and in the second minute midfield man Kevin MacIntyre warmed the hands of Glyn Garner with a fierce long-range shot.
Orient tested Macc keeper Alan Fettis in the 24th minute when Shane Tudor released Gary Alexander only for Fettis to make a diving block at his near post.
Alexander got the ball in the net in the 40th minute, but a clever through ball from Jabo Ibehre was judged to be offside.
There was controversy in the 45th minute when the Cheshire side's veteran defender Ian Brightwell kneed the ball back to his keeper only to be penalised for back pass. Former Man City defender confronted referee Carl Boyeson, but Tudor was still allowed to touch the free kick from six yards out to Matthew Lockwood, who blasted it into the side netting.
After the break Clyde Wijnhard released Danny Whitaker, but his 20-yard shot was ruled offside.
Having been in each others faces all afternoon Mackie dangerously lunged in on Parkin. The referee had no alternative but to brandish the red card with Mackie having to be restrained as he was hauled off the pitch by his own team-mates.
Orient immediately responded with Alexander dashing 40 yards before forcing a good low save from Fettis.
Macclesfield then upped the pressure with Parkin seeing a shot across goal blocked on the six-yard line, before he then sent a half volley inches past the upright.
Orient nearly stole all three points at the death when Fettis had to tip an Alexander free-kick onto the cross bar.