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- Balduin, a student of Prague, leaves his roystering companions in the beer garden, when he finds he has reached the end of his resources. He is scarcely seated in a quiet corner when a hideous, shriveled-up old man taps him upon the shoulder and whispers vaguely of a big inheritance for Prague's finest swordsman and wildest student if he will enter into a certain agreement. Balduin rebuffs him, satirically asking his weird companion to procure him "the luckiest ticket in a lottery or a doweried wife." The old man goes off chuckling and thence onward persistently shadows Balduin, exerting a sinister influence over him, while Balduin is still disconsolate under the frowns of fortune. The Countess Margit Schwarzenberg, hunting with her cousin, to whom her father has betrothed her, meets with an accident. She is thrown over her horse's head into a river, but Balduin, who has been directed to the spot by his evil genius, plunges in and rescues her. Subsequently Balduin calls to inquire as to her condition at the castle of her father, the count, but be makes a hurried departure when Baron Waldis arrives, the contrast in their appearance discrediting him. His desire to win the countess and to humiliate the baron becomes so pronounced that he readily accedes to the compact suggested by Scapinelli, the old man, who has so pertinaciously dogged his footsteps, particularly when he learns that untold wealth and power will be his when he assigns to the other the right to take from his room whatever he chooses for his own use as he desires. The agreement is signed. Balduin receives a shower of gold and notes as his portion; Scapinelli takes Balduin's soul exposed in concrete form by his shadow. Balduin prosecutes his love affair assiduously and with apparent success, till the baron is informed of it by a jealous gypsy girl. He challenges Balduin to a duel, and the latter, assured of his superiority as a fencer, readily agrees. Count Schwarzenberg learns of the impending duel and appeals to Balduin not to kill "my sister's child, my daughter's future husband, and my heir." Balduin gives his promise, but when he goes to the venue of the duel he meets, his own counterpart stalking away derisively wiping his gory sword on his cloak. Balduin turns and in the far distance sees the dying victim of the deed he swore he would not do. He rushes from the spot horror-stricken. When he regains sufficient composure he makes his way to the castle of the count, but is refused admission. Determined to explain that he had no complicity in the death of the baron, Balduin climbs into a room in which the countess is seated. She receives him coldly, but soon succumbs to his ardent wooing. Just as he seeks to leave her she notices he has no shadow and that the mirror gives no reflection of him; and she drops back affrighted, the ghastly apparition of himself which takes shape in the corner of the room sends Balduin scuttling away from the castle in a paroxysm of terror. He makes a frenzied flight through a woodland estate and the streets of Prague, but wherever he stops to recover his breath he is haunted by the counterpart of himself. He reaches his rooms and draws a murderous looking fire-arm from its case. As the phantasmagorical figure strides towards him with a sinister grin, he fires, and in a few minutes the blood gushes from his own side from a fatal wound.
- Two brothers compete for the love of a woman while the impending war threatens to separate them from both sides of the border. Based on the novel "La Débâcle" by Émile Zola.
- A man and his adult son are caught smuggling by a customs officer, who dies in the ensuing struggle. The arrival of the dead officer's son sets a whole new chain of events in motion.
- John Evans tells his grandson about the exciting days of '75 in the West. At Fort Sheridan, Captain Evans fights the Indians of the plains, while his wife Martha grows bored of the monotonous life at the fort. One day, while Evans is helping to rescue a wagon train surrounded by Indians, Martha elopes with trapper Brett Arnold. When Evans returns, he resigns from the army and takes his young son Jimmie to Montana, where he becomes a ranch foreman. Martha, who immediately became disgusted with the drunken Arnold and jumped from their stagecoach during their elopement, now sings in dance halls to earn a living. A year later, when Evans -- who has kept away from women -- and Jimmie are in Red Butte for trading, Jimmie's dog runs into a saloon. Jimmie follows and finds his mother. After Evans thrashes Arnold, who also has found Martha, Jimmie reunites his parents.
- Lord Nelson's life, loves and death.
- An aristocratic woman, Lady Isabel, leaves her husband and children when she suspects him of adultery, a notion which had been suggested to her by the scheming and murderous Captain Levison. Life on the continent with Levison does not work out as she had envisaged so, eight years later, she returns to England and finds her husband has remarried. She cannot bear to be away from her family and so dons a disguise, gaining employment with them as a governess. When her young son, Willie, dies she is unable to comfort him as she would like, and she too dies.
- A colonel saves a prince's life when he joins a club of men who draw lots to kill one another.
- A Jewish gambler saves a man from suicide and kills him after he shoots his friend and seduces his wife.
- Maria lives alone with her alcoholic father in a small cabin in the woods.
- A dramatization of the problems of a middle-aged man who, after being discharged from a tuberculosis hospital, encounters snubs, canceled social invitations, and job refusals from people who fear association with him. Explains that recovered tubercular patients are desirable as co-workers and companions, and emphasizes the responsibilities of the community toward former tubercular patients.
- Sybil, daughter of Silas Armstrong, is aroused by a noise. She makes her way downstairs, and, alarmed at receiving no reply to her knocking at the door of her father's study, arouses the servants, who, upon forcing the door, discover the dead body of Silas Armstrong, and, in a semi-conscious condition, Meredith, Sybil's lover, grasping a weapon by which the old gentleman had apparently met his death. There is a knock on the door of a cupboard, and out comes George Fielding, Sybil's cousin, who appears to be overcome with grief at the sight before him. The police are summoned and Meredith is arrested for the murder. Sybil, however, convinced of her lover's innocence, seeks the aid of Detective Kees. He examines the spot where the body was found, and accidentally touching a spring, is startled by a vivid flash, the origin of which he is unable to ascertain. He obtains Fielding's and Meredith's versions of the affair, and feels convinced that the latter is innocent, but is unable to solve the mystery. At the trial, Sybil stated that her father objected to Meredith's proposal for her hand, and hasty words passed between them. Fielding stated that he attempted to pacify Meredith, but he was forcibly locked in a cupboard by the prisoner. Meredith said that he was returning to apologize to Silas Armstrong, when he was struck down from behind, and remembered nothing until arrested. Despite the evidence, he is found guilty and sentenced to death. Sybil, unable to reside in her dead father's house, sells the furniture. Fortune now favors the detective, as he receives an invitation to spend the evening with a friend who had purchased a pedestal that originally stood in the room where the crime was committed. They examine it and discover a cleverly concealed camera, in which is a plate, which, when developed, reveals the form of Silas Armstrong, and bending over him with a weapon in his hand, George Fielding. Kees is puzzled by the knowledge that Fielding was locked in the cupboard, which could only be fastened from the outside. He returns and discovers a means by which a person could get in the cupboard and lock it from the inside, while appearances would show that it had been fastened from the outside. Uncertain how to proceed, he consults Lady Blakeley. She suggests that with the evidence of Sybil and Meredith, combined with the discoveries already made, they should have a film produced depicting the murder as they surmised it had taken place. This done, Lady Blakeley decides to exhibit it at a party to which she invites Fielding on the day preceding that on which Meredith's execution is to take place. Fielding taking his place among the visitors witnesses his own crime. Realizing that his secret is discovered, he escapes, and, rushing into the bedroom, attempts to escape from the window. His pursuers, however, are too quick for him, and they fire just as he is about to climb out of the window. The shot is fatal, and in his dying moments he confesses. Their anxiety is not yet over, for they realize that Meredith has only two more hours to live. They hasten to the Home Secretary with the confession and obtain a pardon, and arrive at the prison just as Meredith is being led to the scaffold. He is released, but loses consciousness. At home he is informed that the real murderer has confessed, and he is once more a free man, entirely exonerated from blame.
- Bosco (the villain) is masquerading as Count Dubois, and has succeeded in becoming engaged to Janette, the daughter of a wealthy banker named Benson. Bosco has formerly gained a precarious living as a hypnotist under the name of Dr. Satan, and as the subject of his hypnotic experiments has made use of Kitty Drew, a weak-willed, but passionate woman who still lives with him. The engagement of Bosco as Count Dubois, to Janette Benson, is the old story of the girl who must sacrifice herself and all her finer instincts in order to marry a title, for Janette is in love with and loved by Jack Varley, her father's confidential clerk. When Kitty Drew came to hear of Bosco's proposed marriage with Janette, all her woman's pride rose in arms, but under the spell of these magnetic eyes rebellion gave place to submission, and she duly consented to appear at the engagement festivities as Bosco's sister. During a relaxation of the power exercised over her by Bosco she managed to gasp out a few warning sentences to Janette, but the return of the arch-villain and the consequent restoration of his power over her prevented any very important statements being made. Later in the evening Bosco succeeded in obtaining a private chat with Jack Varley; he offered him a drugged cigar, and during the momentary insensibility induced thereby extracted the key of the banker's safe. Unknown to Bosco his action is observed by Kitty, who later on endeavors to report what she has seen to Captain Castillac, an old friend of both the Benson and the Varley families. Again Bosco arrives on the scene in the nick of time and prevents any disclosure. During the day Maurice Benson, the banker's son, has been worrying Jack to lend him no less a sum than 3,000 pounds, threatening all kinds of things if the money is not forthcoming. Moreover Captain Castillac has deposited with Jack during the afternoon the sum of 4,000 pounds which at the time these events are happening is reposing in the safe in Jack's room at the bank. Disturbed by vague fears Varley visits his office that evening to make sure that everything is in order. After a careful search around, having satisfied himself that all is quite safe, he leaves, with a troubled good-night to the watchman. Soon after Bosco enters. A chloroformed handkerchief ensures him from any interference from the watchman. With Varley's key the safe is soon opened and rifled. A footstep is heard. Bosco hastily conceals himself behind a curtain. It is the banker himself. A fierce struggle ensues. The banker is left dead on the floor and the murderer goes out quietly. At the police inquiry following the murder, circumstantial evidence is all against Jack Varley. His key of the safe is found on the floor by the detectives, and his visit to the office the previous night is told by the watchman. Jack Varley's position is a terrible one; he refuses to make any defense, believing that the guilty person is the banker's own son, his sweetheart's brother, who has been so wildly importuning him for money during the previous few days. Determined that Janette Benson shall not suffer through her brother, Jack destroys what would have been strong evidence against the banker's son in the shape of several letters asking for money, and threatening the direct calamities if same is not forthcoming. Things look black now for Jack, but he has at least a few staunch friends. His blind mother, his sister and his friend Captain Castillac, never lost faith in him, nor did his sweetheart, Janette. At the trial, mainly owing to Bosco's evidence, Jack is sentenced to twenty years. Captain Castillac feels that it is his duty to prove Jack's innocence. Disturbing recollections come to him of his having met Bosco at some earlier period in his life, but they will not materialize into definite form for some time. Finally all the previous circumstances come back to him and the captain recalls that earlier meeting with Bosco when as a sailor in a foreign café he had seen him, then known as Dr. Satan, performing various experiments in hypnotism with the woman Kitty as his subject. He strongly suspects that Bosco is the real culprit, but the difficulty is to obtain tangible proof and he decides to pay a visit to Bosco's house with the idea of getting Kitty to speak, but his scheme is brought to naught by the premature return of Bosco. A few days later Kitty, who is thoroughly tired of her life as the dupe of the adventurer, attempts to escape. She gets as far as the Captain's residence, and has just rung the bell when Bosco, who has set forth in search of her, drives up, overpowers her, and drives away with her. But the summons of the bell has been heard by the Captain's faithful negro servant, who opens the gate just as the car drives away, and suspecting that something is wrong he jumps on behind. Bosco decides that it is time to rid himself of an accomplice who is likely to cause considerable trouble. On the way back a river bridge suggests the way out, and ascertaining that there are no onlookers, he stops the car and places the girl in a hypnotic trance, takes her in his arms and leans over the bridge. The next moment Kitty Drew is drowning in the waters below. Bosco jumps into the car and at once drives off. He reckoned without the Captain's negro, however, who, hiding behind the car, saw everything that happened and without waiting to consider the danger jumps on to the parapet of the bridge and dives from that dizzy height to the rescue. His heroism is rewarded, and very soon after Kitty is comfortably ensconced in the Captain's residence. Her evidence is sufficient to clear Jack Varley and to convict the adventurer. The unmasking of Bosco is not arrived at without much trouble for even when he has been placed under arrest and is about to be handcuffed, he makes a bold bid for freedom and rushes out of the Captain's house. The negro, who has been expecting something of the kind, gives chase, and eventually after much excitement and many rough and tumble struggles Bosco is safely put into custody. The story closes with the happy reunion of Jack and Janette.
- William Mansell, a poor laborer without work and without sustenance, with a sick wife and little son on his hands, out of desperation, steals a handful of wood, for which he is arrested and sentenced to fourteen months in jail. The shock of the arrest is too much for the sick wife, and she dies. After a few months in jail, Mansell, too old to stand the strain, succumbs, and the child, Thomas, left an orphan, is adopted by Buntingford, a mechanic. Eighteen years later, Thomas, employed by the Kingbridge Iron Works, has become an expert mechanic, and has invented a blasting machine, which the directors of the iron works desire to purchase. Meanwhile, the employees of the iron works, dissatisfied with their wages, ask for an increase, and, being refused, threaten to strike. The directors, aware of Mansell's influence with his fellow workmen, offer him $50,000 for his invention, with the condition that he use his influence with them to prevent the strike. This he refuses to do, and at the meeting that night Mansell's burning speech arouses the enthusiasm of the workmen, and they vote to strike immediately. Several weeks have elapsed, and the strikers, becoming desperate, threaten the lives of Kingbridge and his daughter, but Mansell quiets the angry mob, and conducts the president and his daughter to a place of safety. Buntingford, meanwhile, in desperate straits, steals Mansell's invention, with the intention of blowing up the factory. Mansell, on discovering his machine has been stolen, rushes madly to the works, and reaches there only in time to discover the fuse burnt just to exploding point. Hastily catching it. the machine explodes in his hand, and he is badly injured. He is arrested, and is just on the point of being sentenced, when the real culprit, Buntingford, steps forward and assumes the responsibility for the whole affair. Annie Kingbridge, the managing director's daughter, whose life Mansell had previously saved in a runaway horse incident. Instinctively believing Mansell to be innocent, interests herself on his behalf, and on his release she pleads with him to use his influence with the men to end the strike and all its attendant miseries and privations. After several futile attempts by the men's leaders, in which Mansell declined to take part, and on Annie's strong representation and entreaties, he decides to lead another deputation. At the conference he offers his invention to the him for half the amount they had offered him, provided they meet the men's demands halfway. This arrangement is agreeable to the directors, and the strike is brought to a close. In recognition of his ability, Mansell is appointed superintendent of the iron works, and marries Annie Kingbridge, the president's daughter.
- Vera, the daughter of Countess Dubowska, feels unhappy in spite of all the luxury that surrounds her. A soiree is held at her mother's house, and Vera sits alone brooding. Countess Dubowska has arranged to go on a slumming expedition, and she invites Vera to accompany her. They leave their residence and make for the poor quarters, where they dispense their gifts generously. Just as they are leaving, a boy tells them of a poor carpenter lying helpless with a broken arm. They follow him to the carpenter's hut, where Vera dresses his wound and gives him presents of wine and food. Max thanks them, and Vera feels gratified. They return home, and Vera sitting amid beautiful surroundings, reflects upon what she had seen that day, and decides to devote her life to the poor. Meanwhile, Max cannot forget the way Vera attended him. How was he to ensure her coming again? At last he hits upon an idea, and writes a letter as follows: "Dear Lady, My arm is hurting badly. 1 think I shall die. Oh, please help me and I shall never forget it. Max Petroff." Congratulating himself, Max then leaves his hut and effects a secret entry into Countess Dubowska's house. He finds Vera's room and creeps in stealthily. Noticing a small table near the window, he places his letter in the morning. Vera notices the letter and she, resolves to visit him. All unsuspecting of the way the letter reached her, she sets out to Max's dwelling, taking with her wine and food. Max sees his victim the moment she enters. He rushes to the door and locks it, and attacks unprotected Vera. She is in his power, but an opportunity for revenge occurs when he compels her to hand him the food and drink. Unnoticed, she seizes a chisel, and in self-defense, kills him. Some time later, Vera visits a fencing academy and attracts Prince Dolsky. The prince declares his love, and Vera, troubled by her conscience, does not accept. But her love for the prince grows stronger, and when he comes to submit his marriage proposal, the vision of the murdered carpenter envelopes the prince's form, and she runs away in a frenzy. After this she becomes very ill, and when convalescent, the prince visits her, and she accepts his offer of marriage. Many times she is on the verge of making a full confession, but the prince, deeply in love, refuses to listen. The night before the wedding Vera writes a full confession to the prince. But alas, the letter reaches the prince's residence just after he had been suddenly called to his estate. The letter is returned to Vera, and, despairing, she burns it. The next day the wedding takes place, and the couple leave for their new home. But the calls of her conscience become louder, and at the critical moment, Vera relates what happened. The prince is astounded, and orders Vera from the home which she had hardly entered. Prince Dolsky tries to forget his sorrows by leading a gay life. But a reaction takes place, and he regrets having driven his young wife from him. He engages a detective to search for her so that he may obtain her forgiveness. Meanwhile Vera, under an assumed name, has become a celebrated actress. One night an old friend induces the prince to go to the opera, where he recognizes his wife as the distinguished actress playing the principal part in "Traviata." He goes to her dressing room and seeks a reconciliation, praying fervently for his wife's forgiveness. But Vera says, "It is too late now, prince. There was a time when I loved yon, but now my love is dead. There is the door." Her broken-hearted husband answers, "Goodbye forever. I loved you so much and I believed in my happiness." The prince departs, and lamenting for his lost love, ends his unhappy life.
- Professor Dellera and his assistant, Villiers, bring to a successful conclusion their experiments directed to the discovery of a new and powerful explosive. The professor is invited to explain his discovery to the War Office, and as the result of his demonstrations, the Government decide to take up the explosive. Dellera sends the news of his success to Villiers, on holiday. The assistant meets Dr. Katsura, a Japanese, and an old college friend, and shows him Dellera's letter, unaware that Katsura is a member of the Japanese Secret Service. Dr. Katsura receives secret instruction from his government to find out, if possible, the formula of the explosive, which is, of course, likely to give an enormous advantage, in the event of war, to the power able to employ it. By means of a letter of introduction from his government, the Japanese is able to secure a laboratory over that in which Dellera works, and, drilling a hole in the floor, watches the inventor at work and observes his comings and goings, in the hope of being able to enter the laboratory unobserved. At last an opportunity offers, when Dellera has been called away to meet some officials from the War Office. Katsura, gliding downstairs, slips into the laboratory unobserved, and begins to hurriedly examine the liquids with which Dellera has been working. Unacquainted with the exact composition of the chemicals, he accidentally discharges the compound. A tremendous explosion follows, and when Dellera and the officers enter, Katsura is found lying insensible amid the wreckage of the laboratory. The force of the explosion has brought down the floor of Katsura's room, and it is believed that the Japanese has fallen with it. No suspicion is entertained that he is the cause of the explosion. The injuries he has received are so serious that his left arm has to be amputated, but on his discharge from the hospital he is allowed to continue his work in the room above Dellera. The first suspicion of the Japanese arises when Lieut. Barry, while talking with Dellera in his office, observes in a mirror the door of the room open and the Japanese look in, withdrawing immediately when he observes that the room is occupied. Keeping his suspicions to himself, until they are confirmed, the officer orders a soldier to watch Katsura, and the latter soon reports that the Japanese has left the building with a box under his arm. The officer realizes at once that Katsura has been able to take some of the explosives, and probably copy some of the formula in the laboratory while Dellera has been engaged in the office. He at once proceeds, to the Japanese's lodgings, only to learn that his quarry has gone to the railway station. Following, he is just in time to see him enter a carriage, and manages to leap into another himself. While the train is at full speed the plucky officer climbs out to the footboard and begins to work his way along to Katsura's carriage. The Japanese sees him, and pulls the communication cord. The officer leaps from the train to capture Katsura, whom he expects to see also jump to the ground as the train slows up, but the wily Japanese, creeping out the other side, makes his way to the engine, and, while all are searching for him, succeeds in uncoupling the locomotive, and before he is seen has leapt to the footplate and put on full steam. The officer instructs one of his men to tap the telephone wires and try to have the train stopped. Soon the reply comes back that the locomotive disregards all signals, but that another train will reach the stranded party in a few minutes. When it arrives the officer and his assistants mount the engine, which is uncoupled and sent at full speed after the flying Japanese. A series of extraordinary scenes show the flying locomotives ever increasing in speed, and with the second slowly but steadily overhauling the first. Seeing this, the Japanese throws the box of explosives from the engine, hoping to secure his own safety. But in his anxiety he breaks a lever, the locomotive gets out of control, and shortly the engine from behind, from which the soldiers have leaped on seeing the explosive thrown, crashes into it. The spy perishes in the collision, while Lieut. Barry, carrying back the box and the formula to Dellera's laboratory, is able to report that the priceless secret is still safe.
- Refusing to give his consent to the marriage of his son, Count George, to Helen Holt, a poor miller's daughter, Baron Rothschild orders his son to Paris at once. Some time later a child is born to Helen Holt, and the Baron, promising to provide for it, persuades the miller to have someone adopt it, and tell the mother that it died immediately after birth. Count George forgetting his old love, receives his father's consent to marry Princess Louise Turner. A year later, the Baron having died, the Count and his wife return to take possession of the estate. On the verge of war, two spies, Lieutenant Berloff and Captain Klink, are instructed to leave Paris at once for the enemy's country. Arriving at their destination, Captain Klink secures lodgings with the fisherman, Larson, and Lieutenant Berloff, posing as an artist, finds the old mill well suited to his plans and they immediately set to work to bring the mill and the fisherman's home into telegraphic communication, and extend the wires to an abandoned vessel, in which they have stored a quantity of explosives. The Countess, out riding one day, meets Lieutenant Berloff and recognizes him as one of the most ardent admirers before her marriage. They hold clandestine meetings, and one day, while in the mill, the ticking of the telegraph instrument puts Lieutenant Berloff in a dilemma, and he confesses to the Countess that he is a spy. In loyalty to her country she promises to help him. Disguised as a gypsy she secures the plans of the enemy's movements from Capt. Berry, whom she has drugged, and takes them to Lieutenant Berloff. Helen, the miller's daughter, overhears the spy informing his confederate of the enemy's movements, and notifies Captain Berry. Berry, arriving at the Countess' home, fires at what he believes to be the Countess' figure, but which turns out to be her reflection in the mirror, behind which is a secret vault. The Count, arriving home, sees the vault open, and finds a letter addressed to him in which his father confesses that the child of Helen Holt still lives and is adopted by John Larson, the fisherman. The Count and Helen immediately set out to claim their child. Berry, on his way to the mill, meets the Countess and Berloff. Following them, they take refuge in the ship. Proving their rights to the child, the Count and Helen return to the mill, where the child accidentally pulls the lever which causes the explosion of the ship. The miller, in the excitement, overturns a candle which sets fire to the mill. After a miraculous escape, the Count returns to his home, where he is informed by Capt. Berry that the Countess was found on the beach dead. All obstacles removed, Helen and the Count are married.
- Miss Lillian Howard is the queen of a clever gang of counterfeiters, who are just about completing a new bank note. The following day she receives $3,000 of the bad money, and proceeds to the race track to dispose of it, accompanied by one of the gang. They both bet heavily in order to change the bills, and after making a big haul leave the track. Before leaving the queen approaches an elderly gentleman and asks him to change a bill of a large denomination for her, which he does. He proceeds to bet this bill, and after the races, when the bookmakers discover the bad bill, the elderly gentleman is accused of floating counterfeit money, and is taken to the police station. The old man turns to one side, removes his wig and mustache, and then faces his accusers. They start, for before them stands Dick Garter, the famous detective. He informs the police captain of the incident concerning the young lady who gave him the bad bill. Dick Garter returns to his office, where he finds a letter from the chief of police, asking him to go after this band of counterfeiters, who are so clever that they have managed to escape all detection. While on the trail Dick Garter sees the queen of the counterfeiters. He follows her to the house of the crooks, but is discovered by one of the gang and trapped. He is knocked unconscious and tied up in a bag and thrown into the river. He manages to escape from the water, and after a scrap with one of the counterfeiters learns that the heads of the gang have gone for a cruise to parts unknown. He gets aboard the vessel and hides in the hold, but is discovered, bound and gagged, but he severs his bonds with a lighted candle which the counterfeiters left behind. When one of the crew comes down into the hold, the detective springs on him, forces him to change clothes, and in this manner manages to follow the queen to the hotel where she is going to reside. He disguises himself as an old handsome gentleman, and forms an acquaintance with the queen and her accomplice. He plays the part of the easy mark and manages to secure more bad bills for evidence. The three attend a concert, and at the close of the affair Dick Garter has both of them arrested.
- Through the good offices of Detective Hayes, Miss Dennison, the one-time leader of the "Black 13," and in those days known as "Slim Jack," has become a reformed woman, and is now his constant and devoted companion and assistant. One day she is seated in the famous Marble Lounge of the Esplanade Hotel reading the morning paper when she is unpleasantly surprised by John Verden, a former associate, who is concealed behind the palm decorations, adopting a disguise. At once she suspects mischief, and watches. As Verden pulls out a pocket mirror, he accidentally drops a letter, and the moment he is gone Miss Dennison secures the paper, which contains the startling news that an attempt is to be made by the gang to steal the plans of the new-found "Million Mine" when the directors of the company meet on the roof of "The Esplanade," at 9 o'clock the same evening, to discuss proceedings. Realizing the importance of the discovery. Miss Dennison at once informs Hayes, who enlists sympathy of the hotel manager to gain access to the meeting, which he attends in disguise. The secret plan of the richest mine in the world is so small that it can only be read through a microscope, and whilst it is under the instrument, the waiter, who is none other than Corley, a member of the gang, causes a diversion by feigning a sudden attack of illness. Whilst the attention of those present is turned upon Corley, Verden emerges from under the table and removes the priceless plan from under the microscope. A moment later the chairman discovers the theft, and consternation reigns amongst the assembled officials of the company. Hayes arrests the waiter on charge of complicity, and the board of directors of the "Million Mine" entrusts the detective with the task of recovering the stolen plans. Hayes removes Corley in an automobile, but the gang obtain a motor lorry, and with this heavy vehicle crash into the detective's car to rescue their comrade. Not to be defeated, Hayes gives chase, but as he runs full pelt after the lorry is lassoed by one of the thieves and only escapes death by cutting the rope after he has been dragged some distance. Sorely injured he returns home to make a fresh start. Meanwhile, Miss Dennison receives a visit from Verden, who endeavors to persuade her to help the "Black 13." Miss Dennison, however, has done with the old life, and whilst she assents to Verden's proposition, she telephones Hayes about it, and informs him that she will follow Verden in the disguise of a Chinese paper seller, and will make chalk marks on the pavement from 45th street so that he may be able to pick up the trail. Miss Dennison succeeds in tracking down Verden, but unluckily is captured. Hayes arrives and rescues her by crossing a plank from the houses on the opposite side, helping them to jump from the window on to a passing bus. As the bus crosses a viaduct Hayes sees Verden below and makes a series of daring leaps in order to follow him before he is out of sight. Knowing that he is being shadowed, Verden enters a motor car and drives away, and believing he has shaken off his pursuer, enters Old Solomon's, the pawnbroker's shop, where the gang adopt their various disguises. Hayes is close upon his heels, now disguised as a customer, and when Verden leaves, Hayes tears off his disguise, and leaving the astonished Solomon behind, pursues his man. He is, however, too late, but Miss Dennison, his trusty lieutenant, has seen Corley, and shadowing him, discovers that he and Verden are off to the gold fields with the plan of the mine, and that they are going to dig the gold with the help of a band of Indians. She immediately communicates the news to Hayes, she herself pursuing the thieves on a motorcycle. Unfortunately for her, however, her machine runs away and plunges into a river. Dazed and hurt, she crawls to the bank and falls exhausted on the ground, where she is found by one of Verden's Indians. Verden has her locked in a hut and sets it on fire. Burning her bonds over a flaming beam, Miss Dennison escapes, and taking one of the horses tethered close by, makes off, hotly pursued by the Indians. An outpost camp gives her shelter, and a sharp fight ensues. The struggle goes in the Indians' favor until a scout breaks through the enemy's lines and fetches reinforcements from the next camp. The Indians are routed, and John Verden receives a severe wound. At the last moment, before the Indians beat a hasty retreat, Corley takes the plan from Verden's pocket, and mounting his horse, makes away. Hayes has arrived in the meantime by aeroplane and hears the story of the fight. He bends down over the wounded man, but Verden ironically exclaims, "Too late, Hayes, Corley's got the plan." The detective loses no time in mounting his monoplane again and giving pursuit, but Corley has come across a party of aeronauts about to make an ascent. He offers them $5,000 to lift him in thirty seconds. The aeronauts reply that it is impossible, as it will take another half hour to fix the basket. "Hitch on the horse instead," Corley cries, and the thing is done. Hayes, observing the ingenious escape, steers his aeroplane under the balloon and grasping the anchor ropes, swarms up to the living basket. A sharp struggle takes place between Hayes and Corley, and eventually both fall into a river below, from which they are rescued by the crew of a steamboat. The plan is discovered, and Hayes thus brings his third adventure to a happy and successful conclusion.
- After a severe storm in the Alps a party of guides discovers a deserted infant lying in the snow. They carry the child to a peasant woman who agrees to bring it up with her own little son. The only clue to the baby's identity is a gold locket engraved with a regal monogram, and it is not until twenty years later that the truth is discovered. Then Ivan, Grand Duke of Slavonia, learns that the girl is his own niece who was reported lost in a snowstorm, and he sends Count Thurnia to bring her back to Slavonia. The girl, Clarissa, has married Boris, the son of her rescuer, and learning that the Duke wishes her to abandon her humble husband, she refuses to go with Count Thurnia. Whilst Thurnia is in the cottage Clarissa's husband returns home, and the woman, not wishing him to know of her high birth, hides the Count in an attic. Boris enters with a stranger who he has saved from the snow, and the unknown reveals himself as Captain Gergius, a Slavonian officer who is carrying dispatches through Slavonia being at war with Greria. Boris promises to help the Captain and lends him a suit of clothes. Then they leave the cottage door together. Count Thurnia who has overheard their plans decides on a treacherous plan to remove Boris from his path. He hastens to the camp of the Grerian Army near and betrays Boris to the soldiers of Greria. There is an exciting chase through the snow, and Captain Sergius, exhausted, gives the dispatches to Boris to deliver. Boris escapes, but Sergius is captured and executed, although because of his dress and the fact that he carries no papers, the soldiers believe him to be a peasant. Thurnia returns to Clarissa and tells her that her husband has been killed, and the woman, for the sake of her child, agrees to accept the Grand Duke's offer. She becomes a member of her uncle's household, but although surrounded by every luxury, is always unhappy. Thurnia, who is badly in need of money, presses her to marry him, and when she persists in her refusal, engages a desperado to kidnap Clarissa's child. He then tells Clarissa that unless she allows him to announce their engagement she will never see her child again. Meanwhile, Boris, after many adventures, returns to his mountain home to find it deserted. He tries in vain to trace his wife, and, brokenhearted, obtains employment as a boatman on a river in Slavonia. By a turn of fate Boris is able to save his own child from the hands of Thurnia's hireling, and there follows a happy reunion between husband and wife. Count Thurnia takes his own life, and the clouds that had settled over Boris and Clarissa are dispelled forever in the sunshine of happiness.
- The Duke of Harrington, who is engaged to the Baroness Rauxel, a millionairess, is in financial difficulties, and is beset by his creditors for immediate settlement of their claims. In agony of mind, he cannot conceive how his honor can be saved, until he recalls a dangerous and daring "Fire Act," which he witnessed years ago in India, and which he thinks might be turned to good account as a music-hall "turn." Disguising himself, he secures a two months' contract to perform such act, at a salary of £1,000 per month, under the pseudonym of "The Great Unknown." While signing the contract he is introduced to Lola Vandissen, an actress who evinces great interest in his forthcoming performance. The first night arrives, and the thrilling "Fire Act" is received with tremendous ovation from both audience and members of the company. The identity of "The Great Unknown," however, remains a secret, and he continues his attentions to the Baroness, who, hearing of the wonderful performance, asks him to take her to the theater to witness it. He cannot refuse, and conducts her one evening, but arranges with an attendant to call him away on "business" just before his turn is due. This is done, the "Fire Act" is given, and he returns to the Baroness. While behind the scenes, however, he is a witness of Lola's jealousy, who creates a scene when she discovers her fiancé in the act of kissing another artist. "The Unknown" calms Lola's temper, and her interest in him is further aroused, until she determines to discover his identity. She encounters him entering his dressing room without his disguise, but he eludes her, although she waits for him to emerge after his act. It is apparent, however, that Lola and "The Unknown" are attracted to each other, although Lola creates another scene with her fiancé on account of his attentions elsewhere. One night, during the performance of the "Fire Act" there is an accident to "The Unknown" apparatus. The theater catches fire, and in the panic which ensues, and which is most realistically portrayed, a performing baboon, which has been continually tormented by Lola's fiancé, breaks loose from its cage. The "Unknown," seeing the animal at liberty, takes refuge in the corridor of the theater, from where he is a witness to Lola's fiancé being overcome by smoke, and falling senseless to the ground, and to the baboon, who has been trained to use a knife, finding him and instantly stabbing him to death, afterwards escaping through a window. Lola, who has previously been rescued from the flames by "The Unknown," rushes along the corridor and discovers the dead body of her fiancé. She is horror-stricken and falls on her knees, staining her dress with his blood. She is discovered by the other artists and attendants, and promptly accused of the murder, and although "The Unknown" is aware of the actual culprit, he is afraid to speak for fear of betraying his identity and thus jeopardizing his engagement with the Baroness. Lola is brought to trial. "The Unknown" engages the best known counsel to conduct her defense, and, by an irony of fate, is chosen as foreman of the jury. The day of the trial arrives, and the court scene is in harmony with the gorgeous staging of the whole production, magnificently represented. Evidence is given that Lola was found beside the dead man's body, and that her handkerchief and dress were besmeared with blood, while several witnesses testify to the scenes which aroused her jealousy at the theater. Notwithstanding all the efforts of the Duke, she is found guilty, but before sentence is pronounced, the Duke's conscience triumphs and he asks to be allowed to speak. Amid breathless excitement he explains how he, the Duke, is the famous "Great Unknown," and tells the court how he witnessed the murder by the Baboon. Among the audience in the court is the Baroness, his fiancée, who, at his explanation, leaves the court in disgust. The verdict is reversed, Lola is released, and on the following morning she is seen entering her rooms accompanied by the Duke. She thanks him for saving her life, and tells him of her intentions of going abroad. This the Duke will not hear of, and instances his devotion in having announced his identity in order to save her life. Lola needs little convincing of the depth of the Duke's love for her, and the story ends with the lovers in close embrace.
- In Paris, a lawyer's clerk strangles and robs for his daughter's sake.
- A disowned lawyer is cleared of killing a girl crook when he saves a tramp from a burning dosshouse.
- Paul Grant, Chief of the Temple of Rogues, receives information that a shipment of gold is to be made to the State Bank and he plans to secure the haul. Brown, Chief Detective of the State Bank, is instructed by the authorities to take personal charge of the shipment. Brown, however, decides that it would be safer to ship the gold by motor instead of by train, and sends a telegram to that effect to the bank. The messenger boy is overpowered by Jacques, assistant to Grant, and he is brought before the gang. The telegram is read, and Grant forms a scheme to meet Brown's change of plans. That day, while the motor trucks are coming down the road with the bullion, guarded by the police, an aeroplane drops a bomb, blowing up the truck carrying the police. The gang secures the bullion and make off with it to their rendezvous, an abandoned wharf. The outrage is discovered, and Brown, only stunned by the shock, is recovered from the debris. That night the gang of rogues hold a meeting in the temple and the master decides that it would be too dangerous to try and dispose of the gold in that port, and to ship it to another port that afternoon. After the meeting Jacques becomes jealous of Grant's attentions to his sweetheart, Nita, and after a violent quarrel with Grant, he leaves, vowing vengeance. He sends a note to Detective Brown advising him of the gang's whereabouts, and this is overheard by Nita, who advises Grant. Jacques meanwhile returns to the rendezvous to see his revenge completed. Grant, knowing of the plot to have him captured, inveigles Jacques into a quarrel. A desperate struggle ensues, and Grant throws Jacques through the trap-door into the river. Grant immediately has the gold removed to his ship, and Brown, arriving at the wharf, finds that the bird has flown. Jacques has only been temporarily stunned, and is picked up by a passing boat. Arriving at the wharf, he informs Brown of the plans of the gang, and they follow to the ship. Unable to capture Grant single handed. Brown enlists the aid of the armed police and the territorials, and after a desperate battle the gang is captured. Jacques and Grant have a hand-to-hand battle in the water, in which Jacques is drowned, and Grant, after a hard struggle for freedom, is captured by the police.
- A girl flies an aeroplane to save her detective father from a jewel thief's balloon.