A Dead Man's Child

The Count and his daughter are in the former's study and he has just completed his last will and testament. Turning to Edith and her fiance, he informs them that he has made the will in their favor, and that all his property will pass to them at his death. The count then goes to his room, and locking the door, enters a wardrobe which conceals a secret door leading to his friend Pendleton's apartments next door. He descends into the basement of his house, and thence to the cellar beneath Pendleton's room, and by means of a staircase and trapdoor in the floor of his friend's drawing room, gains access to his presence. He informs Pendleton that he has been made executor under the will, and acquaints him of the fact that should his daughter die without issue, the property will pass to him. The Count returns to his own dwelling, falls down the staircase and receives serious injuries. Pendleton carries the Count back to his bedroom, depositing him on the floor, returns to his own house. Later, the Count's servant attempts to gain admission to his masters room, but finds the door locked. Soon after, he breathes his last. Pendleton then determines to win Edith for himself and secure the property. He is peremptorily dismissed by her. Undaunted, Pendleton arranges with a shady doctor to kidnap Edith, and by introducing him as an attendant at her wedding with Baron Sternberg, combines to put his plan into action. After the return of the bridal party from the church, the doctor poisons a flower in a vase, and handing this to Edith, she becomes unconscious. She is removed to her boudoir, and her old servant is left in charge of her. Whilst the latter sleeps, the doctor through the aid of a secret panel near Edith's bedside, drugs her medicine and this renders her in a comatose state for four days. In the belief that she is dead, her body is removed to the family vault, from which she is later removed by Pendleton and his nefarious accomplice and taken to Pendleton's house. Here Pendleton once more makes advances to her and a thrilling struggle takes place, in which Edith gets the better of matters. Left alone, Edith tries to escape, but finds that both the doors and windows are locked. She overhears Pendleton and the doctor plotting her removal to Constantinople and with the diamond in her ring, scratches a message into the windowpane. Meanwhile, the Baron has invoked the aid of Newton, the celebrated detective, who, from a glance at the Count's will, connects Pendleton with the crime. Going to the police, he finds the doctor's photo among the official collection and learns he is a desperate criminal. Pendleton arranges with the doctor to murder Edith and her husband, and in order to do this the doctor goes to the Baron's house. Newton is reposing in bed in Edith's old room, and the doctor, sliding the secret panel, puts his arm through and is about to stab him, when his arm is seized. He however gets away, with Newton and a posse of police pursuing him. A battle ensues, but Pendleton and his companion escape, and fly with Edith to the train for Constantinople. Newton discovers the message on the window pane and with the police sets out for the railway station, arriving just in time to see it leave the station. Newton hops in an automobile and rides to a bridge where the train passes under. When the train comes along, he jumps from the bridge onto the roof of the coach car where he dives inside the car that holds Edith. A struggle ensues between Newton and the doctor on the rear of the platform, and Newton hurls the doctor onto the track. Returning to the carriage, he arrests Pendleton and Edith is returned to her husband and Newton is the hero of the day.