The Sunken Treasure

George and Peter are two divers engaged by the same firm, under Mr. Barry, the contractor, to seek for buried treasure underneath the sea. They are both in love with Mr. Barry's daughter, Louise, but she openly prefers George, and thus rouses the bitterest feelings in the heart of Peter, who swears that if he cannot have Louise he will remove George from his path. One day he watches George out of the way and then enters the cottage where Louise is alone and declares his love. She is terrified, and refusing him, declares her preference for George, Maddened by her rejection, he attempts to seize her in his arms, when George returns, rescues big girl, and attempts to chastise Peter. In the midst of the tumult Mr. Barry enters, orders Peter from his house, and discharges him from his staff. This rouses all that is bad in Peter and he now lives only for revenge. He hears that Mr. Barry has contracted to recover a quantity of bullion known to have gone down in a vessel, and that George has been chosen for the work. He secures a confederate and when George goes down under the sea in his diving dress, Peter swims out and cuts the air tube, thus leaving George helpless at the bottom of the sea. Some fine scenes show George's rescue from his perilous position by a companion diver, and his being taken ashore in a helpless condition by Mr. Barry. As soon as the coast is clear, Peter makes his way to the vessel over the buried bullion and, representing that he is sent by Mr. Barry, is allowed to go down in search of the treasure. He finds it and with the aid of his confederate, manages to make off with it in a motor boat, George recovers and with Mr. Barry is returning to resume his diving operations as Peter is making off. Quickly divining that he has secured the treasure, they go after him and a stern chase in motor boats ends in Peter escaping and hiding with his treasure in a little cottage buried in the wood. A woodsman sees Peter enter and watches him place the treasure into bags, assisted by an old woman. He at once hurries off and tells George, who with a posse of police is soon on the spot, but Peter has flown. The old woman is frightened into telling that Peter has gone by train. The pursuers arrive at the station as the train is leaving, and follow it by motor, both arriving at the destination together. Again Peter manages to elude his pursuers and board a vessel. George and the police once more get on his track, and Peter for safety goes down into the hold of the vessel, where gunpowder is stored, and in firing a revolver ignites the gunpowder and the vessel is blown up, showing a terrific scene of a shipwreck at sea. The treasure has been previously recovered and conveyed to a place of safety. Peter loses his life in the explosion. Mr. Barry receives his reward in the recovery of the treasure, and George and Louise are made happy.