Reflecting on George Fitzmaurice: Decoding A Thief in Paradise

After years of failure, Maurice Blake becomes a beachcomber on an island in the Samoas, earning a risky living by diving for pearls with Philip Jardine, the disinherited son of a San Francisco millionaire. When Philip is killed by a shark, his half-caste common-law wife Rosa informs Maurice that Philip's father has forgiven him, and she persuades him to assume Philip's identity and return to the States. Maurice's impersonation is successful, he is taken to heart by the elder Jardine and falls in love with Helen Saville, Philip's childhood sweetheart. After Maurice reluctantly declares his love, he and Helen are married, but before the contrite Maurice can explain his deception Rosa spitefully tells Helen of his masquerade. Helen leaves him, and he attempts to commit suicide. He is nursed back to health by Helen, who has forgiven him, and is later reconciled to the elder Jardine, who expresses the intention of adopting him. Rosa returns to paradise.