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One Million Dollars Synopsis

While touring India, noted English criminologist Richard Duvall saves the life of a Buddhist priest who rewards him with the presentation of a wonderful crystal globe. By gazing in it the priest demonstrates that Duvall can fall into a cataleptic state and his astral body is released and is free to roam at will. Leaving the temple, Duvall collides with Grace Ellicott, who is touring the Far East with her aunt, the Countess D'Este and the Count. A mutual admiration between Grace and Duvall results from the accidental meeting. Later, in England, the mistress of Count D'Este makes financial demands which he cannot meet. With his housekeeper, Mrs. Cooke, he plans to put his wife out of the way and thus obtain her fortune. Poison is put in candy which the Countess eats. Her sudden death arouses the suspicion of her niece. On his return to England, Duvall experiments with the magic globe. He is surprised and pleased to see the face of the girl he met in India. Further experiments, while in the cataleptic state, discloses part of the plot that resulted in the death of Grace's aunt, which has cheated her out of the fortune. Duvall seeks out Grace to explain his strange experiments. She tells him that previous to the death of the Countess she had seen her will and that the entire fortune, which included one million dollars in cash, was to be left to her. But after the suspicious death of the Countess, Grace is puzzled when the Count produces a new will in which he is named the sole beneficiary. Duvall succeeds in having his East Indian servant, Purtab Gar, secure a position in the Count's home. Then he proceeds to unravel the mystery and at the same time recover the one million dollars for Grace. Count D'Este is driven to distraction by finding, everywhere he turns in his home, cards that read: "I want One Million Dollars. Victor Gerard." Disguised as "Victor Gerard," Duvall pays a visit to the Count. He insists that the one million dollars be ready for him at midnight, when he will call again. D'Este notifies the police and the chief calls in Duvall to assist in solving the mystery and apprehending "Gerard." Duval outlines a plan in which the Count is directed to have the money ready as demanded. He assures him the premises will be well protected and that "Gerard" cannot escape. "Gerard" arrives at the appointed time and mysteriously disappears, together with the money, as the police close in. Duvall walks out of a room where they think they have "Gerard" trapped. Count D'Este accuses Grace of stealing the money and attempts to strangle her when Purtab Gar saves her. Duvall succeeds in obtaining a confession of the murder from the housekeeper, when he traps her as she is attempting to poison Grace. Duvall explains everything to the mystified police. D'Este is carried off under arrest and Grace and Duvall are left happily together.

The Brand of Cowardice Synopsis

Cyril Van Cortlandt Hamilton, one of the wealthiest young bachelors in New York, has led a life of ease. He is engaged to be married to Marcia West, the daughter of an Army Colonel. While Cyril and Marcia are at a house party, news comes that the National Guard has been called into service. Cyril, a member of a militia regiment, not caring to be subjected to discomfort, declines to accompany his regiment to the border and resigns his commission. For this Marcia breaks her engagement, and accompanies her parents to the border, where Col. West is to take command of his regiment. Upon his return home Cyril considers his act and later enlists as a private in an Irish regiment and goes to the border. His society manners annoy the rough-and-ready men among whom he has cast his lot, and they proceed to make life miserable for him. Corporal Mallin especially loses no opportunity to bully him. Cyril wanders about by himself when not on duty, and meets Idiqui, a Mexican Indian, whose gratitude he earns by aiding his daughter, Rana, who has fallen and hurt herself. The Mexican bandit chief Navarete comes into camp. He has been educated in the United States, and has fallen in love with Marcia, who has refused him. He gets Mallin to steal one of the machine guns for him. When the theft is discovered Mallin accuses Cyril and Idiqui of the crime. Cyril and Idiqui are ordered to the guardhouse. The Indian attempts to escape to his daughter, whose condition is critical, and Mallin raises a gun to shoot, but Cyril overcomes him. Then, realizing that he has placed himself in a serious position and can hope for no leniency from Mallin, he deserts, Idiqui going with him. They set out afoot on the Mexican side of the river. Marcia has come across the river on her early morning ride and stumbles upon the bandits taking the automatic away. She is seen and captured, and Cyril and Idiqui, unarmed and helpless, follow in pursuit, to find out where she is being taken. Idiqui is struck by a rattlesnake, and Cyril cauterizes the wound. The Indian goes to warn the American troops, and Cyril goes on to the Mexican village, where the Mexicans are carousing in front of Navarete's house, where Marcia is held prisoner. Cyril draws the villagers away from the chief's house by setting the village on fire, and then enters the house in time to save Marcia from Navarete, killing the bandit. They escape. They are overtaken in the morning, and ensconced in a sand pocket put up a brave fight. When one cartridge alone remains, Marcia. now acknowledging Cyril's bravery, asks him to kiss her and then kill her with the remaining cartridge, to save her from falling into the hands of the Mexicans. He is about to do so when he himself is shot down. The bandits swoop upon the two, but are stopped by Col. West and a number of his men. A squadron of cavalry and a battalion of infantry also come to the rescue from different directions, cutting off the escape of the Mexicans. Cyril is lifted into Col. West's auto in a dying condition. By the blessing of Providence and his own vigorous constitution, Cyril recovers, and two months later, as he watches the return of the regiment with his beloved wife, Marcia, the men recognize him and discipline is forgotten while the marching troops turn to cheer him.