Beatrice Fairfax Episode 4: The Stone God (1916)

Jimmy Barton's city editor handed him a newspaper clipping with the heading. "Indian Prince at Biltmore; Rajo Jaibel arrives from Calcutta." Jimmy was told to interview the man, but the Prince refused to see him. While he was talking to the clerk, another Indian arrived and was escorted to the Prince's room. A bellboy got Jimmy into the adjoining room, where he heard the Prince, his caller, and several other Indians discussing a plot to secure possession of a stolen idol and to "avenge Buddha." The only definite information Jimmy got was the address "220 Pelham Road," and the fact that something was to develop that night. Jimmy returns to his office, defeated. While he is pondering, Beatrice Fairfax enters. She has just received a letter from a girl who tells her that her fiancé has quarreled with her father, and asks if it would be right for her to elope. She signs the letter "Dorothy McRay. 220 Pelham Road." Jimmy and Beatrice note the address and start off to investigate. The scene shifts to the McRay home and shows the quarrel between Don Jordan and Dorothy's father, Christopher McRay. Jordan threatens the older man and is ejected from the house. Dorothy goes weeping to her room. McRay, alone, opens the door of a vault and brings forth the Stone God. He alone knows the combination of the vault. The inner door of the vault connects with an automatic revolver, so that if any other person, without the proper precaution, enters the vault, he will be greeted with a storm of bullets. McRay's memories take him back to his bridal trip. The scene shows him with Dorothy's mother in India. In a jungle temple, his bride sees an image of Buddha, and longs to possess it. McRay offers to buy the god from the priest, who ejects him from the temple. A fight follows. That night McRay returns to the temple, overpowers the priest and steals the stone god. The priest, Ali Rajo Jaibel, takes an oath that Buddha will be avenged. The scene again shows McRay in his library, haunted by his memories. With a sigh he returns the stolen god to the vault. He closes the door but does not lock it. As he emerges, Rajo Jaibel, who has gained access to the house, slips from behind a curtain and stabs him. He leans over the prostrate form and tells him he is the priest from whom the god was stolen. Ali opens the door of the vault. There is a fusillade of bullets and Ali drops dead inside the vault. With his last strength McRay staggers over and closes the door. Then he drops dead on a couch. While this tragedy is ending, Don gains entrance to the rear of the house to Dorothy, who agreed to elope with him. Hearing the shots in the library, he hurries there. The only thing that meets his gaze is McKay lying dead, and on the floor a knife. A maid hurries in, rushes screaming from the room and summons help. Don picks up the knife and is gazing at it in horror, when the police arrive. With them come Beatrice and Jimmy, who have just reached the house. Don is arrested for the murder, despite the protests of Jimmy and Beatrice. Jimmy learns of the rendezvous of the East Indians and hurries there with Beatrice, satisfied that through them the mystery can be solved. The plotters are assembled and are listening to a recital of the tragedy by one of Ali's aides who accompanied him to the McKay residence and has returned. As they stand at the door, a look-out traps them. They are hurried into the adjoining room. One of the Indians is left to guard them while the others decide how they are to be killed. Jimmy overpowers the guard, takes his turban and mantle, and passing their excited companions, unlocks the door. Then he and Beatrice make a dash for liberty. They escape after a fight. Jimmy and Beatrice again reach the McRay home just as Don is being taken away to jail. Jimmy halts the police with the announcement that the real murderer can be found in the vault. When the door is opened, Ali is lying on the floor dead. Don and Dorothy are reunited.