What the Gods Decree (1913)

Henriette D'Arsac, the wife of an adventurer, Charles D'Arsac, who has made his fortune in the African trade and now retired, one day reads of the excavation of the famous statue of the Goddess Kali, around whose neck is hung a necklace of precious stones and gold beads of inestimable value. This his wife ardently desires to possess and begs her husband to secure it. Unable to resist her pleadings, he sails for India and on reaching Bombay enlists the services of a guide to take him to the Sanctuary. They reach the sacred spot late in the night, but the guide, seized by a sudden fright, runs away. D'Arsac, revolver in hand, advances toward the statue, unclasps the necklace with trembling hands and starts to make his escape when, turning around, he fancies he sees the Goddess raising her hands as if in the act of cursing him. The sacrilege is discovered the next day and D'Arsac is easily traced to a tavern, where he is trying to dissipate the hideous nightmare with drink. Kali, the priestess, disguised as a man and Doura, a fakir of the secret cult, succeed in shipping as stokers on board D'Arsac's yacht, which at once starts on a return journey. They endeavor to secure the necklace while on board the yacht, but only succeed in arousing suspicion. Sitting a large hole above the waterline they jump overboard and swim to shore before their absence is discovered. D'Arsac arrives and presents the necklace to his wife. But a constant shadow seems to hang over them. Kali and Doura, though unseen, cast their spell on the desecrator and his wife. The Hindoos succeed in gaining an entrance to the villa, but not until they have been forced to climb a tree, from whence they see wild beasts roaming the park. They enter the drawing-room, overpower the guard, seize the necklace and disappear. An electric appliance warns D'Arsac of their presence. He pulls a lever. A trap opens and the two Hindoos drop into a rage which slowly upsets in a cistern. By an act of Providence they are saved and escape by a subterranean passage leading to the sea. They engage a boat, but are followed by D'Arsac, who overtakes them, seizes the Hindoos and places them on board his yacht. When nearing Marseilles, Kali succeeds in breaking her bonds and jumps into the sea before D'Arsac and his men can prevent her. She manages to get to shore, exhausted, only to again fall into the bands of D'Arsac, who recovers possession of the necklace and leaves her on the shore half dead, where she is found several hours later by the gypsies. Misfortune after misfortune follows the household of D'Arsac, culminating in the supposed death of their daughter, who has been put into a hypnotic sleep under the powerful magnetic influence of Kali. Henrietta is taken violently ill at sight of her daughter in this condition and is threatened with a loss of reason. D'Arsac now has but one desire: to return the cursed necklace. He rushes toward the glass case, seizes the necklace and brandishes it madly. A hand touches his shoulder. Kali, silent, immovable, is behind him. The adventurer pulls out a revolver, which he soon drops under the steady, imperious gaze of the Priestess, He crawls at Kali's feet and pleads forgiveness. She takes the necklace and slowly retreats backward, D'Arsac dropping to the floor in a faint. Kali, overcome with pity, relents, and wakens the child. When D'Arsac regains consciousness, his wife and daughter are bending over him. The Priestess and the necklace have disappeared. Peace and quiet once more reign in the villa. The priestess returns to India and the necklace once more graces the neck of the venerated idol.