The Flash of an Emerald (1915)

Lucius Waldeck is a social vulture. In a New York hotel lobby, he is attracted by the porter carrying in a sickly child. While thus engrossed, he sees a magnificent emerald pinned in the dress of the child's grandmother. Determining to possess the jewel, he follows Mrs. Weston, who has gone to St. Ann de Beaupre, near Quebec, Canada, in order to appeal for the recovery of her granddaughter, at the time of the visit of the pilgrims. Waldeck trails Mrs. Weston and that night, he crawls up over the roof of the stable and gains admittance to Mrs. Weston's rooms. He chloroforms her and repeats the same operation with the child and the maid. Then he secures the emerald. Months later, Victoria and Sonia are in New York. The former has been an only comrade of Morton Conway, a rich young man, who, although he knows and appreciates the friendship existing between her and Sonia, is in love with Phillipa Ford, a mercenary young lady. Phillipa has become interested in a man who represents himself to be the secret agent of the Russian revolutionists. The man is Waldeck. At a ball, Victoria sees Waldeck and recognizes him in a vague sort of a way. She tries to warn Phillipa, who chooses to consider the warning as jealousy, Phillipa believing that Victoria is trying to cause trouble in her affair with Waldeck in order to cause trouble between Phillipa and Norton, so that Norton will leave Phillipa and return to Victoria. Waldeck gives the emerald to Phillipa. Victoria sees the emerald and recognizes the true character of Waldeck. Phillipa insists that it is a jewel given her by her mother. Waldeck learns that the emerald has been his undoing, so deftly removes it from Phillipa's bodice when embracing her. Then he leaves this country. Phillipa receives a note from Waldeck, asking her to deliver a box which he had entrusted to her, and which he said contains the collections for the Russian revolutionists, to a stateroom in an outgoing steamer. Phillipa still believes in the innocence of Waldeck. Victoria notifies the police of her opinion that Waldeck is the man wanted for murder of the child in Canada. Detectives discover the note which he sent to Phillipa regarding the box, so the police go to the steamer and await the appointed hour when Phillipa is to deliver the box to the mysterious woman. At the right moment they pounce on both Phillipa and the other woman, who is Marie, the former maid of Mrs. Weston's, and who has been Waldeck's accomplice in all the work. The box is discovered to contain the jewels and valuables stolen by Waldeck. Waldeck, realizing that there is no hope of escape, commits suicide. Morton Conway realizes that he has been wasting his affections on Phillipa, whose true character has been disclosed. And he realizes that all the suspicion, caused by Phillipa's tongue and directed at Victoria, are unjust. He appreciates her goodness and all promises well with them.