The Secret of the Well (1914)

In France the tale opens. A mystifying murder has occurred. The nephews of the murdered man swear to run down the guilty party. Their search takes them to India, where they run into unlooked-for and dangerous obstacles. We have the brilliant Oriental fete given in their honor. At this fete an attempt is made on the young Frenchmen's lives through poison. Jean Farades is at last able to write to his nephews from India that he is returning with a fortune. The reception of the letter provokes jealousy between the two brothers, who, hitherto had been on affectionate terms. They erect a wall separating their respective gardens, between which there is a well common to both. One morning a tradesman goes to the well for a bucket of water for his horse. His efforts to draw it up proving futile, he sends a lad down to ascertain the cause. Trembling with fear and excitement, the lad reappears and informs the bystanders that the body of a man lies at the bottom. They notify the Commissary of Police. The two brothers identify the body of their uncle. The magistrate orders their immediate arrest. Fortunately for the brothers, Jacques Velimay and his friend, Paul Mersains, set to work to solve the mystery. They discover a scrap of paper in the well. It is torn, but they manage to decipher that it is a receipt for securities deposited with a banker named Smithworth, in Calcutta. A telegram is sent to Smithworth for details of Farades' securities. Climpson, Smithworth's agent in Paris, breaks into Jacques Vellmay's house, and steals the incriminating document from his desk. Soon after, Vellmay receives a telegram from Smithworth, saying that Farades is unknown to him. This coupled with the discovery that his desk has been tampered with, confirms his suspicions, and he at once goes off to Calcutta with his friend, Paul. Here, under assumed names, they enter into pseudo negotiations with Smithworth. The banker is, however, on his guard. That night Smithworth gives a brilliant fete in honor of the two Europeans, and manages to pour the drug into the cups of his guests. Jacques and Paul abstain from drinking. Smithworth falls asleep. The two friends escape and return to the banker's office where they regain possession of the document stolen from Vellmay's desk by Climpson. Smithworth is roused and gives chase in a motorboat. As soon as he is close enough, he fires upon them; their frail boat is upset and they vanish under the water. The friends, however, manage to swim ashore and return to Paris. The two scoundrels meet in Paris, and go to the trail of the brothers after disguising themselves. Suddenly the court is interrupted by two men. "Stop. Stop. Here are the names of the murderers!" they cry. The two scoundrels try to escape. They are dragged before the magistrate, and Climpson, seeing the game is up, confesses it was he who had strangled Farades, and with the help of Smithworth, had thrown him to the bottom of the well. The two brothers are reconciled after their terrible experience.