Volume II: Filmography

Episode 16 .

THE MILLION DOLLAR MYSTERY

DRAWN INTO THE QUICKSAND

a.k.a. TREACHERY IN THE HOUSEHOLD

October 5, 1914 (Monday)

Length: 2 reels (reels 31 and 32)

SYNOPSIS, Reel Life, October 3, 1914:

"The capture of the crooks, as narrated in Episode 15, in their attempt to wrest the secret of the vanished treasure from old Jones, made the conspirators weary for a time, but it was not long before they recommenced their operations. The prize was too great to permit them to lay aside for long their hopes of getting possession of the Hargreave fortune, and it appeared that this time fate played into their hands. The Countess Olga, who still possessed Florence's confidence, called one day at the Hargreave home, and soon afterward, Susan, Florence's faithful companion and friend, was taken mysteriously ill.

"At once there was a great running hither and thither and in the excitement only the countess kept her head. She recommended calling in a certain Dr. Webster to aid the stricken girl, and Florence begged her to telephone for him without delay. Her hurried call brought Braine, disguised in a beard and big horn glasses, who, as the pseudo Dr. Webster, after skilfully ministering to Susan, declared that complete rest would be the only certain cure for her malady. Upon his advice, both the girls at once set out for a quiet beach resort near the city, where Norton could run down over the weekends to visit them. For a few days the two enjoyed themselves greatly, and Susan showed marked improvement in her condition. Norton came down and joined them and there were many delightful parties on the ocean's edge and canoe trips on the river. Then one day the pseudo Dr. Webster appeared, ostensibly to visit his patient as well as to enjoy the salt breezes himself, and thereafter events began to happen in rapid fashion.

"In accordance with a well-laid plan, he paid a professional call on Florence and Susan, and while the latter was absent, persuaded Florence, who was slightly indisposed, to drink a preparation containing a powerful drug. Then, with consummate audacity, as soon as she had fallen under its effects, he informs the hotel office that she has contracted smallpox and that a rigid quarantine must at once be enforced until he can notify the health officials. Soon afterward he appears with two confederates and an ambulance, ostensibly from the pest house, and makes ready to carry Florence away.

"Meanwhile, Susan, learning of Florence's plight, sends for Norton, and the two, after vainly seeking to get past the guard at the door, climb down the fire-escape from Norton's room, only to find Florence unconscious on the couch, where the conspirators have laid her. Susan takes her place on the couch, while Norton carries Florence, now beginning to recover her senses, out on the fire-escape and up to the roof. The conspirators, returning, quickly discover the ruse, and after binding and gagging Susan, give chase to the others, but without success. Then, following out their original plan, they carry Susan to the waiting ambulance, which sets off in the direction of the pest house.

"On the road the vehicle overtakes Florence and Norton, who are hastening across country to escape from the danger which threatens. Only one of the gang - the driver of the ambulance - is with it, Braine and the others having set out in pursuit of Florence and Norton in another direction. Telling Florence to flee, Norton attacks the ruffian and after a desperate struggle fells him. Making certain that the man is senseless from his blow, he hastens to free Susan from her bonds, but hardly has done so when he hears Florence calling for help. In her flight she has rushed unawares upon a treacherous quicksand, and before she is able to turn, she has found herself struggling in its slimy depths.

"Were it not for her warning cry, Norton, running to her rescue, would also have become engulfed in the quagmire. As it is, he draws back just in time. A quick glance over the situation and he runs back into the ambulance for the rope which has bound Susan. At the side of the marsh is a telephone pole from which is strung a strong cable, and up this Norton hastily climbs. With the agility of a trained acrobat he works his way out on this cable sailor-fashion, until he is directly over Florence, who by this time has sunk into the quicksand up to her armpits. Throwing her the rope, Norton climbs down the pole again, and after several moments of strenuous effort, drags the exhausted girl to terra firma. Hurrying with her to the ambulance, where Susan, still terrified by her recent experiences, is awaiting them, Norton drives off, just as the conspirator, who has been knocked senseless by his blow, begins to recover consciousness.

"In this, the 16th Episode of The Million Dollar Mystery, are some of the most effective scenes which have thus far been shown in this popular serial. Norton's rescue of Florence from the conspirators - a scene but lightly touched upon in the foregoing narrative - in which he carries her out upon the fire-escape and over the roofs, while Braine and his aids vainly pursue, is filled with thrills, as is also the scene in which the crooks discover that Susan has been substituted for their intended victim. The fight between Norton and the driver of the pest house ambulance is also realistic in the highest degree."

REVIEW, The Moving Picture World, October 24, 1914:

"Braine and his gang get hold of the heroine in a hotel. Braine impersonates a doctor and says she has smallpox. They are about to take her to the pest house when Norton substitutes another girl. During their escape the heroine gets into quicksand. Norton climbs a telephone pole, goes hand over hand across a cable, and throws down a rope, by which he pulls her out. This makes an enjoyable and exciting number."

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