Episode 1: "The Last Cigarette" In the Bergenschloss the heads of Saxonia's secret service are in consultation over the fate of one of their men who has failed in his mission to a South American republic on account of the watchfulness of Yorke Norroy, a diplomatic agent and the cleverest man in the American secret service, who poses as a man of fashion. The Saxonian chiefs lay plans for his destruction. Minna Ober, whose father has been sentenced to death for murder, comes to plead for clemency. The chief offers the man a chance for his life if he will dispose of Yorke Norroy. Ober accepts. The papers have given publicity to the escape of Max Ober, and Huntley Carson, the confidant of Yorke Norroy, warns Norroy that Ober is after him. They attend the reception at the Saxonian embassy in Washington some time later and recognize Ober. Norroy is apparently absorbed in a flirtation with a stranger, who in reality is Minna Ober. Her father is counting upon her to lure Norroy to an empty house. Minna is successful. Norroy is roughly pushed into a room and falls. He rises, brushes his clothes, annoyed by the dust and Ober informs him that unless he discloses the history of his defeat of their plans he will be put to death. He insists upon Norroy's writing the story in detail. Norroy complies, but asks permission to smoke a cigarette. He takes out his case and sees in its polished surface that Ober gives directions to shoot him when he has finished writing. He lights a cigarette, and smokes it in the intervals of writing the story. Then he lays the cigarette on the table and proceeds. The cigarette explodes, and Norroy makes his escape. When the smoke has cleared away, Ober and his daughter read on the paper, "Tell your chief that Yorke Norroy sends Max Ober back to the Bergenschloss to pay the penalty."—Moving Picture World synopsis
Episode 2: "The Clash of Steel" Princess Seraphina, taking her small son, Paul, flees from Yulania to the village of Champ Fleury in Normandy, because of the debauchery of her husband, Prince Feodor. The agent of Saxonia, Count Stefan, calls to convince Feodor he should divorce his wife and marry Princess Sofia Anoria with her fifty million francs, for Saxonia needs Yulania as a buffer state in case of war. Prince Feodor consents and agrees to the conspiracy of the agent to gain reason for divorce. Champ Fleury is the rendezvous of Yorke Norroy and Carson Huntley. Huntley has become acquainted with Princess Seraphina. Count Stefan follows the Princess and watches the growing friendship between her and Huntley. He wires Prince Feodor to hasten to the village. Yorke Norroy is on his way to Camp Fleury. He passes the prince, and wonders what can have brought him, incognito, so far from his court. Meanwhile, Stefan and Gregor, his assistant, have kidnapped Prince Paul and enticed Seraphina to Huntley's rooms. Stefan enters and accuses her of having left her husband for Huntley. He holds them prisoners while awaiting the coming of Feodor. Norroy arrives shortly before the prince, and scenting trouble, enters Huntley's house with drawn revolver. As Stefan points a revolver at the head of the princess, Norroy realizes that they are at a deadlock and suggests fighting with rapiers. Stefan is one of the best swordsmen in Europe. Soon Norroy is apparently exhausted. He staggers against the table and overturns the candelabra. Then he grasps the wrist of Stefan with one hand and with his other sweeps the candelabra from the mantle, leaving the room in darkness. Huntley and the princess escape, while Norroy, covering Stefan, forces him to disclose the hiding place of Paul. When Prince Feodor arrives he realizes his folly and pleads forgiveness. The princess pardons him because of their son.—Moving Picture World synopsis
Episode 3: "The Dreaded Tube" Michael Xabra, an anarchist, has been condemned to death for a dynamiting outrage in which four people perished. The Red Brotherhood, an anarchist society, the leader of which is Ferrand Boissevan, the keeper of a curio shop and an opium smuggler, have determined that if Xabra is executed they will spread germs of the bubonic plague throughout New York. Rose Lee, secretary to the Governor of New York, goes to Chinatown for her weekly supply of opium, but is unable to procure her supply due to new laws. During her days as a free-lance stenographer, Rose had done some work for Boissevan. He was greatly attracted to her, but she had repulsed him. He sees her in Chinatown, and promises to give her opium, on the condition that she report daily what the Governor intends doing about the case of Xabra. She consents. Carson Huntley sees Rose slink into the curio shop. Following he hides behind a curtain, hears of the plot discussed by Boissevan and his accomplice, Giovanni. Huntley telegraphs to Yorke Norroy that the Red Brotherhood is to be called together. He advises Norroy to disguise as a Russian and go to the meeting of the anarchists under the name of Jacobus of Wilmington. Norroy is on his way to New York. Huntley learns that a test tube in the possession of Boissevan contains the culture of the bubonic plague and that it is to be thrown into the New York City reservoir. Yorke Norroy arrives. He goes to the Governor's office disguised as a Russian and puts Rose through a test to find out if she is one of the conspirators. Discovering that she is ignorant of the plot, he unfolds his plan to prevent the disaster. Realizing that her life has never been of any use to any one, she declares that she is glad to be of service. Norroy instructs her to get Boissevan to her rooms and there manage to break the test tube. He will prevent the spread of the germs by a strong chemical, which will destroy himself as well as the girl and Boissevan, for it will burn the whole house. Rose entices Boissevan to her house and there gets him into a large closet which has a spring lock. Deciding that two lives will be sufficient sacrifice, she follows him into the closet and hurls the lamp at him. The flames catch the clothes hanging about, and soon the forms of the girl and man are seen still struggling. Norroy rushes into the room too late to save Rose, although he makes so great an effort to do so, that he is finally carried unconscious by Huntley from the burning house.—Moving Picture World synopsis
Episode 4: "The Crimson Blade" Herman Von Ladenburg, ostensibly the agent of a Saxonian gun factory, had orders to supply the Filipino rebels with the munitions of war. Yorke Norrow, Secret Agent of the Department of State, was delegated to see that nothing of the sort was done. Von Ladenburg was to start for Hong Kong the following day, but for some reason unknown to Norroy, he was going to stop off in Neropa, Turkey. Norroy told his confidant, Carson Huntley, that it was their business to sec he stopped there permanently. Meanwhile, Miss Cecilia Reginald, an American girl, arrived in the Turkish town of Neropa. Hassan Bey, the assistant Minister of War and autocrat of Neropa, determined to get Cecilia. He ordered his Chief Eunuch Mesrour, to kidnap her that night. Von Ladenburg, Norroy and Huntley arrive at the town where Norroy registered their names as Ludwig Fulda, a Saxonian, and his secretary, Hoffman. When Von Landenburg went to see Hassan Bey the guard told him to come that evening, and though there would be a different gatekeeper then, he would leave orders for him to be admitted. Huntley, hidden nearby, heard these words. After Von Ladenburg left, Huntley, waiting for a chance to move on, was noticed by Cecilia. She threw a note to Huntley informing him who she was and that she was held a prisoner Unless she consented to marry Hassan Bey. Norroy determined to keep Von Ladenburg's appointment with Hassan Bey. He managed to get the Saxonian in a drunken stupor and hastened to the palace. There Hassan Bey, thinking Norroy was Von Ladenburg, for he had never met the man, showed him firearms and finally brought forth a poisoned dagger. Huntley had gone to the palace to rescue Cecilia and had been taken captive by Hassan Bey. The guards had taken him to the court where they had begun to torture him. Norroy had found the note left by Huntley saying that he had gone to the palace. While the Turk's back was turned, Norroy snatched up the poisoned dagger and told the man to bring out his prisoners. Though Hassan called his guards, they were appalled at the sight of the dagger and refused to go near Norroy. When the captives were brought into the room, Norroy forced Hassan to phone the American Consul to hasten to the palace. By use of the dagger, they all escaped from the place. The Turk, crazy with anger, ordered Mesrour to follow Norroy and either to kill him or lose his own life. At the hotel, Mesrour, climbing through the window and mistaking Von Landenburg, who sat in a stupor at the table, for Norroy, stabbed him in the back. He was just going to kill Huntley, when Norroy entered the room, causing him to flee. Norroy, about to shoot the Turk, lets him go when Huntley says that Hassan will kill him anyway.—Moving Picture World synopsis
Episode 5: "The Man in the Trunk" Cissy Reginald comes to Yorke Norroy. Chief of the American Secret Service Agent, to find out what has become of her sweetheart, Carson Huntley. Norroy is anxious himself, for he has not heard from Huntley for three weeks. The valet brings a note to Norroy from Huntley which reads, "Give the bearer of the message one thousand dollars and he will explain how you can save me." The money is paid. The Mexican bearer explains that Huntley is held a prisoner by Diego Rey, the governor, who intends to keep him captive until he tells how the new noiseless machine gun is made. Diego is torturing Huntley, who carries the plans in his head, to force the secret from him. Cissy is willing to do anything for Huntley. They arrange for a troupe of girls who, with Cissy, are to dance at the Mexican theater. There Diego Rey becomes infatuated with her. She leads him on and finally invites him to her apartment for supper. Norroy gives her a pellet to put in the man's wine and a tube of ethyl chloride. She is to saturate her handkerchief with it and hold it over Diego's nose when he is unconscious from the effects of the pellet. Diego Rey arrives. Norroy is hidden behind the curtains. The Mexican is so ardent that he refuses to drink any more wine although the girl tries to force that containing the pellet upon him. He attacks her and Norroy rushes in. The two men fight. Diego Rey is soon overpowering Norroy, but the girl overcomes the Mexican by waving her handkerchief saturated with ethyl chloride before his nose. Unconscious he is tied and gagged. Yorke, disguising himself as Diego, leaves Cissy to guard the unconscious governor with a revolver and hastens to the prison in which Huntley is held. He has no trouble in gaining entrance to Huntley's cell. He finds his friend hung to the wall by handcuffs. Norroy orders the guards to release the prisoner, and as soon as they are left alone, exchanges clothes with Huntley, who hastens from the prison to Cissy's apartment. Diego Rey is put into a trunk, in which Norroy bored many air holes, and Huntley Cissy and the other girls of the troupe, with the trunk, hasten across the Mexican border. At the right time, Norroy discloses his face to the guard and demands that Pedro Gonzales, Diego's lieutenant, come to his cell. The Mexican is astounded to see Norroy, who informs him that if he wishes to see Diego Rey again he will have to rush with him across the border. Huntley and the girls stand on the American side of the border with Diego, who is guarded by an American soldier, while Gonzales, with Norroy, stand on the Mexican side. Diego and Norroy step across the line at the same time.—Moving Picture World synopsis
Episode 8: "The Master Spy" The two agents of the U.S. State Department, Yorke Norroy and Carson Huntley, are about to leave the town of Eukrain, on the border of Russia and Saxonia, a neighborhood which is becoming unhealthy for those in government service. Just as they are about to leave their apartment John Gaunt, well known to them as a representative of the British Secret Service, but traveling as a tourist, appears. Gaunt is in a miserable state of health. He tells Norroy and Huntley that he has received the plans of the forts and that he is to get two thousand pounds for bringing them to headquarters in England, but if he dies without doing it. his wife and children will be penniless. He implores Norroy to take the plans to England, and get the money for his family. Norroy agrees. Norroy persuades Huntley to cross the border before him. Huntley is stopped by officers who search him and his baggage. Norrov, too, is examined, but he slips the plans into his driver's pocket and is allowed to go. When Norroy attempts to remove the plans from the pocket the coachman sets up a howl to call the soldiers. Norroy knocks him unconscious and, unhitching the horse, starts down the road at a swift pace on its back, the soldiers pursuing him. Arrived at an inn, Norroy is delighted to see Georgio, a man whom he had seen kill another in Budapest. Threatening to report the incident if Georgio does not hide him from the authorities. Norroy is led to a secret room. There is a door behind a big picture of the Virgin, and Norroy goes through this door. Meanwhile the Countess Irma Mailoff has left her guardian's roof to join Prince Darien across the border. Captain Boris Von Haden, son of the guardian, is following the Countess. There is only one place where she ran take a train, and that is near the inn of Georgio. The Countess arrives, and or in to conceal her until the train comes. He shows her into the room with the picture. When Georgio refuses to open it for Captain Boris, the latter climbs through the window and confronts Irma. She cries for help. Norroy cannot resist her calls, and. springing the panel, soon overpowers the captain Norroy escapes with the Countess in her ear, rushing toward the frontier. Passing through a village, he has the luck to find one of his men waiting for him. He tells him to take the Countess to the Three Pigeon Inn. He then makes his way through the hills by a short cut, and manages to pass the border patrol. But they catch sight of him and pursue. He swims his horse through a lake and escapes. After crossing the frontier, he meets a band of Russian mountaineers. "Soldiers of Saxonia on Russian soil," he cries to them, "What is your answer?" The peasants attack the patrol, and Norroy joins the Countess, who has met the Prince, her sweetheart.
Episode 9: "The Mysterious Iron Ring" Craig, the secret agent, has just time to knock the knife from the hands of his assailant. The stranger succeeds in rushing from the room, leaving a black mask. The State Department is concerned over the disappearance of important defense plans and the information that the most dangerous diplomatic criminal in Europe has landed in this country. He is known as H.I.J. Craig is told that the plans were last seen in the possession of Senator Lake. H.I.J. receives a note from the Countess saying if he will register at the Marborourgh Hotel a package will be delivered to his room. Craig registers as H.I.J. and goes to room 309. He learns that the Countess Irma Hardenbergh has the papers. The Countess is with Senator Lake and his wife. The Countess comes and gives Craig the plans. Then Craig orders the valet to detain a man who will soon come to the room, and joins Senator Lake before the Countess arrives. Showing the Senator his card, Craig tells the Senator that he will leave the plans under his napkin. H.I.J. sends a note to the Countess telling her to come to room 318. The Countess soon learns her mistake. H.I.J. enters Craig's room. The valet holds H.I.J. up, but he stabs the valet and escapes as Craig enters the room. Craig insists that the Countess accompany him on a short ride. They stop at Fort McPherson, where she is interned. Craig has extracted a card from the Countess' purse and now reads on it, "The Door With the Iron Ring." He finds his way to the cellar, where H.I.J. is waiting, pulls the iron ring and a bell resounds. Craig has ordered his men to come to the cellar in twenty minutes. H.I.J. pulls the door open and Craig falls into the cellar. H.I.J. covers him with his revolver and demands the plans; he is furious when he learns that Craig did not bring them. As H.I.J. leans on a table with the gun in his hand, Craig quickly pulls the table apart and H.I.J.'s hand and arm drop into the opening and are held there when Craig jams the sides together. Craig's men now arrive and take H.I.J. prisoner.
