- Surgeon Crisp announces to his student doctors and friends that he has solved the problem of limb-grafting, and shows proofs. Among those deeply interested is Mortmain, a friend of Dr. Crisp's. Mortmain is a gentleman of leisure and collector of rare art subjects and is heavily in debt to his friend, Cordon Russell. He is warned of that debt by Russell's lawyer, a friend of Mortmain's. While Russell at first has no desire to call in the loans, when the two men become rivals for the affections of Russel's ward, Bella Forsythe, things change. Knowing the weakness of her brother, Tom, Russell gives the latter a chance to fall into trouble, hoping to turn that fall into his own advantage. Tom falls into the trap and Russell uses this fall against Bella, who has become engaged to Mortmain. Meanwhile, Mortmain is told he is completely ruined by Flynt, Russell's lawyer. He curses Russell and his declaration that he would like to kill the man is overheard by Flaggs, the clerk of Flynt. Mortmain is informed of the murder of Russell, also that the police are after Tom Forsythe. Mortmain faints and in falling injures his hand terribly. Dr. Crisp informs him he must lose his hand and suggests he get another man's hand to graft upon the stump. He consents and Crisp finds a man who will give his hand, it is Tom Forsythe. During the operation Tom dies. Dr. Crisp has recognized Tom and keeps the news from Bella. Mortmain regaining consciousness after the operation, sees an uncanny vision of Flaggs and learns that Tom Forsythe, who gave him his hand died in the operation. He finally awakens from his terrible dream to learn that Tom is alive and well, and that the real murderer was Flaggs' while Mortmain's hand is his own.—Moving Picture World synopsis
- Mortmain is an accomplished musician and rare art collector. He is greatly impressed when his friend, Dr. Pennison Crisp, successfully grafts a paw from one cat onto another. Mortmain's engagement to Bella Forsythe is complicated by the fact that she is the ward of his friend, banker Gordon Russell, to whom he owes money. Worse, Russell is also in love with Bella. Russell causes Bella's brother, Tom Forsythe, to disgrace himself, and forces Mortmain into bankruptcy. Mortmain rashly says that he would like to kill Russell, but this is overheard by Flaggs, who works for Russell's lawyer. Mortmain then hears that Russell has been murdered, and in shock he faints and injures his hand. Dr. Crisp anesthetizes Mortmain with ether, which causes hallucinations, and creepily tells him that although he must amputate the hand, another can be grafted in its place. Tom Forsythe, who is suspected of the murder, agrees to Crisp's offer of $10,000, but dies during the transplant. Crisp now grafts Tom's hand onto Mortmain's arm. Mortmain gradually goes insane as Flaggs blackmails him and Bella is now afraid to be touched by him. The hand goes crazy! Mortmain awakens from his ether-induced dream to find that Tom's hand is choking Flaggs...—Fiona Kelleghan <fkelleghan@aol.com>
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