- Myra Maynard, is plagued by a wide variety of metaphysical assaults by the corrupt Black Order, a secret organization which uses magic, curses and any supernatural means possible to achieve its ends.
- Episode 1: "The Road to Yesterday" John Maynard, during his life, belonged to an organization known as "The Black Order." By its occult powers this company holds complete sway over its members, and exerts a strange and compelling influence over all who chance to come within its range. It is the typification of mystery and the Order's highest prelate, The Grand Master, whose face the members seldom see, is the personification of invisible powers put to wicked ends. Maynard's last message to the Order contained a clause that in case his three daughters died before their eighteenth birthdays, his fortune should go to the Black Order. The two elder daughters have both committed suicide at the appointed time by unusual methods of self-destruction and Mrs. Maynard, who is cognizant of the strange associations formed by her deceased husband, suspects occult influences. Consequently, she is deeply troubled as her youngest and favorite daughter approaches her fateful birthday. Arthur Varney, who is a constant visitor at the Maynard home, is racked by conflicting emotions. While he loves Myra with all his heart, as a member of the Black Order he is bound to assist in bringing about her destruction. His final appeal to the Grand Master on Myra's behalf is scorned. Her death is inevitable. Arrayed against the Black Order is Dr. Payson Alden, a prominent young physician, who has given up medicine to become a noted investigator of spirit phenomena. He awakes one night from a troubled sleep and finds mysteriously pinned on his breast a note warning him to cease his investigations of the occult under the penalty of death. He also discovers that his notes on the Maynard case have been stolen. Aroused by the incident, he immediately communicates with Mrs. Maynard and arranges to call. The atmosphere of the Maynard household is tense with the dread expectation that an unseen something is about to happen. Myra has been mysteriously walking in her sleep, as did her two elder sisters before their deaths. This strange habit is the result of the concentrated mental influences exerted by the members of the Black Order under Varney over the susceptible young girl. At the breakfast table, Myra unconsciously assumes the pose which is the sign of the Black Order. Mrs. Maynard, recalling this in connection with her husband, is beside herself with fear and anxiety. Dr. Alden calls. Myra's curiosity has been aroused by her mother's trepidation upon seeing her unwittingly make the wicked sign and she asks Dr. Alden to explain the meaning. Just as he, in turn, assumes the pose, Mrs. Maynard comes into the room and at once suspects Alden of connections with the Black Order. With hysterical fear, she orders him from the house. Explanations are unavailing and he reluctantly departs. Greatly attracted by Myra, however, he resolves to carry on his investigations in spite of Mrs. Maynard's objections. The day before the girl's birthday, he secretly enters the house and arranges a system by which he may learn whether or not Myra walks in her sleep and whither her wanderings lead her. In the afternoon of the fateful day, he gains entrance to the Maynard house through a clever ruse and discovers the path of her sleepwalking the night before and hides, awaiting further developments. At exactly twelve o'clock that night, the Black Order is in full session, extending by their mental power complete sway over the actions of the unfortunate girl. At the same time, still in a troubled sleep, Myra rises from her bed and slowly descends the broad stairway. Hesitatingly she crosses the room, completely under the unseen influence, and touching a secret panel, descends into a crypt known only to her dead father. Silently Alden follows. By the flickering candlelight, she reads the dust covered parchment and unwillingly picks up a nearby dagger. Struggling with her inward emotion, she raises it full above her head and with a final effort starts its downward plunge. Like a flash, Alden grasps her wrist and saves her from horrible death. He carries the unconscious form to the living room above, where he finds Mrs. Maynard, who has been unable to sleep. Again the girl drifts off into the hypnotic state and her fingers begin to twitch convulsively. Knowing the sign, Dr. Alden places a pencil at her fingers and on the back of a book Myra begins to trace a message from the other world. She awakes, however, before it is completed.—Moving Picture World synopsis
- Episode 2: "Poisoned Flowers" Dr. Alden visits Myra Maynard on the day after he rescues her from her attempted sleep-walking suicide and explains to her what happened. She is deeply puzzled, but resolves to assist Alden wherever possible in running down the despicable band which has brought about the death of her two sisters. Arthur Varney, who loves Myra, but is compelled, as a member of the Black Order, to assist in bringing about her destruction, calls at the Maynard home. He has been ordered by the Grand Master to ascertain why the plans of the Black Order have failed and to assist in setting another scheme which will cause her death. The butler ushers him into an adjoining room, as Alden has left word that he and Myra are not to be disturbed. At this moment Alden is placing Myra in a hypnotic state, in hopes that she will finish the message of warning from her dead father which she had started the night before. Varney becomes suspicious and sneaks into the room unknown to Myra and Alden. After a few false starts, Myra begins the message, "Your, your father wishes to warn you against the Black..." At this point she breaks off, shudders and awakens. Varney's hypnotic power urging her not to write has counteracted the persuasive influence of Dr. Alden. Varney returns to the hall and is soon presented by the butler. He has failed, however, as Alden has suspected that the warning is aimed against the Black Order. The Malevolent Grand Master is preparing an evil plant of death. He injects into the closed blossom of a strange plant a poisonous powder. This he sends by two of his men, disguised as flower sellers, to the Maynard home. Varney is greatly disturbed by the news that Dr. Alden is to spend the night as Mrs. Maynard's guest in order to be on the ground if any further attempts be made upon Myra's life. Nevertheless, Varney, can do nothing but follow out the new plan of the Grand Master. He prepares to go and is ushered to the door by Myra herself. Just then the two flower sellers ascend the steps and display the blossoms to Myra. Varney buys a plant for her. He is torn between love and fear, but fear is uppermost and he departs without a word. As they are saying good night that evening, Dr. Alden asks a strange favor of Myra. He requests to be allowed to keep the new plant in his room overnight. Myra demurs but later, in her boudoir, changes her mind and sends her maid with the plant to Alden's room. He is deeply gratified as he realizes that his interest in Myra is surely turning to love. Only for a moment, however, does his mind linger on such pleasant thoughts and he is again the stern man of science. Suspicious of the unknown plant he carefully examines the stem, the leaves and even the earth in the flower pot. His suspicions appear unfounded, however, and he prepares to retire. It is midnight. The blossom of the strange plant is beginning to unfold and develop into a beautiful flower. Nevertheless, it is the flower of death, for the white powder concealed in the heart of the blossom is liberated and drops down upon the damp earth, there reacting with the moisture, producing a heavy white vapor, which floats across the face of the sleeper. Alden stirs, gasps as if choking, and attempts to rise but falls back helpless. In another room a strange phenomenon is happening. Myra, with a premonition of evil in her mind, awakes as if from a bad dream. She instinctively feels that something is wrong. As she turns, her eye catches the little crystal globe which Alden has given her. Here is a chance to test Alden's science. She sits up in bed and gazes intently into the depths of the crystal. Slowly a filmy something takes shape. It is an apparition of Dr. Alden half rising in his bed and gasping his throat as if breathing with difficulty. She hastily slips into a robe and hurries to Alden's door. A cloud of white vapor envelopes her. Greatly alarmed she summons the butler. Together they enter the room and stumbling, half overcome, drags the now unconscious form of Alden from the contaminated atmosphere. After prolonged efforts, he is brought back to consciousness. He explains what happened and laughingly assures them that he is all right again. Suddenly Myra recoils in horror as she sees in a picture on the wall the malevolent face of the Grand Master looking menacingly down upon them.—Moving Picture World synopsis
- Episode 3: "The Mystic Mirrors" An initiation is in progress in the crypt of the Black Lodge, while a solitary member sits in the center of the Council Chamber. Suddenly he exchanges signals with someone below, and a mysterious hand appears through the floor holding an envelope addressed to the Master. It is duly delivered and the Master smiles scornfully as he reads the message. "Your plan did not work and he is beginning to suspect us." (Signed) Varney. At this point, the initiate, a young Hindu, is lead forth and put through the final rites, after which he is allowed to go. At the time that these events are transpiring in the Black Order, Dr. Alden is calling at the Maynard home, and is explaining to Myra, her mother and Varney, how science has proved the existence of spirits, astral bodies and other strange mediums of the unknown world. Deep in the discussion he is interrupted by the telephone. It is the Hindu who has just gained access to the Black Lodge, calling Dr. Alden to tell him of his success. Varney answers the phone and before handing the instrument to Alden registers that he has heard the voice before, but cannot place it. He casually asks Alden who it was. Alden replies "a friend." Varney looks at him suspiciously and hastily leaves. He tells the Black Master that there is a traitor in the Order. Myra Maynard is anxious to try the mysterious experiments which Alden has been describing so they prepare to go to Alden's laboratory. Alden however requests that he be allowed to explore the secret chamber before they depart. Myra finally consents and he descends the narrow stairway with a lighted candle. He finds the spring of a secret door in the dust covered altar which discloses an ancient parchment proving that John Maynard was a member of the Black Order. Suddenly he sees a footprint on the dusty floor; another and yet another appears and then disappears. He stands back in fear as a mysterious hand and arm appears and slowly snuffs out the candle. Suddenly an apparition in white appears before him. It is the spirit of Myra's father which bids Alden warn Myra against the Black Order which seeks her destruction. He starts up the narrow stairway only to find that butler, thinking that he had left the house, had closed the panel. He is later released by Myra and Mrs. Maynard. Alden shows Mrs. Maynard and her daughter into his workshop and explains to them the scientific instrument. He demonstrates to Mrs. Maynard how the human aura can be made visible. He then takes Myra into the next room and seats her before a hypnotizing machine. "I am going to release your astral body in hopes that it will go in search of the persons who are persecuting you" he explains. Slowly the machine with its myriad lights begins to revolve at high speed. Then a strange thing happens for a fully formed, thought transparent duplicate of Myra, arises to her full height and glides across the room disappearing in the vortex of the machine. The astral body of the girl has been released, while the material form still sits before the machine. The Black Order is again in session. The leader of ceremonies is reading solemnly from an old parchment while the members sit around in a half circle. Suddenly a pale yet increasingly heavy smoke arises from the incense burner in the center of the floor. The form of Myra is slowly taking shape in the smoke. With considerable effort Varney bursts through the curtains and informs the Master of her presence. With devilish glee the Master replies, "It is her astral body, quick, chant so as to break the astral thread; she will never awake." Quickly Varney returns and commands the other members. They nod and start to chant in unison bending back and forth at the end of the chant and making a gesture as if to break the invisible thread. The body of Myra sways perceptibly as if reacting before the power of the combined wills. In the laboratory Alden looks at his watch and says she has been in the trance long enough. He tells Myra to waken but she makes no response. He repeats the command more emphatically. Still no result. A third time he repeats it with all the power at his command. In the Black Lodge the figure of Myra is writhing in the vapor while in the scientific laboratory Alden in anxiety is feeling her pulse and listening to her heart. Again and again he tries with all the pleading power of his heart to bring her out, but without avail. Finally he drops on his knees in desperation and begins to pray fervently. Prayer succeeds when science fails and soon Myra begins to show signs of returning consciousness. In the Black Lodge the vision is fading out in spite of their frantic chants and soon disappears. Alden begins to question the girl. She replies, "All I can remember is incense, men, in black and this," and she registers the "Thumbs Up" sign. In sudden fury Alden replies, "It is that accursed Black Lodge, and I am going there myself and put an end to this." Mrs. Maynard and Myra depart and as they enter their home Myra utters a cry of horror. In the stone balustrade of the porch she sees a fading vision of the Grand Master in the hateful "Thumbs Up" attitude.—Moving Picture World synopsis
- Episode 4: "The Wheel of Spirit" Dr. Alden is aroused by the plight of Myra Maynard, and knowing the evil power which is behind her persecution, he determines to enter the Black Lodge and put an end to the scheme. He schemes with his Hindu colleague, who has already gained access to the Order. Meanwhile the Grand Master is perfecting an evil scheme which will bring about Myra's destruction. In the darkness of his infernal laboratory he places a mask over his mouth and inflates a toy balloon with a poisonous gas. As the over-inflated balloon bursts he smiles in devilish glee as if contemplating what will happen when the gas is again liberated. The Grand Master calls two of his men and instructs them as to the safe delivery of the balloons into the hands of the one whose death he seeks. Disguised as men who peddle balloons, they leave the Black Order by means of a secret door in a hollow tree. Hurrying through the nearby woods one of the balloons catches on a twig. Fearful lest it burst while attempting to disentangle the string, they leave it there. At this point Dr. Alden and the Hindu reach the hollow tree and array themselves in the garb of the Order. The Hindu sees the deserted balloon and in trying to extricate it, it bursts and he is partly overcome. They both wonder at the incident, but put it aside for the more serious business at hand. The Hindu leads Dr. Alden through the usual entrance and they descend a flight of stairs. They find themselves in a large room. The Hindu exchanges signals with someone above. Then Alden, grasping the hooks of the circular trap door, is swung into the chamber above. He intimidates the lone sentry, who is bound hand and foot by the Hindu. The pass into the next room. Once inside a strange thing happens. The supposedly stone figure squatting at the left of the altar suddenly becomes alive. Springing down from its pedestal it liberates the sentry. Once freed this man starts in pursuit of Alden and his companion. He is about to strike as the Hindu, turning quickly, pursues him back through the council chamber. As they dash through a dim archway the fake statue presses a spring and a heavy grating descends. The member escapes and notifies the others that they are in danger. As the members pass through the doorway the Hindu joins the ranks and passes unnoticed. Meanwhile Alden has wandered into the Grand Master's abode. The Master throws his strange evil power over him and seemingly electrified him. While he can see and realize what is taking place, Alden cannot move a muscle. Scornfully the Master speaks from the darkness: "You have forced yourself into our lodge. I sentence you to be buried alive," and then spitefully, "as you die Myra will also breathe her last." Suddenly Alden is surrounded by a red glow and the spot upon which he is standing begins to slowly sink into a pit below. The members have arranged themselves in a half circle, and as the platform upon which Alden is standing touches the ground the men step forward and silently lift the rigid form of Alden and lower it into the coffin. The box is put into the grave and all but two of the members file out. The Hindu drops out of line and descends to a lower level of the strange abode. Seizing a pick he begins to dig into the ceiling above him. He eventually succeeds in getting the coffin out of the ground, and with the Hindu, Alden escapes. Meanwhile the two members of the Order carrying the balloons meet Varney outside of the Maynard home. Varney ascertains that Myra is in her room, and she is suddenly surprised in seeing a red toy balloon float in through the window. Impelled by curiosity she attempts to reach it as another floats into the room. Alden bolts into the house much to the astonishment of Varney and Mrs. Maynard, and without a word, dashes upstairs. As he opens the door of Myra's room she turns quickly and in doing so, explodes one to the balloons. Quick as a flash Alden covers her mouth and roughly pushes her into the hall, slamming the door after him. Myra demands an explanation. Mrs. Maynard is astonished at his strange behavior, while Varney is decidedly uncomfortable, although confident that the deadly gas is by this time dispelled, leaving no evidence to support Dr. Alden's unbelievable claim that this prompt action had saved Myra's life. Together the four enter Myra's room. Everything is in order as before. Suddenly Myra utters a stifled cry of surprise and grief. She has discovered in its ornate cage the lifeless form of her pet canary.—Moving Picture World synopsis
- Episode 6: "The Hypnotic Clue" Realizing the strange transformation that has taken place in Myra, whereby she now possesses the spirit of the Grand Master, Dr. Alden is deeply troubled, and tries to convince Mrs. Maynard that this is true. She is very skeptical and refuses to place any confidence in Alden's claim, even though she realizes that Myra is not herself. Alone in her boudoir Myra is acting very strangely. She gathers all her jewels together and hides them, after which she phones her bank in order to ascertain the amount of her bank balance. She then proceeds to leave the house with the intention of drawing her money, but as she opens the door, Varney and Alden arrive. Alden asks for Mrs. Maynard, and is ushered in. Arthur Varney is embarrassed by Myra's behavior. Contrary to her usual way, she is more than cordial to him. As they enter the room where Mrs. Maynard and Alden are seated, Myra suddenly announces that she and Varney an engaged. Dr. Alden, realizing that it is not Myra herself speaking, departs for his laboratory. Alone once more, Myra announces to Varney that she is not Myra, but the Grand Mater in the body of Myra, and instructs him to get the body of the Black Master from the lodge and to carry it to a certain deserted house in the nearby gorge. She then departs for the bank, where she withdraws her money. Consternation reigns in the Black Order. The Grand Master has suddenly appeared in the Council Chamber, something that he has never done before. He seems frightened and yet imbued with a sort of nervous courage. He commands the members to clear out from the lodge. Once outside they are met by Varney, who explains to them the strange phenomena which has happened. Alden, arriving at his laboratory, is disturbed by the appearance of a well-known clairvoyant, who says he has a message for the doctor. At this point the Grand Master, in whose body is the spirit of Myra, telephones to the doctor for assistance. Strangely enough, at this very moment the medium commands Alden to answer his phone. It is Myra speaking in the form of the Grand Master asking for help. Before the message is completed the connection is broken, this resulting from the fact that the members have returned to the lodge and have made their former leader a prisoner. In Alden's laboratory the medium informs him that the spirit of his dead colleague is telling him to go to the house in the gorge quickly. Alden departs. Having securely bound and gagged the body of the Grand Master, the members are now taking him to this very place. Myra has not left the bank, and driving some distance into the country in the neighborhood of the gorge, sends her chauffeur back and starts out on foot. She arrives at the house, where she finds the body of the Grand Master, who possesses her spirit. Myra, now the personification of the Grand Master, tells him he possesses her spirit and that she will restore the respective spirits to their proper bodies, but she must first hypnotize him, and herself. Varney is outside the house and reports to Myra that, should she desire it, he can release the flood gates of the dam a short distance upstream which will cause the house to be washed away. She returns and proceeds to hypnotize the Master and herself. At this moment Alden arrives. The Master speaks to him from the lips of Myra: "If you kill my body hers will never awake." She then hypnotizes herself and the Master, and after a time the two astral bodies return to their proper individualities. Again Myra is the sweet girl, while the body of the Black Master now contains his despicable soul. Alden remembers his promise not to kill the Master and rushes to the restored Myra. In the meantime the crafty Master withdraws and gives Varney the proper signal. A moment later the water bursts forth from the dam and the torrential stream descends with such force that the entire house is washed away. The Master escapes safely, while Myra and Alden are swept downstream. After a long struggle Alden is finally successful and succeeds in bringing the girl he loves safely to the shore.
Episode 7: "The Mystery Mind" The Master of the Black Lodge is still bent on the destruction of Myra Maynard. He tells Varney that it is easier to materialize spirits under red light and orders Varney to place a red light in the Maynard home. Mrs. Maynard entreats Dr. Alden for the sake of Myra to make peace with the Black Lodge, but he refuses to do so. Myra tells Dr. Alden not to think about her and not to weaken in his determination to exterminate the Black Order. Mrs. Maynard hands Dr. Alden a slip of paper on which is written the address of Bert Reese, the clairvoyant, and suggests that Alden see this man who can communicate with anybody living or dead. Dr. Alden states that he knows Reese. Myra says she will go with him and they leave together. Varney arrives at the Maynard home and is admitted by the butler. While he is waiting for Mrs. Maynard, he cautiously removes the red electric light bulb from his overcoat pocket, places it in his coat pocket, tiptoes upstairs to Myra's room, and places the red light in a closet. When Varney learns from Mrs. Maynard that Myra and Dr. Alden have gone to consult Bert Reese, he telephones the news to the Black Master. Alden and Myra arrive at the Reese Studio, where they make known their errand. Mr. Reese thinks he can communicate with the Master of the Black Lodge, and Dr. Alden asks him to deliver the following message: "If you stop your attacks on Miss Maynard and others I will agree to leave you in peace." Meanwhile, the Master retires into a lead-lined chamber which is supposed to shut out all occult influences. Reese endeavors to communicate with the Master, but confesses that there is an obstruction and that he cannot get his message through to its destination. The Master opens a small slide in the door of his lead-lined chamber, and placing a black crystal in the opening, reads Dr. Alden's message. He refuses the truce and his message is communicated to Dr. Alden through Bert Reese. Myra and Dr. Alden agree to fight the Black Powers to a finish. The Master prepares for action; he bring in a small table and a hypnotizing machine which he places on the table in front of a chair. Varney meanwhile, reading a book in the Maynard library, hears Alden and Myra returning. He hides as Alden starts to say good-bye to Myra. Alden confesses his love, but Myra refuses, showing Alden Varney's engagement ring. Alden leaves and Myra tells Varney that she cannot marry him. Varney gets a fiendish idea and leaves quickly. Dr. Alden spends the evening testing his new mercury vapor lamps. Varney arrives at the lodge of the Grand Master and receives permission to materialize Myra's spirit, his love for her having turned to hate. The Master sends Varney's spirit to Myra's home. The spirit enters her bedroom and then her clothes closet where he materializes under the red light. Entering Myra's room he picks up a pair of shears and catches a reflection of himself in a mirror. Unable to bring himself to the point of killing Myra he turns out the light and closes the bedroom door. Re-entering the clothes closet his astral body dematerializes and upon leaving the house he awakes to his natural form. Mrs. Maynard smells gas escaping and with the assistance of the butler breaks down the door and rescues Myra from asphyxiation. Next morning Alden can find no clue to the mystery of the previous night. Myra discovers a red light in her clothes closet. She starts to remove it but is restrained by Dr. Alden who installs a set of mercury vapor lamps in her bedroom. These lamps are so situated that their light falls directly upon anyone standing under the gas jet. That night the Black Master resolves to end Myra's life himself. He sends his astral body to the Maynard home. Materializing under the red light in Myra's closet he walks around the room hunting for a weapon with which to complete his ghastly work. He can find nothing. Starting to pick up a chair he finds he has not sufficient strength to swing it. He then decides to turn on the gas and in the attempt plays directly into Dr. Alden's hand. He turns on the mercury vapor violet rays under which he dematerializes in agony. Mrs. Maynard enters the room and Myra informs her that the Master has been destroyed by Dr. Alden's violet rays.
Episode 8: "The Neither" Recovered from his disastrous attack on Myra Maynard, the Black Master listens to the trial of a disobedient member who is sentenced to die. The prisoner takes a poison tablet and makes a last appeal to the Master who promises him an antidote for the poison provided he will perform a certain task. Dr. Alden is interested in thought photography and experiments upon Myra by placing a plate bolder against her forehead. Varney is present and suggests that she think of him. She agrees to do this, but her thoughts persist in wandering. Meanwhile the Black Master orders the disobedient member of the band to apply for the position of gardener at the Maynard home. Successful in obtaining the situation, in his tiny room over the garage the new gardener prepares an instrument of death. Returning from a walk with Myra and Alden, Varney recognizes the new gardener as a member of the Black Band and exchanges with him the "thumbs up" signal. Excusing herself, Myra runs upstairs to her room, and starts back in fear and surprise as a panel of glass is suddenly smashed in the window close to her head. The new gardener has already attempted to earn his life by shooting Myra from the window of his room. Alden stays late that evening, and becoming suspicious of the new gardener, resolves to try thought photography upon him. Leaving the Maynard home late that night, Alden enters the gardener's room over the garage and takes his thought photograph. Next morning the Black Master, learning that the gardener has so far bungled his task of exterminating Myra, gives Varney a more powerful telescope in order that the gardener may get the exact angle in aiming his next shot. Dr. Alden places a decoy mirror in Myra's room and arranges to have the house surrounded by the police. A new telescopic arrangement is made ready for the new gardener with a switch operating the gun nearby, and as Myra enters her room and seats herself before the dressing table she has the appearance of sitting directly in front of the window. Again the new gardener shoot, breaking both mirrors. Entering the gardener's tiny room, Alden and the police find it empty. Varney inquires of Alden why he suspects the gardener, and is informed that it is because of the thought photograph, which shoes a blurred likeness of the Black Master in his "thumbs up" attitude. Varney proceeds to drop the negative upon the floor. The gardener, frenzied because of his double failure in attempting Myra's life, enters the lodge of the Black Order and steals what he thinks is the antidote; he collapses upon the steps of the Maynard home. Dying, he starts to divulge the hiding place of the Master, but expires before the message is completed.
Episode 9: "The Invisible Destroyer" Led by Arthur Varney, the Black Lodge busies itself with a series of mysterious actions. The order is in full session. Suspended from the ceiling is the model of a human heart. As it swings back and forth the members open and close their hands so as to represent the beating of a heart and repeat the words, "Slower, slower, slower." The Maynard household are worried about Myra's illness. The symptoms are such that the family physician is unable to diagnose the malady. Dr. Alden examines her and remarks that her illness is not altogether natural. He also tells her that he is testing a machine invented by a Dr. Abrams of San Francisco. At this point Varney calls and Alden departs. Varney registers anger and remarks to Myra, "You have promised to marry me and you are allowing Alden to come between us." Myra tears Varney's engagement ring from her finger and offers it to him. He refuses to take it and says that he, too, has delved into the occult and a fearful thing has happened to him. He describes to Myra how, one night, a bright star seemed to come from his forehead and float away. This, he says, was a part of his soul which only marriage with a woman like Myra could bring back. He says he is now what is known as an "elemental" and without Myra's love his soul must die when his body dies. Myra is sorry and replaces the ring. Varney departs. Dr. Alden is in his laboratory testing Dr. Abrams' gyrograph for registering thought energy, but is interrupted by the entrance of a Miss Stowe, who comes with a letter of introduction from Professor Bert Reese. Dr. Alden tests her physical powers by means of the gyrograph and is pleased with the result. He receives a telephone message from the Maynard home which informs him that Myra has had another fainting spell. While his workmen hastily take the machine apart he calls a taxi and departs with his instruments and the young woman for the Maynard home. Meanwhile Varney again appeals to the Master for Myra's life to be spared in order that she may marry him. The Master answers, "Only if I fail, and in the and I never fail." Arriving at the Maynard home, Dr. Alden introduces Miss Stowe to Myra and her mother and remarks that Miss Stowe may be able to relieve Myra of much psychic work. He proceeds to set up the gyrograph and seats Miss Stowe before the machine, telling her to try not to think of anything as he desires to obtain the thought influence of someone else. The mechanical arrangements of the machine makes several photographs. Alden remarks that these photographs represent words but that he is unable to interpret what they mean. Myra, meanwhile, is watching with growing jealousy the young woman whom Alden has brought with him. During this scene the workmen have been unpacking one of the other boxes and Myra catches sight of a planchette board, which she immediately wants to try. Alden is agreeable and the machine spells out the following sentence: "Your heart must beat slower-slower-slower." Myra falls back, exhausted. Alden crosses quickly to her, makes one or two hypnotic passes and says, "No, your heart must beat faster-faster-faster." This completed, he proceeds to set up an invention of his own for the condensation of thought waves. It is called the electroscope. He shows Myra the delicate electroscope with its gold leaves close together. He circles the room holding this instrument in his hand and at a certain spot the gold leaves suddenly dilate, showing that he has found the direction of the desired thought waves. He then explains that he is going to collect these waves. He shows them a Leyden jar and tells them they must take great care not to touch it. During all this, the members of the Black Order are continuing their incantations before the swinging heart. That evening Arthur Varney calls upon Myra, and she tells him of Alden's discovery that somebody willed that her heart beat slower and slower. Varney is startled, but controls himself. Myra says that Alden has invented a machine that will fix the person who is doing it. She takes him to her bed chamber in order to show him Alden's machine. Accidentally Varney touches the Leyden jar, and receives a terrific electric shock. Myra telephones to Alden and tells him Varney has received a shock from his instrument. Alden says he is coming right over. Meanwhile Varney departs, goes directly to the Master and informs him that Alden has collected his thought energy and intends to hurl it back at him. Alden arrives at Myra's home and has her gaze into a crystal ball in hopes that she may see the person who is willing her destruction. She catches a glimpse of the Master, which disappears. The Master retires into his lead-lined chamber, where he is unable to find his Black Crystal and opens the door of his hiding place in order to look for it. Again Myra exclaims, "There he is." At this point Alden touches the strange machine. There appears a bright light and electric sparks seem to fly out from the instrument. The Master, just stepping out of the doorway of his hiding place, recoils as if from a blow, presses his hands over his heart and falls on the floor. Again Alden's science has outwitted the Black Arts.
Episode 10: "Levitation" Realizing that astral bodies of the Black Lodge members have lately disturbed Myra's sleep, Dr. Payson Alden arranges an astral alarm. In Myra's boudoir, he places a screen made of sulphite of calcium near her bed, which he connects by a system of wiring to a selenium cell. By its chemical properties this cell will not allow electricity to pass through it in the dark, but will in the light. Mrs. Maynard asks Dr. Alden what it has to do with the screen. Alden places selenium cell on the floor close to the screen. He then brings two wires from the window and indicates that he is going to connect them with the cell. He explains that if an astral body, by its peculiar qualities, makes the screen glow its light will fall on the selenium and a bell will ring in his laboratory. Having completed the apparatus, Alden departs for his laboratory, where he connects the other ends of the wires to an electric bell and an electric torch which he has rigged on the wall over his bed. While these preparations are in progress the Master of the Black Order is instructing Varney and other members in the occult art of levitation in the secret chamber. He commands one of the members to stretch full length on the floor while he hypnotizes four other members and compels their astrals to leave their natural forms. When everything is in readiness, the Master solemnly commands, "Place your astral hands on the brother's body and will that it be levitated into the air." This is done, and the body of the fifth member rises. As soon as the form is back upon the ground the Master snaps his fingers in front of the four hypnotized men, their astrals return to their real bodies and they awake. The Master then gives Varney instructions. That night Myra gives a dance, and during the course of the evening Arthur Varney steals away and clogs the telephone bells in order that the Master's scheme might have a greater chance of success. Returning to the Black Lodge, he informs the Master that everything is in readiness. The Master, in turn, commands him to guard his body and proceeds to hypnotize himself, sending his astral body into Myra's room in order that he may see for himself how the land lays. Returning, he assumes his natural form. He then gives final instructions to Varney, who departs with two members. The Master had not taken into consideration Alden's science, for, during the time at which his astral body had been in Myra's room, he had stepped in front of the calcium screen. The presence of this astral body had caused the screen to glow, the selenium had caught the disturbance and Alden had been aroused by the bell and the light in his room. Realizing that something is wrong, Alden rushes from the house at the time when Varney and the two members are approaching their destination, the Maynard home. In accordance with the Master's instructions Varney halts the machine in which he and the two members are driving a short distance from the house. He proceeds to hypnotize his companions, extracts their astral bodies and compels these spirits to go to Myra's bedroom and will that she be levitated out of the window. Varney, the chauffeur and another member sneak up to the house where they await the result. He commands the member to wait in a clump of bushes and tells him he will carry Myra's body to him. A strange phenomena happens in Myra's room, the astrals of the two members slowly cause Myra's body to rise from the bed and in the stillness of the night to float out of the window, where it starts to descend slowly to the ground. Varney is waiting, and quickly gathers the girl into his arms. He hurries to the bush where he left his companion and turns the form of Myra over to his supposed accomplice. He then returns quickly to the awaiting automobile, where he proceeds to bring back the astrals to their natural forms. At this point he makes the discovery that his companion has not returned with Myra and feels that something is wrong. They hurry back towards the Maynard house. Alden was the person to whom Varney had unwittingly turned over the form of Myra. Alden carries her to the door of her home, where she awakens. In response to his ring the butler and Mrs. Maynard appear. Alden starts to explain but is interrupted by the shot of a revolver. He hastily pushes Myra into the house, slams the door, and hiding behind a pillar, starts firing in return. Varney and his companions retreat to the car and drive off. Alden starts to pursue, but his pistol is empty and the chase hopeless.
Episode 11: "The Fire-Elemental" The Master summons before him one of the so-called "elemental" spirits. In this case, it is the Fire Elemental. He appears walking over the coals of a big fireplace, in a rather picturesque costume. The Master offers him a reward of blood if he will bring about the death of Myra, and gives him instructions how to do it. Meanwhile, Alden and Myra, with the aid of a professional medium, conducts a séance in Alden's laboratory. They hope to get a message from Haji, the ally of Alden, who was killed by the Black Order. The séance starts, and, just as they hear a pencil writing inside of a closed slate, their attention is distracted by the arrival of something behind the curtains of the medium's cabinet. This something comes out, and seems to be the spirit of the departed Haji. At length he delivers a message to the effect that Myra need have no fear, that the Master is dead, and the Black Order has been disbanded. Though Alden says spirit messages are not always reliable, Mrs. Maynard and Myra hail it with delight, and Myra thinks she need no longer be on her guard. Alter Mrs. Maynard and her daughter are gone, the medium returns to consciousness, and shows the peculiar symptoms, which cause Alden to investigate. They find the varnished floor marked by hot footsteps, and where the spirit placed his hands on the desk the varnish is burnt. And, finally, within the slate, is the message that the evil spirit of fire has appeared in the astral shell of Haji. Alden, alarmed, starts out to warn Myra, who has gone for a horseback ride along the lake. The Master learns of this, and sends all the Black Order out to capture her. While she dismounts from her horse to climb a cliff for a flower, one of the members steals her horse. Others pursue her. She manages to elude them for a while, and finally runs along the shore, past an old barge. She runs past this wrecked barge, and then returns to it through the water, thus concealing her footprints. In the barge she hides, while the Black Order men pass by in pursuit. But the fire elemental sets the barge on fire. Myra retreats behind a partition, and with water, fights the fire elemental until she is exhausted. Alden, meanwhile, rigs up a trap in his laboratory, and coaxes the fire elemental in there, and catches him. He releases the elemental on condition that he will let Myra alone. Then Alden calls police headquarters, and finds that the only fire reported is an old wrecked barge, burning on the shore. Alden gets the police to go with him to this barge and they break in, and Alden saves Myra. The fire elemental, smarting under Alden's handling in his laboratory, returns furiously to the Master and demands his blood sacrifice. The Master hasn't any at hand. The fire elemental, in his fury, seizes him with his hot hands, which blister him wherever they touch. The Master is compelled to provide the blood sacrifice from his own vein, which is merely shown by his taking a knife and preparing to open the vein.
Episode 12: "Elixir of Youth" An old and ugly man and woman, possessed by demon spirits, receive from the High Master a drop or two of the "Elixir of Youth." They are transformed into a handsome young man and young woman. In return for the Elixir, the man and the woman go out to destroy Myra, aided unwillingly by Varney. The woman pretends that she is a psychic, and calls on Alden to investigate he powers. Meanwhile Varney tells Myra that Alden is not true to her. To prove this Varney leads her within range, by field glasses, of Alden's window. The woman manages to get Alden into her arms near the window. Myra sees this, and is convinced for the time being that Alden is false to her. She faints. The man whose youth was renewed, and in whom is an infernal spirit, takes charge at this point, sends Varney away, and hypnotizes Myra. He commands her to meet him on the gray rocks at midnight. She revives, sees the handsome stranger with surprise, and is glad to have him escort her home. At midnight the post-hypnotic suggestion works. Myra gets out of bed, goes to the seashore, meets the handsome demon lover at the gray rocks, and with him, walks out on the reflection of the moon over the water. Meanwhile, Alden, whose suspicions have been aroused, awaits the return of the woman, for something she has left. When she does return, he forces her to become, in a moment, the old hag she was in the beginning of the episode. Before releasing the woman from the Pentagram, Alden forces the plot from her. He then dashes off, followed by his servant. They jump into a motorboat, equipped with a powerful searchlight. The Demon lover, after Myra has walked with him far from shore, wakes Myra from her sleepwalking trance, and demands that she yield herself to him. Myra refuses. He steps out of the moonlight, and lets go of Myra, who sinks into the water and is about to drown when Alden arrives in his motorboat. Alden rescues her.
Episode 13: "Witchcraft" While out horseback riding, Myra runs across an old woman, whom the neighborhood knows as a witch. Several boys have been teasing the unfortunate woman, but Myra drives them away. The witch in her gratitude shows Myra a glimpse of the fairies, after which she starts for home. The Master, hearing of this, forges a letter to Myra, from the old witch, inviting her to call that night, and see more fantastic fairies and other sights. Myra persuades Varney, whom the Master has ordered to be on hand for the purpose, to drive her out to the witch's cabin in his car. Near the cabin, Varney allows himself to be overpowered by the Black Order men, who are hiding outside. But he manages to push her into the cabin, and hand her pistol. She learns from the witch that it is all a plot of the Black Order. Myra defends the cabin with her pistol, shooting one of the Black Order men. They cease trying to break in, but set the cabin on fire. Myra, in a fainting state, manages to communicate with a sleeping telegraph operator, who, under her telepathic suggestion, sends a real telegram to Alden, begging for help. While the house burns, Alden and the police start to the rescue in the police motor patrol wagon. The witch has a little underground escape from her house. Through this, she and Myra escape. But it is not long enough to help them much, and they are observed crawling out into the woods, and promptly pursued by the Black Order men. In a little clump of dead trees, some of which are like forms of persons, they are surrounded. The old witch beglamours the pursuers, so that Myra looks to them like a birch log lying on the ground, and she, herself, like an old gnarled tree, in a sort of human shape. But the Black Order men are not to be fooled. They suspect the resemblance of the stump which the old witch has turned to, and cut it with a large knife. The stump turns into the old witch, and pleads for mercy. To save her own life, the witch points to Myra. The Black Order men are about to pounce on the birch log, which turns into Myra, when Alden and the police drive away the Black Order men, and rescue the girl.
Episode 14: "Suspended Animation" Myra is kidnapped and taken into a farmhouse, furnished, but not inhabited at the time. Varney and one of the men who helped in the kidnapping, revolt at the idea of murder, and pretend she is poisoned. This changing of the cups is done in an entirely new way. She pretends to be poisoned; the wicked woman who tries to poison her gets the real poison, discovers the substitution, follows Myra around the room, and is about to kill her, when the poison paralyzes her hand, and Myra escapes. But the Master is coming, so Varney and his friend have to hide the wicked woman, and place a clamp on Myra's pneumo-gastric nerve, hiding it under her hair, at the base of her skull. This pressure on the nerve and hypnotic passes, induce a state of suspended animation, which deceives the Master into thinking her dead. The Master orders her body sewn up in a bag, to be taken with him to the lodge. Varney and his friend manage to sew up the body of the other woman, but have to leave Myra in suspended animation. Alden, Mrs. Maynard, Alden's servant and the chauffeur are guided to the farmhouse by a blindfolded psychic, whose specialty is finding things. Arrived there, they are unable to make sure whether she is dead or alive. All Alden's skill fails to revive her. The psychic finder spells out the words "pneumo-gastric nerve." Alden then finds the clamp and revives Myra. The Master in his den opens the back to dispose of Myra's body, and to his dismay finds the body of the woman he hired. In a conflict with Varney's friend, the latter is killed.
Episode 15: "The Thought Monster" This episode deals with a Thought Monster, a sort of Psychic Frankenstein, created by the Black Order, and sent out to destroy both Myra and Alden. It finds them at a séance in Alden's laboratory. This Monster is a huge powerful creature. But his disposition is sort of like a child, in that he is easily distracted from his purpose. He starts to smash up things in the laboratory, and to kill Myra. Alden can't lick him, but gets him to turn his attention to him. Alden retreats into another room, hides and finds his pistol. The Monster, following, and bent on murder, sees his reflection in a mirror, and forgets what he is after. Alden points his gun, and orders him to hold up his hands. The Monster turns on him. Alden fires and hits the Monster, who is hurt, but not weakened by the bullet. Alden retreats into a third room and locks the door. The Monster's fist bursts through the panel. Alden shoots and the fist is withdrawn. The fist smashes through the other panel, and Alden sees there is no hope of overcoming the Monster by force. As a last resort, he sets the hypnotizing wheel in motion, and hides while the Monster tears down the door. The Monster sees the hypnotizing wheel, and can't resist examining it. The wheel hypnotizes him, and Alden steps out and makes hypnotic passes, and gets him under his control. He orders him to return and destroy the Master, who made him. The Monster goes off to do so, while Alden returns to the terrified woman. Meanwhile, the Master and Varney at the Black Order home, put on two robes with hoods, which cover them all but their faces. The robes are covered with glittering bits of glass or metal, and they bear on their left arm shields which are covered with a mirror. In their right hands, they hold a large electric flashlight of peculiar shape. These flashlights, the Master explains, give a destructive ray and the cloaks and shields are a protection against the deadly ray. The Master tells Varney that his plan is to destroy the Monster as soon as his work is done. The Monster, after bursting his way into the Main Council Chamber, by tearing the great wheel out by its roots, and killing the Black Order member on guard, reaches the Master's den, and overhears his death sentence. He catches Varney alone, hurls him the whole length of the room to his death, strips him of his cloak, shield and deadly light apparatus, puts them on, and advances on the Master, who sees him coming. The Master puts out the light. Then follows a duel in the dark, lit only by the brilliant light beams from the flashlights. At last, the Monster gets careless and receives the light in his face. He rushes in, before his death, and manages to give the Master a little. The Master pushes a switch, which summons his followers, who carry him to die in the prison chamber of the Vampire woman whom the Master has held prisoner, because she would not yield to his love.
END.
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By what name was The Mysteries of Myra (1916) officially released in Canada in English?
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