Plot

A wealthy widower, whose life had been placid and uneventful, suddenly found himself involved in a sea of trouble. While walking along a lonely street one day, a stranger bumped into him, then abused and struck him. The widower struck back, and was horrified when his assailant fell to the ground, apparently lifeless. A doctor who came running up, pronounced the man dead and the unfortunate slayer fled in terror. For several days he remained trembling in his home, fearing that the police were on his track, but seemingly he was not suspected. Then one day the blow fell. A letter was handed to him signed by "the Princess Ozeb," a spiritualistic medium, who occupied a house not far from his. In this missive he was told that "a terrifying message concerning you comes from the spirit land." The medium wound up by commanding his presence at her circle and in fear and trembling he obeyed. While there the spirit of his victim appeared and accused him of his crime. When he returned to his home he was on the verge of prostration and ready to obey any and all commands that might come from the spirit land. Strange to say, the spirit did not call upon him to deliver himself to justice. The spirit, it seems, had dear ones still upon the earth and if their needs were supplied, justice would be satisfied. Finally a demand was made for $10,000, the money to be given the kindly Princess Ozeb, who would see that it reached its destination. This "the slayer" agreed to do, and on a certain evening appeared with the cash and handed it over, per instructions, while the spirit told him that all would be well. To soothe him, the medium summoned "the spirit of mercy and justice," but somehow her signals got crossed, for what really came out of the cabinet was a husky policeman. The widower's little son, it seems, did not believe in spirits, and aided by his friend, "the cop," had investigated with satisfactory results. The widower had not killed anybody, he had simply been the victim of a cunning plot. The swindlers were punished, while the big policeman, in addition to a reward, acquired the nickname of "the medium's nemesis."—Moving Picture World synopsis