Plot

Fred Moore, notorious crook, bribes Jack Denham, a jeweler's clerk, to give information concerning the famous "Rajah" diamonds. He learns that the diamonds are to be dispatched the following day. Moore forces his sister, Clara, to assist in the projected robbery and she goes to the jewelry store of Friedman and Co., where, in the guise of a customer, she asks Friedman to show her the diamonds. Although the diamonds are already packed for delivery, he shows them to her, and while his back is turned, Clara takes the measurements of the box. She returns to her home and her brother proceeds to make an exact duplicate of the box in which the diamonds are packed, but while this is being done, Clara's perfume is accidentally upset over the box. Through the assistance of the jeweler's clerk, Fred Moore and his sister are enabled to catch the same train which carries the special messenger sent by the jeweler to deliver the diamonds and by a clever ruse, they exchange boxes with the messenger. The jeweler is notified by his customer that the box when received was empty and the jeweler seeks an interview with Detective Sharp. The detective and his assistant commence their investigations and while examining the jeweler's staff, the detective recognizes a former crook. This man is shadowed by the detective's assistant, who learns that the thieves are at a certain seaside town. The detective goes to the seashore and makes the acquaintance of a Countess Blenheim, who is none other than Clara Moore. Friendship ripens into love and the couple are much in each other's company. The detective is astounded upon discovering that the Countess uses a most peculiar perfume, traces of which he had already found on the duplicate jewel box and on a glove left in the jeweler's office after the visit of Clara Moore. The detective sends for the jeweler, who recognizes the Countess as the woman to whom he showed the diamonds, but the thieves receive a warning from their accomplice and they escape. Detective Sharp traces the thieves to their headquarters, where he surprises the crooks. He is forced to hand over his revolver, but before doing so, extracts from it the cartridges. Fred Moore opens a trap door through which the detective is precipitated to a cell below. The detective extracts the powder from the cartridges and blows the lock from the door of the cell and escapes in time to cling to the back of the automobile in which the thieves are escaping. While speeding along a lonely road, Clara recognizes the man she loves in a perilous position on the rear of the automobile and at the point of a revolver, stops the car. Fred Moore escapes and takes to a fast motor boat. After a daring and dangerous jump from a high bridge, the detective is picked up by a police patrol boat which starts in pursuit of Fred Moore. He is finally overtaken and at police headquarters the diamonds are found on him. Detective Sharp is complimented by the chief of police for his smart work, but he leaves headquarters with the knowledge that his duty is not yet fulfilled, he goes to the home of Clara Moore, and while his emotions are torn between love and duty. Clara points to a little green bottle on the table. With her last breath, she exhorts the unhappy man to remember that she died for the sake of the man she loved.—Moving Picture World synopsis