Handlung

The Countess of Nantil, a wealthy American girl who had married a French nobleman, bought Jordan Castle and came to live there with her husband, daughter and younger sister, Sybil Dumont. The original owner had left a collection of books in great disorder and Miss Newcastle, secretary to the countess, was given the task of straightening them. Among the books she found an old manuscript giving directions as to the working of a certain "Canopy of Death." The secretary envied the countess and tried to win the count's love. Just as they were embracing the countess discovered them and ordered Miss Newcastle from the house. An hour later the countess was found dead. Although the cause of her death was a mystery the countess' sister, not satisfied with the work of the local police, called in the celebrated detective, Fred Upton. He posed as her fiancée, whom the members of her family had never met, thereby causing no suspicion. The secretary and the count continued their courtship, but as the countess had left the castle and practically all the money to her sister, it was necessary to make way with her, too. The secretary planned a clever scheme. She suggested taking Sybil's picture and very cleverly had her sit under the "Canopy of Death." Just as Sybil was to meet the same fate as the countess, the detective, who had previously discovered this horrible machine, pulled her from beneath it. Proof was then brought forward to show the secretary was responsible for the mysterious death of Countess Nantil.—Moving Picture World synopsis