- The defense attorney who was unable to obtain the acquittal of an innocent young man concocts a complicated and diabolical scheme to get revenge on the prosecutor.
- Pledging to avenge the execution of his brother, whom the District Attorney caused to be convicted, Richard Allen, a quaint individual who takes delight in concealing his identity by playing the role of a valet to an extravagant young man in New York, plots the downfall of the prosecutor and educates his cleverest female crook, "Three-Arm Fanny," with a view to having her fascinate and marry the District Attorney. The "Master Mind," under various disguises, informs the District Attorney that he will receive the four aces at certain intervals and when he receives the ace of spades, the end will be near. Richard Allen, known as the "Master Mind," conceives many diabolical plots looking forward to the ruination of his enemy, the District Attorney, and finally succeeds in arousing his anger and jealousy, and is about to crush the unsuspecting attorney when "Three-Arm Fanny," who has really fallen in love with her husband, pleads with the "Master Mind" to withdraw and the "Master Mind," who has come to love Fanny himself, does withdraw through love for her, and disappears, to be seen no more. The powerful gang of crooks, over which he held a formidable leadership, is disbanded and the District Attorney, not knowing that Fanny is a reformed crook, goes on in his own way, becomes governor of the state, and everything ends as it should.—Moving Picture World synopsis
- Synopsis taken from the Knoxville Journal Tribune, July 9. 1914. Knoxville, Tennessee (slightly edited)
The "Master Criminal" (Edmund Breese) pursues his career of uncompromising and cruel pressure toward his purposed crushing of the District Attorney (Monroe Salisbury) who has had the temerity to secure the conviction and execution for murder of none other than the master criminal's own brother (Fred Montague). Of course the interference of providence comes at the right moment in the staying of the criminal's hand against the District Attorney. Instead of right in the form of power to meet power, a moral relenting through the power of man's love for woman, controls the final act of vengeance which the Master Criminal has planned. The conviction of the brother for murder and the final weakening of the criminal are the only moral lessons in this drama, other than what the audience gains from seeing the devious life of the underworld crook, who barely lives by wits that would win him fame and honor if used for the benefit instead of against the laws of organized society.
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