The Page Mystery

Alan Winthrop, the younger son of an English family, accepts the blame for his older brother's loss of five thousand pounds at cards, and is turned out of the house. This gives the young man the opportunity he desired, travel. In America, Ralph Cornwell, an unscrupulous young millionaire, asks Edward Strong, a bankrupt financier, for his daughter's hand in marriage, in exchange for which Cornwell will clear all of Strong's liabilities. His need for money determines Strong to influence his daughter. Edith tells Cornwell that it is to be a marriage of convenience. At the wedding supper Cornwell becomes intoxicated, and after the guests have departed Edith struggles to free herself from his embraces. She eludes him and leaves the house. Cornwell finds her note saying that she cannot live with him. Alan Winthrop, now in America, gets a position as caretaker of Cornwell's mountain lodge, and is told to engage a woman to help him. Cornwell impresses on Alan's mind that in the mountains he is known as "Colonel Page." Unable to get work Edith applies for a theatrical position. When the manager intimates that he will give her a position if she is "nice" to him, she tells him she would rather die. That night, while Alan is making his way to the railroad station, preparatory to leaving for Sylvia Lodge, he sees her jump off a pier. He rescues her. She tells him that she has nothing to live for, and he engages her to help him in the care of Sylvia Lodge. Cornwell has an "intimate friend" in Laura Le Moyle, who left her husband to go with him. At a dinner given by Cornwell, he pays marked attention to Kathleen Lorraine, thereby Incurring the jealousy of Mrs. Le Moyle. Alan and Edith reach the lodge, and Jaeger warns them that the lodge is haunted. Saul Potter, the half-crazed ex-caretaker of Sylvia Lodge, sees them coming, and realizes that Colonel Page must be coming back. He tells Jaeger that the chance to kill Page has now arrived. He stares through the window into Alan's cottage, and Edith is frightened. When Edith communicates her fears to Alan he gives her a revolver, telling her to use it in case of need. Going through the lodge to prepare it for Page's arrival, Alan comes across a boudoir, beautifully furnished. On a dressing table he sees a framed photograph of Edith. Page arrives with his guests, among whom is Mrs. Le Moyle and Kathleen Lorraine. He again neglects Mrs. Le Moyle and she warns him not to goad her too far. He calms her, tells her to go to her ro