The Speck on the Wall (1914)
Pauline St. John, young yet worldly, beautiful and unscrupulous, scorns the elderly husband whom she has married for his money. St. John loves his beautiful young wife passionately. He realizes her dislike for him, and his heart is torn with emotions. He is always gentle and kind and exhibits his affection in every possible way. But she accepts his caresses coldly, and only awaits his departure from the house to telephone Rowland, the man in whose care she has really entrusted her heart. An appointment is made over the telephone for a meeting in the park. John Gaunt, the great detective, is a close friend of St. John. He takes a stroll through the park and happens upon Pauline St. John, seated on a bench, awaiting the arrival of Howland. Thinking that there is something unusual in her presence there. Gaunt secretes himself, and she is not aware of his proximity. Howland arrives in his automobile and after a tender greeting they enter the car and ride away. The detective is astounded to discover that his friend's wife is intimate with another man. He is filled with rage at the treachery of the false woman. Later in the day, St. John calls upon his friend, Gaunt, and invites him to attend a house party that evening at his home. The detective is prompted to inform his friend of the falseness of his wife, but thinking that it is best to permit developments to take their course, he defers giving the information. The detective attends the party that night at the house of St. John. He observes a secret meeting between the faithless wife and her lover, Howland, and follows them into the shrubbery, where his curiosity is greatly excited by the production of a long, black cigar which Howland gives to Pauline with apparent concern and careful instructions as to its disposition. There is something mysterious about the cigar, and John Gaunt is determined to find out all about it. The great detective is known to both Howland and Pauline, who show apparent nervousness because of his attendance at the party. Gaunt notes this, but is careful not to let them know that he has even noticed them. The detective is perplexed. He is convinced that the long, black cigar is an important factor in some supposed venture, which Pauline and her lover have in common. Pauline cautiously enters the library. In the corner is a steel safe, the doors of which are standing open. Unsuspicious, St. John does not think it necessary to close the doors of the safe against the possibility of an intrusion by his own wife. Pauline opens a drawer in the safe and takes out a document, the last will and testament of St. John. The look of covetousness indicates that she is thoroughly satisfied with the contents, that he has stated plainly that he leaves to her all his goods and possessions. Howland, her accomplice, has detained St. John in conversation, while Pauline investigates the safe. St. John is fatigued, and having courteously received the guests of himself and wife, he retires for a short rest to his comfortable lounging chair in the library. Pauline enters the library with forced gaiety and simulated affection, caresses him and apparently accidentally knocks the cigar which he is smoking from his mouth. With a gay laugh, she picks up the discarded cigar, throws it into the cuspidor and presents him with the black cigar which has been placed in her keeping by her villainous confederate. He lights it, and Pauline hurriedly escapes from the room. John Gaunt is perplexed at the eagerness with which both Howland and Pauline seek his company immediately after Pauline leaves the library. His suspicions are aroused, and with a grim expression on his face, he starts for the library. Just then there is the sound of a shot. In the library lies the body of St. John. Overcome by the horror of it all, Pauline shrieks and bestows caresses upon the dead form, and is assisted from the room by Gaunt, who demands that the excited guests shall not have the house until the arrival of the police. The police arrive and begin an investigation. The detective closes the library with a policeman on guard, and begins to make a hurried search. Underneath a newspaper by the window is a loaded revolver with one chamber empty. The detective investigates every part of the room. His eye detects a peculiar appearance on the wall. It is a tiny speck. With his glass, he investigates it more closely. With the evidence secured from the speck on the wall, he makes rapid deductions. In the presence of the guests whom St. John requested should be assembled, he dramatically relates the fact that the death of St. John had not been caused by a bullet from the revolver, but by a cigar loaded with some fatal explosive. "Pauline St. John and her lover, Howland, are his murderers," he says. The guilty pair endeavor to escape. They are quickly restrained and handcuffs are slipped upon the wrists of Howland. John Gaunt has captured the assassins of his friend.
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Domestic
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GenresDrama
Short
IMDbPro
See more details at IMDbPro
| Filmmakers | Role |
|---|---|
| Colin Campbell | Director |
| Colin Campbell | Writer |
| James Oliver Curwood | Writer |
| William Nicholas Selig | Producer |
| Cast | Role |
|---|---|
| Kathlyn Williams | |
| Frank Clark | |
| Wheeler Oakman | |
| Charles Clary |
