The Hand of Peril
by Arthur Stringer
This is another marginal s.f. work; at least it is in its written form.
The story is about Federal Agent Kestner and his attempts to break up an international counterfeiting ring.
"Overlook "says the hero" appears to have an inexhaustible supply of scientific gadgets at this disposal". "Strickland" goes on to say that"...the counterfeiters also have a few inventions of their own: a tracing disc which can duplicate any form of currency and a device which can reproduce bank cashier's checks". Both their summaries seem to differ a bit from the book I just read.
SPOILERS
In novel form, the story involves Kestner chasing the crooks through Europe and back to the United States.
The gang's leader is Paul Lambert but its invaluable member is his daughter Maura Lambert. Maura possesses the "hand of peril" whose uncanny ability is to duplicate exactly any signature, paper currency, piece of art, etc. Thus the concern of the U.S. government; they believe that she has the ability to eventually topple the monetary system of any country at will.
Kestner manages to break up the counterfeiting operation in the States and along the way aids Maura in discovering that Lambert is not her real father after all. Realizing that she has unwilling been duped by false loyalty all of her life she still has no means to support herself. Fleeing to Europe, in attempt to finally right herself, she falls into the debt of one Herr Watchel. He also wants to exploit her. Meanwhile, ol' Kestner has quit his job as an agent and follows tries to track her down (he fell for her along the way as you can guess).
Watchel is defeated by Kestner but not before Maura's hand is severely injured. She can no longer counterfeit. Kestner and Maura live happily ever after.
The novel pretty much reads like a straight adventure story. I suspect the film played up the few gizmos that were present in the book. I found a few references to a dictograph, a tracing machine and a "fan-light projecting-mirror with its own camera obscura attachment". This last one may have inspired on of the film's most acclaimed scenes: director Maurice Tourneur, through special effects, allowed the audience to view the action in 9 different rooms at the same time (this shot as is the entire film are lost.)
Footnote: the story is copyright 1914. Our hero travels across the ocean on then still operable Lusitania.
written: 2/12/2002