Intrigue

A series of 12 2-reel episodes, each a separate and unrelated story, relating the adventures of Christopher Race and his high-powered automobile, The Scarlet Runner. Each episode has a different cast, except for the continuing role of Earle Williams. Episode titles are: #1: The Car and His Majesty (1916); #2: The Nuremberg Watch (1916); #3: The Masked Ball (1916); #4: The Hidden Prince (1916); #5: The Jacobean House (1916); #6: The Mysterious Motor Car (1916); #7: The Red Whiskered Man (1916); #8: The Glove and the Ring (1916); #9: The Gold Cigarette Case (1916); #10: The Lost Girl (1916); #11: The Missing Chapter (1916); #12: The Car and the Girl (1916).—Anonymous

Episode 1: "The Car and His Majesty" Christopher Race, forced by his uncle to earn his own living for a change, buys Scarlet Runner, an exceptionally fine automobile. He at first tries hiring it out to private parties, but meets with no success. Finally, after a warning from his uncle that he must earn a stated sum by the end of the year or suffer disinheritance, he turns his car into a public conveyance and tours the streets. He finds the sovereign of a foreign power in a broken-down car and carries him to his destination. By means of his car, and its terrific speed, he is able to thwart a plot which nearly causes the death of Martin Linden, who is a friend of Christopher's and who is engaged to marry a relative of the latter's, Lady Ivy. He causes the destruction of the plotters and the happy reunion of the lovers, all by his red car and his ready wit. He earns the stated sum, and more, too, and then fares forth once more in search of further adventure.—Moving Picture World synopsis

Episode 2: "The Nuremberg Watch" Christopher's distinguished cousin, Sir Gordon Race, is defending Lady Mendel, on trial for the murder of her husband. On the morning of the last day of the trial, a veiled woman visits Christopher and gives him a package, saying it contains a gift for Sir Gordon which will bring him luck. She wants Christopher to take it for her. He consents and arrives at Sir Gordon's in time to meet his cousin's fiancée, Miss Collingwood, and her mother. When Christopher gets home again he finds a note warning him that the package contained a watch filled with a powerful explosive. He rushes back to Sir Gordon's, but finds him gone. However, he catches him before he enters the court. He learns that Sir Gordon has given the watch to his fiancée, who has gone hunting. Christopher promises to follow in Scarlet Runner to catch and warn them. He persuades Sir Gordon to remain and defend the woman on trial. The bomb mystery clearly verifies one suspicion in Sir Gordon's mind and he goes at the defense from another angle. He succeeds in breaking down the testimony of Miss Mendel, who has accused Lady Mendel, and in implicating her and her secretary, who, terrified by the fierce questioning, breaks down and confesses. Christopher overhauls the Collingwoods. He arrives at the house where they are stopping in time to see a burglar attempting to escape with the watch. The explosion comes and Christopher is injured. He recovers in time to share in the happy reunion when Sir Gordon arrives from his successful trial.—Moving Picture World synopsis

Episode 3: "The Masked Ball" Christopher Race is engaged to take in his Scarlet Runner Ponsonby Fitzgerald, an eccentric novelist, and a party of friends to a ball. The affair as planned by Fitzgerald is to end in a great joke, whereby his party will be awarded the prize for the most sensational entrance to the ball. Christopher looks forward to the adventure as a lark. He receives quite a shock when a revolver is given to him by Miss Dauvray of the party, with instructions to use it if necessary. He begins to suspect that all is not as it should be, and that Fitzgerald and his friends are after more than the prize. At a critical moment of the ball Christopher halts proceedings with a shot, and makes Fitzgerald return the jewels he has taken from the dancers in his act as a highwayman. Fitzgerald makes the best of the situation and the affair is passed off as a joke. Miss Dauvray afterwards thanks Christopher for what he has done and tells him something of her relations with Fitzgerald. Christopher becomes interested, whereupon the girl suddenly changes her manner and laughs, declaring the whole thing, after all, to be a joke.—Moving Picture World synopsis

Episode 4: "The Hidden Prince" Christopher receives a letter from Eloise Dauvray requesting him to call on her and meet the other of the only two real men she has ever known. He goes and meets Prince Mirko of Dalvania, who is planning to regain the usurped throne of his father. The prince has become secretly engaged to Eloise, and does not want the fact known, because Rudovois, the Dalvanian Ambassador, has promised the prince his aid provided the prince marry his daughter. Fitzgerald, an old enemy of Christopher and Eloise, learns of her engagement and sees a chance to profit by it. He tells Rudovois that the prince is about to marry Eloise and suggests that they make off with Mirko and hold him till Eloise is willing to give him up. The ambassador reluctantly agrees and the prince is kidnapped and hidden. Christopher begins to suspect who is responsible. He discovers that Peter, Mirko's brother, is in love with Valda, the ambassador's daughter. He suggests a plan whereby Peter and Valda elope, leaving no word. This affects Rudovois, who loves his daughter dearly, so that Christopher easily gets a confession from him. They go to the rescue in the Scarlet Runner, which by its superior power and speed, once again wins the day for its owner and his friends.—Moving Picture World synopsis