The Bombay Buddha

• 1915
• Other, Drama, Suspense

Barnard Powers, with two servants, enters his library after being aroused by a noise, to find his safe rifled. He sees a figure disappear through the window. Powers' revolver shots evidently have no effect. Powers advises the Absolute Protection Company in the morning that his golden statue of Buddha, which he insured with them for $100,000, has been stolen. Duval, the company's investigator, is mystified by seeing a number of Hindoos lurking about Powers' house, and also by the actions of Powers and his wife, who signal to each other when talking to him. Duval discovers that the revolver which Powers had used in shooting at the burglars contained blank cartridges. Powers, while reading in his library, is spirited away by Duval and his men. Duval locks himself in Powers' bedroom. In the night, the leader of the Hindoos enters through the window. A fight takes place and the Hindoo escapes. Mrs. Powers, alarmed by the noise of the struggles, is told by Duval, who imitates Powers' voice, to see if the Buddha is safe. Duval, tracking her through the house, is astonished to see her fishing in the conservatory pool for the Buddha. Powers is returned to his seat in the library by the detectives and gradually recovers consciousness. He is told by his wife that the Buddha is still safe. After going to bed, Mrs. Powers, nervous and restless, cannot sleep. To reassure herself, she goes to her husband's room. The room is a wreck. Powers is gone. In the hands of the Hindoos, Powers tells them that the Buddha has been stolen. At the pistol point they force him to telephone to his wife, and tell her to come to their rooms. Mrs. Powers arrives and also is made a prisoner. Failing to force either prisoner to tell where they have hidden the Buddha. Powers is tortured. Mrs. Powers collapses under the racking strain of seeing a red hot iron about to burn out her husband's eyes, and confesses. Powers leads the Hindoos to his home and into the conservatory. Powers and his wife, grimly watched by the Hindoos, fish for the Buddha buried in the sand of the fountain. It is not there. Then the fountain figure jumps into life. Duval's wet hands slips manacles on the husband and wife's wrists, while from the adjoining rooms rush policemen who give savage battle to the Hindoos and finally beat them into submission. Then it comes to light that the Buddha, hidden by Mrs. Powers to effect the insurance swindle, had in turn been stolen from the Hindoos, who were wanted by the Bombay police for stealing it from the Scientific Institute in that city.