THE CULPRIT.

Synopsis.

　　AH FONG, the pretty and young daughter of a veterinary surgeon named Kiang, is very intimate with Wong Sze, her neighbour’s wife. Through Wong, Ah Fong meets a dashing and handsome young man from a well-to-do family named Yoh, with whom Ah Fong falls in love at first sight. Due to the class barrier existed between the two families, Ah Fong consults Wong Sze in secret concerning the possibility of their marriage; unexpectedly the secret being leaded out to Fong, the man with whom Wong is carrying on an affair in back of her husband.

　　Late in the night and alone in her room, Ah Fong dreams of Yoh; her dream being awaken by a knock at the window, the visitor introducing himself as Yoh. Ah Fong opens the window; in complete darkness a figure darts into her room. A struggle ensues as Ah Fong resists the sudden and forcible embrace of the intrudor. The noises of their struggle wake up Ah Fong's mother which alerts the intrudor to flee in a hurry, but taking a portrait of Ah Fong with him. Though Ah Fong has taken the intrudor for Yoh, he is but Fong in disguise. When Fong returns to Wong Sze. he finds the portrait of Ah Fong missing. Suspecting that it being hidden by Wong Sze, Fong quarrels with Wong; thus his intention on Ah Fong is revealed to Wong in a fit of jealousy.

　　Kiang is a man of hot temper. While returning home late one night, he discovers a man hiding somewhere outside his house. In attempting to make a chase, he is overpowered. Ah Fong and her mother, both alerted from the house, dash to the scene, but find Kiang already lying breathless. Ah Fong finds her missing portrait on the ground. She is lead to believe that Yoh must be the murderer of her father.

　　When Ah Fong's conviction is made known to her mother, Yoh is arrested on the ground of circumstancial evidence, resulting in being sentenced to a death penalty, pending on the date to be scheduled for execution. The only one who is then assured of Yoh's innocence is his servant, who visits Ah Fong and explains. Ah Fong is then reminded of the big black scar on the man's arm, which she has spotted during her struggle with the man. Yoh's servant takes Ah Fong to interview Yoh in the prison, where she discovers that Yoh's arm is entirely without any scar. She is fully convinced of Yoh's innocence, awaken to the realization of her obligation to save Yoh.

　　Chao is working in the village's tea shop, and has been very obedient and nice to Kiang and his family. Ah Fong makes use of his connections and contact to locate the man with a black scar on his arm; incidently Fong is also a frequentor of the tea shop. Working in close cooperation with Chao, Fong is found as the real culprit. After a keen competition of wits and a hazardour chase, Fong is finally arrested and handed to authority for justice.

　　Yoh is declared innocent and set free. Both Ah Fong and Yoh meet outside the court room, feeling as if they were awaken from a dream, with a new life waiting ahead of them.

END