Evening – Night – Morning 1920

Maud, portrayed by Gertrude Welcker, is romantically involved with Chester, played by Bruno Ziener, who is a wealthy millionaire known for lavishing her with money and luxurious gifts. Their relationship is fueled by Chester’s generosity, but Maud also shares her wealth with her brother, Brillburn, a character brought to life by Conrad Veidt, who is known for his dissolute lifestyle and questionable morals. She often sends some of her cash and valuable jewels—like a particularly prized pearl necklace—to her brother.

One day, Maud visits a jewelry shop and mentions to Brillburn about a stunning pearl necklace she wishes to possess. Excited, Brillburn instructs her to ask Chester for it, and Chester, eager to please her, purchases the necklace for her at her request. Chester then confides in his friend, the Prince, a gambler portrayed by [Carl von Balla], who is heavily in debt and known for his gambling exploits, about the expensive collar.

Later that night, the Prince sneaks into Chester’s house with the intent to steal the valuable necklace. In the process, he methodically breaks a vase, intentionally creating a disturbance to cover his tracks. Chester, alarmed, descends to investigate and discovers the intruder. Recognizing the location of the hidden necklace, the Prince quickly and silently watches Chester, who has fallen unconscious from a blow to the head. As Chester is incapacitated, the Prince attempts to stage a fake suicide, hanging Chester with a noose and typing a note to complete his plan. While smoking a cigarette, he also contemplates the situation, aware that the necklace is his target.

Meanwhile, Brillburn, unaware of the full events unfolding, enters Chester’s house in search of the necklace. As he does so, he spots Chester hanging and quickly intervenes, using his dagger to cut the noose and save Chester’s life, though he loses a button in the process. In a panic, Brillburn flees the scene just as Chester throws a lump of coal out of the window. Unluckily for Brillburn, the coal strikes him on the head, knocking him unconscious.

Maud wakes to find the house in chaos, with evidence of recent struggle and disorder, which prevents the Prince from leaving immediately. Detective Ward, played by [Otto Gebühr], is called to investigate the disturbance. His keen eye quickly notices Brillburn unconscious on the lawn and suspects that he may have assaulted Chester and stolen from him. As the detective digs deeper, he notices evidence left behind, including the butt of a costly cigarette belonging to the Prince. This detail raises suspicion that another man was involved in the robbery and intrusion.

In a series of interrogations, the Prince provides inconsistent explanations for his presence, trying to cover his tracks. Ultimately, the Prince’s own careless hiding of the necklace among a lump of coal in the coal room becomes his downfall. Detective Ward patiently waits for the real thief—or the thief’s accomplices—to reappear to claim the stolen goods. When finally confronted with the evidence, the Prince is arrested, bringing an end to the tangled web of theft, deception, and attempted murder.

Throughout the story, the narration illustrates a tale of greed, betrayal, and the dangerous pursuit of wealth, intertwined with moments of sudden violence and clever deception. The characters’ motives and actions create a richly layered crime drama that emphasizes the unpredictability of crime and the eventual triumph of justice.