The Ring and the Rajah

Captain Blayne is the English resident officer at the court of the Rajah of one of the native States of India. One day Blayne saves the Rajah from a murderous attack by a native fanatic. The Rajah, is about to kill the would-be assassin, when Blayne interferes and points out that the man is deranged. To show his gratitude to the man who saved him the Rajah places on Blayne's finger a valuable ring. Later the Rajah goes to England, and with Blayne in his entourage, visits the garrison to which Elayne's old regiment is attached. Edith, the Colonel's daughter, is the girl whose photograph Blayne has carried with him all through his service in India. When Edith is presented to the Rajah, Blayne is pleased that the Rajah should show so much interest in the girl. He does not dream that the first sight of Edith has filled the Rajah with a fierce desire to make her one of his wives. The Rajah, alone on the veranda, is the prey of jealous rage. The Rajah glances through the doorway to the ballroom. There stands Blayne, the man who is between him and his heart's desire. The Rajah turns to his body servant and tells him to make way with the person he sees. But Blayne and Edith have changed places, and Forak sees not Blayne but Edith. It is not for Forak to question his master. If his master wishes the girl killed, the command shall be obeyed. Forak follows Blayne and Edith when they stroll out through the garden. He creeps close when Blayne tells Edith of his love. Blayne places on his sweetheart's finger the ring the Rajah gave him; it is too large and it slips from her finger to the ground. The watchful Forak picks it up, and creeps away to his master's apartments, where he paints the inside of the ring with a powerful poison while the Rajah looks on. He then returns to the gardens and manages to toss the ring to a spot where Edith finds it. Blayne again slips the ring over her finger, and they set out on their return to the ballroom. Edith is overcome by the poison and is slowly sinking when the Rajah snatches off the ring. Edith revives. The Rajah, contrite, beseeches her to forgive him. She does not know that her strange seizure has been due to his murderous jealousy, but she has not forgotten the insult of his love-making. She draws away from him and goes into the ballroom with Blayne. The Rajah is overwhelmed by his emotions. He looks at the ring. Slowly he presses it over his own finger.