The Man with a Cloak

A young French woman, Madeline Minot, lands in New York in 1848 with a mission: to locate the wealthy, rakish Charles Thevenet. She is turned away at the door by his housekeeper Lorna Bounty, and by others who doubt her claim. Undeterred, she presents Charles with a letter of introduction from his only grandson, Paul, who is a romantic revolutionary in need of funds.

Charles immediately suspects Madeline's real purpose: money for the revolutionary cause in France. He is a wealthy, dissipated rake who counts on his fortune, not strangers, for his comfort. Lorna, along with hulking Martin and Mrs. Flynn, is waiting for him to die and share in the fortune.

Madeline finds an ally in Dupin, a heavy-drinking impoverished poet. Together they have the medicine checked by a pharmacist, who reports that there is no poison, only sugar water substituted for the prescribed dose. The discovery deepens the mystery and eagerness to safeguard Charles's life and fortune.

Dupin grows acquainted with Lorna Bounty and realizes she is not just Charles's housekeeper but a former actress who gained fame with Charles's backing. His new awareness casts suspicion on her motives and complicates Madeline's mission. The web of loyalties becomes tangled as the household circles Charles's fortune.

Madeline's persistence wears down the old rake, who begins to soften toward her and his independence from his scheming retinue. He summons his lawyer Durand and makes changes to his will, signaling a new disposition toward Paul and a possible break with his current companions. The moment marks a turning point in how the fortune will be allocated.

Charles secretly pours arsenic into his own drink, intending to end his life when the time is right. A stroke then paralyzes him, leaving him with only partial control of his face. He watches in frustration as Durand drinks the branded poison instead of him, sealing his fate.

The dying man's will is snatched away by his pet raven and secreted in the fireplace, away from prying eyes. Before dying, he clumsily attempts to pass the will's location to Dupin, using only the movement of his eyes. The room becomes a game of clues rather than a will, and the whereabouts grow mysterious.

Following Charles's funeral, Lorna, Martin, and Mrs. Flynn scour the house for the new will, hoping to find it before Dupin can. Their search is frantic but ultimately fruitless, leaving the field open to Dupin's surprising insight. The power of the will shifts in the shadows of mourning.

Dupin proves more perceptive than his rivals, decoding the clues left by the old man and locating the document. He must fight Martin off to escape with the will, demonstrating his willingness to risk life for truth and justice. The moment is tense and decisive as the document changes hands.

When the will is read, it reveals that Paul's line inherits the bulk of the money, while Lorna, Martin, and Mrs. Flynn are left only the house. The scheme that surrounded Charles's fortune collapses, and a new balance is established. The revelation resolves the principal conflict of the film.

Madeline goes to thank Dupin for his help, but learns he has already left the scene. Flaherty, Dupin's generous bartender, reveals there is only an IOU for a large bar bill, along with a verse about Annabel Lee and Dupin's signature. The clue hints at Dupin's true identity and his enduring poet's spirit.

In a final twist, the IOU and the accompanying poem reveal Dupin's real name: Edgar Allan Poe. The revelation reframes the pursuit and ties Madeline's tale into Poe's literary legend. The film closes with a nod to Poe's enduring legacy.