The Clairvoyant

An American performer using the stage name Maximus travels with his parents and his wife Rene to England to perform a music hall mind-reading act. Rene assists with a secret code to sell the illusion. The family hopes for success and recognition on the tour.

During the act, Christine Shawn sits in the audience and Maximus's performance becomes reality. He tells what is in a sealed letter without Rene's help, blurring illusion and truth. The audience reacts with astonishment and confusion unfolds.

Maximus and Christine meet by chance on a train. He foresees an impending crash and persuades others to take action, pulling the emergency cord to stop the train. Few believe him at first, and his reputation hangs in the balance.

Maximus, his family, and Christine disembark just before the train crashes minutes later. The disaster validates his vision, though many still dismiss it as luck or illusion. The incident makes Maximus a household name and thrusts his abilities into the public eye.

Christine tells her father, who owns a newspaper, about the encounter and Maximus's abilities. He publishes the story, turning Maximus into a national sensation overnight. Public fascination with his prophecies grows as demand for his act increases.

Maximus realizes his power only works when Christine is near. As they spend more time together, his fame and wealth rise, and Rene watches the dynamic with growing unease. The dependence deepens, shaping every decision he makes.

Christine falls in love with Maximus as their act thrives. Rene's jealousy escalates as his role in the act becomes peripheral. Maximus remains focused on the performances rather than the personal tensions around him.

Maximus's mother warns that such gifts bring trouble and warns against trusting his abilities. Maximus dismisses the superstition and revels in his well-paid celebrity. Family tension grows as the gift changes their lives.

Another publicized prediction comes true when a 100-to-1 long shot wins The Derby. The victory cements Maximus's reputation as a genuine clairvoyant in the eyes of the public. He basks in the attention, even as doubts linger.

Maximus ignores his own prophecy of his mother's death, and when she dies as foretold he is distraught. He decides to abandon his gift and withdraw from the spotlight. He and Rene slip away into obscurity, hoping for a quieter life.

Despite stepping back, Maximus foresees a great mining disaster and tries to persuade the mining company to evacuate. His warnings are ignored, and the disaster unfolds with hundreds killed and many more missing.

Public opinion turns against him as the authorities accuse him of causing the tragedies by delaying the train and provoking the miners into panic. He is brought to trial to defend his gift and explain how his visions work. He asserts that his abilities are real and seeks to clear his name.

In the courtroom, Maximus predicts that the missing miners will be found alive, and the forecast comes true, leading to his release. The case vindicates some of his claims but leaves his public image divided. He exits the courtroom freer but changed by the ordeal.

Facing the consequences, Maximus decides to give up the gift entirely. He and Rene slip away to a life out of the spotlight. The story ends with them seeking anonymity and a quiet existence.