Schneller als der Tod (1925)

Harry Piel is supposed to fulfill a professional obligation and hand in a much-awaited novel manuscript to his publisher, Ricold. But Piel has no desire to do so (and apparently can’t think of anything worthwhile to write), so he prefers to amuse himself on the Riviera. There he meets the young widow Dagmar Parker. They get talking, and Harry learns that the beautiful woman’s recently deceased, fairly wealthy husband, Edward Parker, had asked her to look for the son he had once disowned. Piel promises to help. A young man does indeed come forward, claiming to be that son, but Harry Piel remains both suspicious and alert. Through Mrs. Parker’s companion, the sharp-witted detective discovers that the supposed son may even be the murderer of Parker’s husband, and is now also plotting to kill Dagmar so he can keep the entire inheritance for himself. Eventually, Piel learns how the villain intends to carry out his crime: he has built a bomb and attached it to the Parkers’ yacht. Harry then speeds toward the coast in his car with Mrs. Parker, at breathtaking speed, to avert the deadly danger lurking aboard the yacht. Harry jumps into a motorboat, swims the rest of the way to the vessel, climbs aboard, and dismantles the infernal device before it can explode. Harry Piel is faster than death and throws the bomb into the sea, where it explodes. Piel has now found not only a new love but also a splendid novel idea, which he can present to his publisher, Ricold, with a clear conscience.