Windstärke 9 (1924)

John W. Samson, a steel, weapons, and ammunition manufacturer, stipulated in his will that his daughter could inherit his company only if she married her cousin Flanaga, whom Samson had appointed as his successor as head of the Samson Works. But Mabel has no intention of marrying this coarse, boorish man, especially since she has long had her eye on the son of Mr. Patterson, an employee at her father’s company. Mabel would rather give up her considerable inheritance, so she takes off. The young woman boards a large passenger ship, leaving behind the home that has become so difficult for her. But Flanaga, as greedy for money as he is power-hungry, is determined not to miss out on the rich inheritance and follows the tycoon’s daughter in his own yacht. When a storm suddenly springs up, with winds reaching hurricane force (Beaufort wind force 9), the lovers and the unlikeable Flanaga are all in mortal danger. What no one knows is that Mabel’s escape from Flanaga would have been unnecessary: shortly before his death, Patterson had shown old Samson evidence that Flanaga was cheating the company director. John Samson had then changed his will, making Mabel his sole heir, with no conditions attached. The boss intended to take the will to the notary the next morning. Until then, he hid the document behind a mirror. But Samson died suddenly, and the new will Patterson had mentioned could not be found. While Flanaga pursues Mabel in all kinds of weather, young Patterson follows his beloved. Flanaga gets hold of Mabel and carries her off to a deserted island, where he has amassed a large supply of gunpowder. There, the villain intends to force her to marry him. Young Patterson, temporarily imprisoned by Flanaga, breaks free and rescues his Mabel from the villain’s clutches. Flanaga, in turn, is killed there in an explosion caused by a practice shoot by the warships present. The young lovers are reunited, and at last the latest, now valid will is found as well.