Plot
An American going by the stage name of Maximus, "King of the Mind Readers", travels to England with his parents and his wife Rene to perform a music hall mind-reading act. During the act, Rene works as his assistant, using a secret code to help sell the illusion. However, when he sees a woman named Christine Shawn in the audience, and his act becomes reality. He is able to tell what is in a sealed letter without Rene's assistance.
Maximus does not think much of it, until he and Christine meet by chance on a train and he foresees an impending crash. He pulls the emergency cord to stop the train, but very few people believe him. He, his family and Christine disembark, and, minutes later, the train crashes. Christine tells her father, who owns a newspaper. He publishes the story, making Maximus famous.
Maximus realizes that his power only works when Christine is near. As they spend more time together, Christine falls in love with him and Rene becomes jealous. Maximus' mother believes that no good can come of this new gift, but Maximus pays little attention, enjoying his well-paid success.
Another of his well-publicized predictions comes true: a 100-to-1 long shot wins The Derby. He chooses to ignore his own prophecy of his mother's death; when it comes true, he is so distraught that he decides to follow her wishes and abandon his ability. He feels compelled to act, however, when he foresees a great mining disaster. However, he is unable to convince the mining company to evacuate the mine. When the disaster occurs, hundreds are killed and more are missing and presumed dead.
He is publicly accused of causing the accident and is brought to trial. The prosecution claims that Maximus himself caused both tragedies, by delaying the train and by panicking the miners into making a mistake. Maximus predicts in the courtroom that the missing miners will be found alive. When this becomes true, he is released. Maximus decides to give up his gift, and he and Rene slip away into obscurity.
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