A black envelope presents the hero, detective Harry Peel, who loses his fortune over the course of the story, with tasks. A mysterious criminal, car and motorcycle chases through the wintry Alps, and the blowing up of a bridge provide cinematic spectacle and opportunities for daredevil stunts.

Dr. Mabuse and his organization of criminals are in the process of completing their latest scheme, a theft of information that will allow Mabuse to make huge profits on the stock exchange. Afterwards, Mabuse disguises himself and attends the Folies Bergères show, where Cara Carozza, the main attraction of the show, passes him information on Mabuse's next intended victim, the young millionaire Edgar Hull. Mabuse then uses psychic manipulation to lure Hull into a card game where he loses heavily. When Police Commissioner von Wenk begins an investigation of this mysterious crime spree, he has little to go on, and he needs to find someone who can help him.

1922 film by F. W. Murnau

1917 film by Alexander Antalffy

1920 film directed by Ernst Lubitsch