Pierre-Alexis Ponson du Terrail

Convict breaks out of jail to undo aristocratic crimes involving a fortune in jewels, a servant wrongfully accused of theft, and a dispossessed young heiress.

In the 19th century, a thug from the slums of Paris pretends to be a young aristocrat, but is unmasked by a demi-mondaine, from the same background as him.

Pascal's life should have been normal and happy. A shepherd in his native Provence, he was a friendly young man who very naturally fell in love with Vivette, the daughter of a rich farmer. But that was without counting with Marcellin, a spiteful, jealous man who coveted Vivette and wanted her for himself.The traitor managed to have Pascal enrolled in Napoleon's army. Pascal came close to death in Russia but miraculously survived. And fifteen years later vengeance would be his. Reunited with Vivette and the child he had given her, time had come for happiness.

Super-detective muscle dude in tights vs a criminal mastermind who doses women with ugly serum to make them commit crimes.