On the Banks of the Wabash (1923)

An inventor, David Hammond is the son of a ship's captain. He leaves his sweetheart, Lisbeth Bixler, and goes to the city to promote his invention. Lisbeth's father, an unsuccessful artist, deserts his family, secretly intending to commit suicide. When he fails to return, "Cap" Hammond protects Bixler's wife and children. David forgets Lisbeth until he returns to perfect his invention and finds that she still loves him. During a fire caused by a flooding of a nearby river, Lisbeth rescues David; and both are picked up by "Cap" Hammond, who has saved the whole village. Bixler returns, his courage renewed, and all are happily reunited.