A Petticoat Pilot (1918)

When the third partner in their small Cape Cod trading business dies, Shad Gould and Zoeth Hamilton adopt his little daughter Mary-'Gusta. After several years, the two old salts decide that Mary should be properly educated and send her to an exclusive school in Boston, telling her that her father left her a large fortune. In Boston, Mary meets Crawford Smith, but their happiness together is threatened when she learns that he is the son of Edgar Fuller (alias Smith), a scoundrel who had run off with Zoeth's wife and stolen his money. Having discovered that Shad and Zoeth, in order to pay her bills, are nearing bankruptcy, Mary returns to Cape Cod and saves the business with her capable management. Crawford's father dies, leaving a letter of apology to Shad and Zoeth, whereupon the two young people become engaged.