Breakers Ahead (1918)

After young Ruth Bowmans mother dies the child is raised by Agatha Pixley and in time the girl falls in love with Agathas son Eric While Eric is at sea with Captain Scudder on a boat owned by Jim and Hiram Hawley a jealous villager spreads the tale that Ruth is illegitimate and the townspeople inevitably snub her Jim Hiram sets his boat on fire after its arrival in port so that he can collect insurance money and Ruth believing that Eric is on board tries to rescue him When Ruth and Eric escape safely Captain Scudder reveals that he Ruths longlost father was legally married to her mother which reestablishes Ruths good name and enables her to marry Eric From IMDB