The Soul Master (1917)

After his wife Arline takes their baby daughter Ruth and elopes with her old sweetheart, Robert Travers loses all faith in women. Years later, Travers, now known as the man without a soul, is the owner of a chain of department stores in which young Ruth Carroll is employed as a ribbon clerk. Finding himself strangely attracted to the girl, he takes a fatherly interest in her and offers Ruth a position in his office. This causes Laura Wilson, who has designs on Travers, to become jealous. When Travers, alarmed that he cares so much for Ruth, sends her back to the ribbon counter, Laura takes advantage of the situation and offers the girl a job as her companion. The girl leaves Travers a note of thanks and Travers, suspicious, follows her to Laura's, arriving in time to save her from the advances of the lecherous Monty Fitzburgh. Travers then notices a framed picture of Ruth and Arline and realizes that the ribbon clerk is his own daughter.