Her Father's Keeper (1917)

Claire Masters, motherless daughter of a powerful financier, is kept in the rut of society by her strong-willed father, who believes that women are out of place in the business world or any of the real activities of life. But Claire has inherited much of her father's initiative and strength of will, and finding the life of the society butterfly utterly empty, revolts. Her revolt is increased by the contents of a letter left for her by her mother in which Mrs. Masters warns her daughter that the financier needs guarding against himself, that in the heat of business battle there was always danger of his overstepping the bounds and doing something that would compromise the family's good name. Claire breaks with her obdurate father and goes out into the world to learn the business game. In this she is helped by Ralph Burnham, son of a rival house, and the one man who counts in Claire's life. At a crucial time in the affairs of Masters, Claire prepared by a thorough schooling, secures a position in the office of her own father, and during his absence manages under an assumed name to get herself appointed his private secretary. On his return he finds himself assisted by the daughter he had sworn never to speak to if she left the parental roof. The old man has a grim sense of humor, and ho lets the situation stand. Meanwhile Claire gets wind of just such a shady deal as her mother feared he would enter. He tries to break the house of Burnham, and is determined that no scruples shall stand in his way. Claire secures evidence that will convict her father in a court of law, and confronts him with it. He is forced to call off the deal, and gives his consent to the marriage that he had so strenuously forbidden.