Home-Keeping Hearts (1921)

Diver Robert Colton is imprisoned for 10 years when found guilty, on circumstantial evidence, of causing the death of his employer; and his motherless daughter, Mary, is brought up by Squire Tead and his stern wife. When freed, Colton obtains work in Tead's creamery. There he discovers that Tead is bribing the cow inspector to condemn his best cattle so that a local plan for a cooperative creamery will be defeated. Colton discovers also that Tead is misappropriating school funds. In spite of Tead's threat to reveal his past, Colton defeats Tead in the local election by uncovering his dealings. When Colton saves Tead from drowning in a milk vat, the squire has a change of heart. Robert's name is cleared, and he is free to court and marry Laurel Stewart, the schoolmistress, thus giving a home to his daughter.