The Silent Lady (1917)

Little orphaned Kate lives happily in a New England lighthouse with its old keepers, Philemon, Peter, and Captain Bartholomew. When Kate falls sick, the prudish Philemon hires Miss Summerville, a live-in nurse, to care for her, but is concerned about possible gossip. To alleviate the situation, each keeper and Dr. Carlyle propose to Miss Summerville, but she rejects them all. After hearing that Captain Peyton, a lighthouse inspector, is scheduled to arrive, Miss Summerville makes sudden plans to depart without explanation. At the urging of Carlyle, she agrees to stay, but tries to avoid Peyton by turning off the lighthouse beacon. Concerned for the safety of the passing ships, Kate relights the beacon and Miss Summerville is forced to meet Peyton. When Philemon learns that Peyton and the nurse were once lovers, he demands her resignation, but Carlyle and Kate stoutly defend her honor. Touched by his devotion, Miss Summerville finally agrees to marry Carlyle.