Prudence, the Pirate (1916)

Prudence arrives from boarding school at the home of the aunt who intends to usher her into society. Prue balks at "debutting" and the only warmth she extends to Astorbilt, the season's "catch," and one of the house party guests, is in the form of some hot bouillon which she mischievously spills down his neck. The results convince Prue that the only one in the house with a sense of humor is Meeks, the butler, and a close friendship springs up between the two. He hints to her that he has been to sea and "seen things" and when pressed further confides that he was once a Pirate. All Meeks ever saw of the sea was as a cabin boy on a missionary ship, but he spins wild yarns of adventure and Prue, her romantic young nature fired, decides to become a bonny buccaneer. With much secrecy and aided by her entire summer's spending money a schooner is rented and christened the "Bucket of Blood." A crew of tramps is recruited and all is complete save for a chaperon and a deck scrubber. Hoisting her black flag her aunt's house-boat is attacked and the old lady and Astorbilt captured to fill those capacities. Astorbilt bribes the crew to mutiny and Prue finds herself a prisoner on her own ship. The rough and tumble life and the crisp salt air cracks Astorbilt's effeminate pink tea veneer and from beneath it the true manhood emerges. Gradually Prue finds her heart also becoming a captive to the changed individual. A fire breaks out and he rescues her at danger to himself. Plunging into the sea with his fair burden he swims to a bell buoy to wait the coming boat. There Prue, with her customary disregard for conventions, promises to lower the black flag and surrender her heart forever.