The Return of Mary (1918)

Mary, the three-year-old daughter of John Denby, a railroad president, is kidnapped, and all trace of her is lost. Fourteen years elapse. There has been a terrible wreck on Denby's road and Graham, the engineer, is made the scapegoat. In spite of the fact that he merely obeyed orders, he is sent of to prison. Mary is returned to Denby, the kidnapper explaining that he stole her when his own little daughter was killed, but that now he feels he must return her to her parents. Denby's son, Jack, finds himself strangely attracted to the girl. He procures Graham's release, believing him to be blameless, and Mary tells that Graham is the man she has always known as "father." Graham confesses she is his daughter and that Mary was really kidnapped by his fireman in revenge for fancied wrongs. The child died and the confession enabled Graham to provide for Mary's care during his prison term. Denby is distracted at the idea of losing Mary, but young Jack solves the problem by marrying her.