Down to the Sea in Ships (1922 film)

Down to the Sea in Ships is a 1922 American silent romantic drama film about a 19thcentury Massachusetts whaling family. Directed by Elmer Clifton, the film stars William Walcott, Marguerite Courtot, and Clara Bow. The films title comes from the Book of Psalms in the Bible, Psalm 107, verses 2324.

One day, a childhood friend of Patiences, Allan Dexter Raymond McKee arrives in town, recently back from college. He and Patience renew their acquaintance and fall in love. He goes to ask Captain Morgan for permission to marry Patience, but Captain Morgan turns him out of the house, informing him that he is not a suitable husband for her because he is neither a Quaker nor a whaler.Meanwhile, Samuel Siggs J. Thornton Baston, an effeminate Chinese man masquerading as a white man, connives to steal Captain Morgans ships to transport African gold. He dresses up as a Quaker and acquires a position of authority in Morgans business by pretending to be an experienced whaler. After spying Morgans pretty daughter Patience, he also plans to finagle his way into marrying her. Learning of Dexters love for her, he has his fellow con artist Jake Finner Patrick Hartigan, fearless, lawless and godless, drug the young mans drink and has him kidnapped, tied up, and placed on the next outgoing whaling vessel, hoping never to see him again. Also on the ship is Dot, who has dressed as a boy and stowed away below deck. Because of their disappearance, it is rumored that Dexter and Dot joined the Oregon Wagon Train and have gone west together. ........

Source: Wikipedia