The Cocoon and the Butterfly (1914)

Two sisters, Clare and Anne Meredith, left destitute by the death of their father, go to the city to seek their livelihood. Clare secures a position in a department store and insists that her younger sister go to school. Here she meets a quiet young man, John Walton, working as a bookkeeper, and they form a strong friendship. Walton is the real owner of the store, although no one knows it. The manager of the store pays such unpleasant attention to Clare that after a time she is forced to resign. The need of money, however, compels her to reapply for another position, this time disguised as an old maid. In the meantime the little sister, wishing to pay her share of the household expenses, secures a position in the store as a model. The manager, St. Clair, at once pays assiduous attentions, which the young girl in her innocence accepts. In order to prove to her younger sister the falseness of her alleged admirer's character, Clare discards her disguise and pretends to accept his attentions. She succeeds admirably and soon St. Clair forgets the younger sister in pursuit of the older but more attractive one. John Walton, the young millionaire, has meanwhile been watching Clare's cleverness and has fallen in love with her. At his suggestion, to thoroughly convince her sister Anne as to St. Clair's perfidy, Clare accepts an invitation to dinner with the manager. By prearrangement Walton is on hand and when St. Clair becomes particularly obnoxious, Walton appears on the scene and discloses his real identity. He discharges St. Clair, assumes management of the store, proposes to Clare and sends the little sister back to school.

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Summary Details
GenresDrama Short
FilmmakersRole
Sydney Ayres Director
M.H. McKinstry Writer
CastRole
William Garwood
Vivian Rich
Jack Richardson
Afton Minear