Old Captain Ward, who hates society, lives in the hulk of his ship with his granddaughter Sally, whom he prevents from meeting people. Because Sally's mother died in childbirth without revealing the name of Sally's father, the captain continually vows to avenge her death. When Sally finds Teddy, a lame dog, she smuggles it aboard, but it runs away, and she follows it to a beautiful house belonging to the famous Judge Gordon. Hugh Schuyler, the judge's young friend, and Sally fall in love. After the captain chases Hugh away, Sally attends the judge's party, dressed in fine clothes which the judge bought, but the captain finds her and takes her away. When the judge visits the captain and confirms his suspicion that Sally is his daughter, the captain attempts to kill him. Sally intercepts a blow, and awakens to find that the judge has proven that he secretly was married to her mother, but because of illness, had lost contact with her. Sally accepts Hugh's proposal, and they sail away with the judge, the captain, and Teddy and his family.—Pamela Short
In the hulk of his old ship, the "Sally Ann," live Captain Ward, "queer," and his granddaughter. Sally. Sally is the victim of the captain's tyrannical guardianship, the old man preventing her from mingling with anybody, the result of his hatred for society. Each day the captain renews an oath to avenge the death of Sally's mother, who never disclosed the name of Sally's father. In a neighboring summer colony live Mrs. Schuyler and her son, Hugh, who rebels against enforced social formalities, preferring to read law with his friend, Judge Gordon, who lives alone in a big house by the sea, his only companion a dog. One day the dog runs away and is spied by Sally, playing on the beach. Sally makes a secret friend of the dog, but he returns to his master, Sally pursuing. In the fine home of the judge, Sally sees her "dream castle." The Judge, struck by her beauty, presents the dog to her, urging her to call again. She does and Hugh, in whom she sees her "fairy prince." Friendship ripens into love, and one of their clandestine meetings is interrupted by the captain, who drives Hugh away. Sally accepts an invitation to attend a party with the Judge, and slips away from the ship while the captain is asleep. The Judge supplies her with her first pair of shoes and stockings and a beautiful gown. At the party she meets Hugh, who is amazed at her loveliness. Meanwhile, the captain discovers Sally's absence and finds her invitation. He goes after her, causing consternation by his infuriated entrance. He takes Sally home. The next day, the judge, having been impressed by the resemblance between the girl and the woman he secretly married and lost through a miscarriage of letters, goes to see the captain. He finds that his suspicions are correct and Sally is his own daughter. The captain attempts to kill the judge and Sally saves his life, but is stunned by an intercepted blow. She awakes in the arms of her own father, who shows a marriage certificate to the captain and is forgiven. Sally becomes mistress of a fine yacht and sails away with Hugh, her lover, the captain, and her father, and to insure a full sailing quota, the dog brings aboard his own family.
