Butterfly on AllMovie

Universal Studios star Laura LaPlante has a rather unsympathetic role in this drama, based on the novel by Kathleen Norris. Hillary Collier (Ruth Clifford) promises her dying mother that she will give her sister, Dora (LaPlante), every chance to develop her skills as a violinist. She goes to work as a stenographer so that Dora can have a musical education. Dora's anything but grateful, however; she takes advantage of Hillary's unselfishness. She even marries Craig Spaulding (Kenneth Harlan), the man her sister loves. Then both women fall in love with eccentric musical genius Konrad Kronski (Norman Kerry). Doris decides she must leave her husband to be with him, but this time Hillary refuses to let go of the man she wants. It looks like this will cause a bitter row between the sisters, but Spaulding finally makes Dora see the light. Hillary and Kronski are then able to consummate their romance.