- Although aspiring artist Dick Heldar is devoted to his childhood sweetheart Maisie Wells, his ambition drives him to faraway places. He meets war correspondent Torpenhow at Port Said, and accompanies him into battle.
- As children, Dick Heldar and Maisie Wells are constant companions. The years go by, and Dick is a struggling artist, living in Port Said. An uprising occurs in Egypt, and Torpenhow, a war correspondent, arrives in Port Said. Because one of his staff artists is ill, Torpenhow makes an offer to Dick to go to the front with him. Dick accepts, and the two men become fast friends. While in the Sudan, Dick receives a saber wound. When peace comes, Torpenhow returns to England, but Dick remains in Port Said, still ashamed of his career failure. Constantly dreaming of Maisie, Dick resolves to go to London. When he arrives, he is amazed to discover his drawings of the fighting in the Sudan have made him famous. He is feted everywhere and one night, in a dense fog, he meets Maisie. Their youthful love is revived, and Dick establishes a studio near Torpenhow's residence. Returning home late one night, Torpenhow meets Bessie Broke, a street girl, to whom he offers the shelter of his house. Dick meets the girl and decides to use her as a model for a portrait. As the work progresses, Bessie's gratitude to Torpenhow turns to love, but Dick advises him to forget the girl, which makes Bessie furious. The portrait nears completion, but Dick's sight begins to fail. He learns he will become blind as a result of the wound he received in the Sudan. Maisie, visiting the studio during Dick's absence, meets Bessie. Bessie uses the opportunity to get even with Dick, making Maisie believe she is living with Dick. Dick works feverishly on the portrait before his sight is gone, and takes to drinking. But when it is complete, Bessie destroys it as an act of revenge. Meanwhile, Torpenhow promises Dick that Maisie will not learn of his blindness, and the war correspondent becomes his aide. Torpenhow also discovers Bessie's vandalism, but withholds that knowledge from Dick. World War I breaks out. Bessie returns to the studio to see Torpenhow for one last time. She sees Dick and learns that some of his friends have seen the mutilated portrait and told him it's wonderful. Bessie's heart softens, and she resolves to make restitution. She goes to Maisie and reveals the truth that Dick is blind. Maisie hurries to the studio, and relieves Torpenhow of the task of caring for Dick. At first, Dick refuses her help, not wanting Maisie to sacrifice herself to a blind man. But Maisie overrides his objections. Maisie then tells Dick what a wonderful portrait he has painted. Bessie, hearing this, feels she has been forgiven for her acts.
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By what name was The Light That Failed (1923) officially released in Canada in English?
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