Hazelton is furious and disillusioned with the world of art. He paints masterpieces of sunlight he knows are of excellent quality, but critics continually deride his work and buyers overlook his pieces. One day, in a fit of rage and malice, he paints a dark, stormy piece that catapults him to fame. When Hazelton turns away from his artistic taste and depicts works of darkness, he's able to find some modicum of fame, but he can't abandon the beautiful sunny paintings of his heart entirely. One summer, he meets Raoul de Vilmarte, a dashing nobleman without a drop of artistic talent. The two decide to play a grim joke on the world of art - de Vilmarte will pretend Hazelton's unloved works are his own. Yet, he does so to great success. With the name of a nobleman signed upon them, Hazelton's hated sunny paintings become far more beloved than his darker paintings. A twisted partnership grows between the two men: de Vilmarte claims Hazelton's work and receives the adoration and respect he needs to honor his family, while Hazelton receives the money necessary to support his ailing wife. Both men grow to hate each other over the bitter years of their partnership, each brimming with jealousy. When war comes to their country, they become unified on the battlefield. Both are injured and find themselves in the same sick ward. De Vilmarte attempts to apologize to Hazelton and find a moment of friendship between the two. But his right hand is injured, and Hazelton is dying, ensuring the world will never know of their pact and Hazelton will forever go unacknowledged, the deception now impossible to reveal. Hazelton's last words are of anger as he slips into a tide of red blood and dies.