Henry Sugar, a wealthy man with a penchant for gambling. One day, he discovers a doctor’s report which describes a strange patient from India who was able to see despite the fact that his eyes were sewn completely shut by doctors, and who used his strange abilities to conduct a very interesting – and incredibly lucrative – act for the circus. After discovering the method by which the doctors “removed” the Indian man’s sight, Henry conducts the procedure on himself, and eventually gives himself the power to see despite his sewn-shut eyes. With the help of his new powers, Henry undergoes a series of charades designed to make him a tremendous amount of money.