Determined to, then, contrived to ring the cracked bell (4-4)
I believe the answer is:
hell-bent
'determined' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'then contrived to ring the cracked bell' is the wordplay.
'contrived' indicates an anagram.
'to ring' is an insertion indicator.
'the cracked' indicates an anagram.
'then' anagrammed gives 'hent'.
'bell' anagrammed gives 'llbe'.
'hent' placed around 'llbe' is 'HELL-BENT'.
'to' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for hell-bent that I've seen before include "Absolutely determined" , "Dead set" , "on path with good intentions" , "Determined at all costs" , "Dogged - persistent" .)