Scene summary from the
1903 Edison Catalogue: Showing a bed chamber. Eva lies sick upon a couch with St. Clare and Aunt Ophelia by her
side. Mrs. St. Clare enters and St. Clare tells her that Eva is
dying. Eva points toward the sky, telling her father that she is
going there, and falls back dead. Uncle Tom and Topsy, who were standing at
the foot of the cot, kneel in prayer while the angel appears, takes the
spirit of Eva and ascends.
Special Effects, 1903 Style: This scene includes an
attempt to use film magic to bring the transcendent realm into the
viewer's line of sight. Through the use of multiple exposures, the
audience sees an angel carrying off Eva's soul to heaven (it's actually a doll), while
her mere body remains bound to this world. In fact, the film shows the angel taking
up Eva's soul twice — presumably to give viewers an extra chance to catch
the effect.