Geo. Shelby is forced to sell his faithful old slave, Tom, and the infant son of Eliza Harris, in order to save his property from Haley, the slave trader and holder of the mortgage. Eliza hearing she is to be separated from her baby makes her escape to join her husband, George Harris, who with Vance, were well on their way to freedom. Learning of the departure, Haley immediately puts the hounds on her trail. The searching party arrives on the river bank in time to see Eliza leaping over the broken ice, upon which the dogs and men feared to tread. A second party is organized by lawyer Marks, but fails to capture the fugitive, who has been befriended by a kindly Quaker and has in the meantime joined her husband. During the sail to Haley's plantation Tom's attention from his Bible is attracted by the cry of "Overboard." Making a bold rush, this wonderful old man leaps into the water and brings little Eva St. Clair, who had wandered from her Aunt and fallen overboard, to safety.