Part of the American Mutoscope & Biograph Co series of Living Pictures, where they on a simple black backdrop made the tableaux come to life depicting the scene. In this film (in one place the length is said to be 30 feet, in another 150 feet) the popular scene of St. Anthony being tempted by a temptress while praying is shown, with the temptress being in a full naked bodysuit, so borderline erotica. In this film, when Anthony reaches out for the young woman, she turns into a skeleton.

Another stunning subject, splendidly worked out, showing a beautiful young girl in full fleshings in the pose of the siren tempting the good monk. An exceedingly effective subject in every respect.

Source: Biograph & Mutoscope Picture Catalog

Photographed from a single camera position, the film shows a man seated at a desk turning the pages of a manuscript. He turns his head toward the camera and, by the use of stop-action photography, an unclothed woman appears before him. He gets up from where he has been sitting and moves toward her. She moves away from him to the edge of the stage and turns into a skeleton. When St. Anthony sees the skeleton, he falls to the floor.

Source: U.S. Library of Congress catalog