Mr. Shelby is a considerate master, but to pay off debts he must sell Tom to Haley, a slave trader. Eliza, Mrs. Shelby's servant, fearing that her son Harry will also be sold to Haley, escapes to Ohio taking Harry with her. St. Clare purchases Tom from Haley after Little Eva befriends the pious slave. Eva dies from an illness, and St. Clare decides to free Tom but is murdered before he can draw up the papers. Tom is sold to plantation owner Simon Legree.