The Gold Spider (1908) Segundo de Chomón

This film was released in France under the french name, "L'araignée d'or," and directed by Segundo de Chomón. The film was tinted / hand-colored at the time. The film is rather unusual film.

The story is of a man who follows four cloaked, bearded Gnomes through the forest and sees them find a gold spider. Out of curiosity he follows them back to their cave home where he sees the golden spider spin a web that changes into gold coins.

After the Gnomes leave he goes into the cave and sees several large glass jars. In one is a fly constructing little tables, another a fly drawing and painting a pictures and another an ant making a butterfly out of fabric pieces. The man steals the gold spider and takes it back to his home where it spins him gold coins.

After a little while someone comes by his home, possibly looking for the spider, he looks out and wants them to leave which they do. But after returning to his table the spider is gone and his gold coins turn into scorpions. The Gnomes appear to him in a vision. Which I assume is to let him know they knew he took it and this is his punishment.