Before a séance, a spectator is instructed on how to make a device that will allow a spirit to answer a question. Later, during the séance, that spirit will answer the question asked by the medium.
The question:
"Spirit at what time did you depart from this world "
This wonderful work was recovered from an early pulp magic book written about 1895-1905 and published by The Wehman Brothers of New York. However, this effect is much older and may date to as early as 1850.