gistfile1.html

HTML code:

<div id="myModal" class="modal hide fade">
    <div class="modal-header">
      <button class="close" data-dismiss="modal">&times;</button>
      <h3>Title</h3>
    </div>
    <div class="modal-body">            
        <div id="modalContent" style="display:none;">

        </div>
    </div>
    <div class="modal-footer">
      <a href="#" class="btn btn-info" data-dismiss="modal" >Close</a>
    </div>
</div>  
jQuery code:

$("a[data-toggle=modal]").click(function() 
{   
    var essay_id = $(this).attr('id');

    $.ajax({
        cache: false,
        type: 'POST',
        url: 'backend.php',
        data: 'EID='+essay_id,
        success: function(data) 
        {
            $('#myModal').show();
            $('#modalContent').show().html(data);
        }
    });
});