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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.5c

                    THIRD AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

     THAT EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT made as of the 1st day of July, 1991, by and
between THE WISER OIL COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, and ANDREW J. SHOUP, JR.
(as heretofore amended, the "Agreement") is hereby amended in the following
respects only:

     FIRST:  Section 1.03 of the Agreement is hereby amended to add a new
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sentence to the end thereof to read as follows:

     Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee hereby agrees to accept a
voluntary, temporary reduction in his Base Salary to a rate of $200,000 per
annum, with respect to the period commencing on January 1, 1999 and continuing
for at least 12 months thereafter.  At any time after the end of such 12-month
period, Employee may, by written notice to Wiser, reinstate Employee's Base
Salary to his annual rate of Base Salary in effect immediately prior to his
voluntary reduction in Base Salary.  Thereafter, Employee's Base Salary shall be
paid to him at the reinstated rate with respect to the period of his employment
that begins on the effective date of such reinstatement, subject to such
increases in Base Salary as may be determined from time to time by the Board.
The effective date of such reinstatement shall be the first day of the first pay
period following Wiser's receipt of Employee's notice of reinstatement or as
otherwise agreed to by the parties.

     SECOND:  Section 1.08 of the Agreement is hereby amended by restating
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subsection (a) thereof in its entirety to read as follows:

          (a)  If Employee's employment with Wiser is terminated by Wiser or by
     Employee for any reason (other than by Wiser for Cause or by reason of the
     death of Employee) within twelve months following a Change of Control of
     Wiser, Employee shall be paid, within 30 days following such termination,
     an amount in cash equal to the sum of:

               (i)  an amount equal to the product of (A) the amount equal to 12
          times the highest monthly base salary paid or payable, including any
          base salary that has been earned but deferred, to Employee by Wiser
          and its subsidiaries in respect of the 60-month period immediately
          preceding the month in which his employment terminated, multiplied by
          (B) three, plus

               (ii) the amount equal to the premium cost or other amount paid
          by Wiser during the one-year period preceding Employee's termination
          of employment to provide Employee with (A) life, health and disability
          insurance benefits, and (B) the use of an automobile for such year,
          plus
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              (iii)  the amount of the additional payment, if any, determined
          pursuant to Section 1.09.

     THIRD:   Section 1.08(b) is hereby amended to add a new paragraph (6) to 
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the end thereof to read as follows:

          (6) "Cause" shall mean a termination of Employee's employment pursuant
     to Section 2.03 for actual fraud or embezzlement by Employee in respect of
     Wiser or its subsidiaries.

     FOURTH:  Section 2.01 of the Agreement is hereby amended by restating the
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last sentence thereof in its entirety to read as follows:

          Upon delivery to Employee of such notice, together with payment of any
     Base Salary accrued to the date of termination under Section 1.03 hereof,
     Employee's employment and all obligations of Wiser under Article I hereof
     (other than its obligations, if any, under Sections 1.08 and 1.09) shall
     forthwith terminate.

     FIFTH:   Section 2.03 of the Agreement is hereby amended by restating the
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last sentence thereof in its entirety to read as follows:

          Upon such termination, Employee shall be entitled to any Base Salary
     accrued under Section 1.03 hereof and any award under Section 1.04 hereof
     previously earned by Employee but not paid, and all of Wiser's obligations
     under Article I hereof (other than its obligations, if any, under Sections
     1.08 and 1.09) shall forthwith terminate.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Amendment has been executed and is effective as of
the  1st day of January, 1999.


                                    ANDREW J. SHOUP, JR.
                                    THE WISER OIL COMPANY



                                    By
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                                       Name:
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                                       Title:
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