The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-09-01

~ have told you only the sad and
solemn truth" was Martins answer ''apd
II l had accepted your invitation, l might
now be lying at a depth of misery and
degradation, the bare thought Of which
makes me~ shuddIr!"
The gentleman stood for a little while
So if stunned.
"This is ftightfal to think Of" he said,
and l saw him shiver.
ut is the last time" he added, after q
pause-"the last time that any man shall
go out of my house weaker and more de-
graded than when he came in. II my
offering of wine cause my brother to
offend, then will I not cffer it again while
the world stands"
"Ah, sir!' answered Martin, eff many,
many more Of our good citizens would so
resolve, hundreds of young men now
drifting out into the current of intemper-
ance, might be drawn back into safer
waters; and hundreds of others who are
striving to make head against il, saved
from destruction. / speak feelingly, for l
am one of those who are struggling for
life in this fatal current"
The way of safety for q man like Mar
tin, is very narrow and straight. If he
steps aside into any of the pleasant paths
that open On the right hand and on the
left, he is in the midst of peril. If he
grow confident in his own strength and
less dependent on that which is given
from above, the danger of falling becomes
imminent.
Martin fell again. Alas! that this
should have to be told.
"Was that Martin who passed us?"
aske! a friend with whom l was walking.
mo" l answered, in a positive voice
and yet, as / said the word my heart gave
q throb Of fear the man was 50 like him.
at was, 1 am sure. Poor wretch He
tries hard to reform; but that cursed ap-
petite is too much for him. I'm afraid
l turned back quickly aud without re.
Spouse, following the man we had passed.
Just as l came Up to him, he had stopped
at tie door of & drinking saloon, and was
holding a brief parley with awakened ap-
petite.
an Gods name, mol" l said, laying
my hand upon him.
He started in a frightened kind of way,
turning On III g haggard face and blood
shot eye. l drew my arm within his. and
led him away, passive as q child. Not a
word was spoken by either, until we were
in hrs office, which WAS not far distant,
and the door shut and locked. lie drop
ped into a chair, with a slight groan, his
head sinking pom his chest. lie was the
picture Of sbject wrCtchedness.
Gle leaYeth the ninety and nine that
are safely folded" 1 said, speaking in a
low, tender voice, "and gOeth out into
the wilderness to seek that which is
estray."
He did not answer.
"Yoa have looked to the strong for
strength, you have prayed t. Him for sue
cor, and He has come very near to you
and helped you. Because you again went
on. OF the fold, His love has not failed.
He has found you out in the wilderness
and brought you back to a place of safety.
Only trust in Him and all will be well.
lie is the friend that sticketh closer than a
brother. His is a love that never fails"
/ waited for him to reply, but hs kept
silence.
1T must have been no ordinary tempta-
ton" | said.
Still he was silent.
"Tbe enemy must have come on you
varo," L addai. after q brief pause.
1.-THE bolt must have fallen Gro you s~w
the warning fash"
al was taken at a disadvantage; out l
had time TO know my enemy, and should
have given battle in Gods name, instead
Of yielding like a craven"
Such was his reply. 1t gave me hope.
"Tell me the whole story" l said.
He raised-himself to a firmer attitude
and | saw swift lights beginning to flash
in his dull eyes.
"Wounded again in the house of a
friend" he replied.
"Wlat friends"
"One on whom God has laid the spc-
cial duty of saving human souls-our
minister"
"Not BIZ. l."
Eyes"
/ was COMPOUNDED.
al went to him for help" continued
Martin, " and instead of the counsel and
support | then so much needed, for my
old enemy, appetite, was gathering up his
strength, and setting his host in battle
array, | was tempted and betrayed! l
should have gone to God, and not TO man.
With his Divine Word in my thought,
and prayer in my heart, l should have
opposed the awakening enticement OF
desire, as | have 30 often done and pre-
vailed"
"Tell me how it happened" l said.
Gas 1 have just told you" he
replied, 81 was not feeling very
strong. That old restlessness Of which
| have spoken, had come back
upon me, and | knew what it meant. So
l said to my wife, Il think, Mary, that IN
step around and see Mr.. l.. I'd ike
9 slight shadow of concern in her face !;
for She has learned to know the signs of a
coming hour of darkness, when the pow
| els Of hell renew their direful assaults
| upon my soul. Do she answered: and l
went.
"I found Mr.. LIN his library, but
not alone. Mr.. E., the tanker, had
called in 10 bave q talk with the minister
| about a college for theological students,
in which both felt considerable interest.
Funds were wanted in order to give the
Institution the required efficiency; and
the ways and means of getting funds were
earnestly discussed by Mr.. L. and the
capitalist. After an hours talk, and the
arrangement OF a plan tor securing the
object in view, Mr.. L. rang a bell. To
the servant who came in, he said some
thing in q low voice, that / did not hear.
The servant retired, but came back in a
few minutes, bearing, to my surprise and
mOmentary CONSERVATION, atray with wine
and glasses. / saw a pleased light In the
bankers eyes, as they rested on the amber
colOred wine.
"'Some line, old sherry said Mr.. L,
sent me BIZ u friend abroad. l want you TO
taste it, And he filled the three glasses
that were on the tray, handing n TO his
guest and another to me. In myself-m my
Door, weak self!-I was not strong
enough to refuse. If l had looked up
to God, instantly, and prayed for
strength to do the right, strength would, |
know, have come. But / did not. took
ne glass, not meaning to drink. but to
gain time for thought. To have refused
would have been, J. hen felt, to set my
self up as a rebuker Oi these men and
that ] had not the courage TO do. No, L
did not mean To taste the wine. But, as
they lifted their glasses, drank and praised
the fruity juice, /, in a kind of mesnieric
lapse of rational self-control, raised mi
LII AA~AA