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

THE WAY OF ESCAPE.

Magazine, for the best Temperance Tale,
was awarded to the following story, by
unanimous vote of the Committee:
My heart ached for the wretched man,
His debauch was over; his nerves I'm.
strung; the normal sensibilities of a fire,
moral nature quickened, after a brief tor.
pOr, into most acute perceptions. Such a
haggard facel Such hopeless eyesl l sec
the picture now, as a haunting spectre.
Let the memory of this hour, so bur-
dened by pain and repentance, be as a wall
OF defence around you il al the future"
l said.
He looked at me drearily. Slowly shak-
ing his head, he replied:
such memories are no defense. NV
soul Is full of them. When temptation
a~ssails, they fall away, and l am at the
mercy OF mine enemy, who rushes in, Ike
= hungry wolf, to kill and to DESTROY"
is there no help for you, then ?" /
asked.
He shut his eyes and was very still. Ii
an artist could have seen his face then,
and faithfully caught its expression, those
felt such pity in their hearts as makes
the eyes grow dim with tears.
Il lear not" he answered, after a little
while, ia a hopeless kind Of way.
at cannot be-" | spoke confidently
and assuriDgly. mo man is given over
TO such utter ruin. There must be, and
there is, q way of escape from every
evil"
Except the evil of q bsd and degrad-
ing habit-that vile second nature, he an
sweIed, 1.-The steady current of which is
forever bearing him downward, down
ward, toward = storm wrecked ocean. He
may seize the oars In alarm, az / have
done scores of times, ana pull against the
current, making Roadway Tor q little while.
But human strength avails not here. The
arms grow weary, the spirit flags-it is
easier to drift than to row, and down the
current bears him again. 1t is the history
of thousands and tens of thousands, and l
an no exception"
1T cannot be" I answered. There is
help for every man, no matter how weak,
nor how beset by enemies; else Gods
word must fail"
1t does fail, l think" he answered, in
a gloomy, despairing kind OF way.
"Noi mol not" Quickly aud .mphati-
caliy did l reject his conclusion.
Have it as you will. l shall not argue
the point" He spoke almost listlessly.
Then, / say, there is help for every
man, no matter where he is or what he is.
We cannot fail so low tbat the Egerlast-
ing arms are not still beneath us, ready
to bear US upward to mountain heights OF
safety"
"Oh, that those arms would bear me
upward - almost eroaned my poorfIiend.
81 have no strength in myself. l cannot
climb. Unless lifted by another, l must
perish"
$50 bad as that ;" 7 said.
"Just go bad" he answered, slowly and
bitterly. This second nature / have
made .or myself, is my ruler. Reason,
conscience, the love OF my wife and chill
dren, Lay good reputation, pride, maaE-
ness-all human powers ana virtues arc
It's slave. And such 2 bondage
There was net a ray OF hope IN his
dTeary eyes.
You must try again." / said, cheerily.
"No man need BE- a slave"
Easily said" was ms impatient an
swer; while yet al men are slaves to
some habit from which they cannot
break"
Say, rather, from which they will not
break"
"You mock me with idle words."
"No; / speak only the words of truth
and soberness. There is human strength,
OIL y II AA III = - 49, 49,
lasting arms are always beneath and ready
To bear us up, if we will but lean upon
and trust them. Human strength is but
as a broken reed divine strength Is sure
rs God Himself. 1t never fails"
Thee came into his heavy eyes q fee
BILE play of light. The stern rejection that
cat upon his lips faded OF.
"In our W strength, nothing" l SAID
"In GOd strength. all"
saw his hands moving IN an uncertain
woy. Then they rested one against the
other. Suddenly they were Clasped To-
gctheT in q kind of Epasm, while lis eyes
flew upward in a wild, half-despairing ap-
peal to God, his lips grooming oat The
words
Save NE, or I am lostI'
Even now, memory gives back the thrill
tina swept along my nerves as MS cry
penetrated my ears.
Never from any human soul went up,
unheard, q prayer ike that. lie who
once and forever took upon Himself our
nature, and who was in all points tempted
a. we are, yet without sin, and who Is
touched always with the feeling of our in
FIRMLY, stands close beside Us, knocking
at the door OF our heart, that tie may come
in and help and save us. All he'll is pow
eTless before Him. Impure desires Hee
from His presence hk night birds when
the sun ar ses and the CORDS OF evil hab
Its are broken, as h withes that bound
the arms of Samson, at His hghtest touch
| waited for a little while without speak
ing, watching him Closely, TO see II nc
would rise into anything like confidence,
Gradually, the hard, responding look ladeo
from his -cOuntenance, and L saw q calm
-. I.,fn 10 chnU itself AnDllL IN
mouth.
"One more effort" he said, at last
speaking slowly, but very firmly: "Ont
effort more, but no in my " strength
l nave tried that too often, and Snail new
or try it again. / give up the struggle az
hopeless. Ii cd fails ne, ! am lost"
What a fearful crisis IL God tail H'
never fails lis never nearer 10 US, no
rom 10 help us, than at the homer
when, despairing of our own stfenglh, w
tarn to Him. The only danger lies In oul
not trusting Him fully
"But how shall / trust Him? How shal
I get a transfer of His strength To my Will
How ia il that His power can supplement
INV W, aknsss? / an away down In tn
valley of sin and shame how am 10 &c
ueon the mountains of purity, peace AM
saf.tyY VIII He bear ne up as on u
wings Of an eagleY or must cDmo an
climb, from day TO day, until l reach tn
summit
"You must climb" j said.
81 cannot. have no strength. nav
tried il a hundred times and failed. III
answered with returning doubt.
And will fail again, If you trust i
your own strength. But, with God-givel
strength, used as YOU own, the ascent
sure" :.
aAh, Iseer' Light broke all over hi
face. II see [ seel !" he repeated. Go
does not lift US out Of our sin n misery
but gives us divine strength, II we as
Him In ali sincerity, by which we iiitou'
selves"
Yes"
"It is very simple and clear" he drew
long breath of relief, ike one VINO LAS