Weekly Trinity journal., 1879-10-04

direction. Has God apythng to do with
thesc things, or is itaccident ? Itook the
place which was offered me, and went 20
work with renewed hoIe and energy. l
made vow against gambling, aud de
termined 70 recover all / had thrown
away. | saved every dollar possible
pinching myself in my living, and sup
plementing my liberal salary by literary
labors. NV savings had again run high
up in the thousands, and my gains were
steady. The Frazer River excitement
broke out. An old friend of mine came
to me and asked the loan of hundred
dollars 10 help him off TO the new mines.
told him he should have the money. and
that l would have it ready for him that
afternoon. After he left, the thought oc-
Cured to me that 500 was very poor
outfit for such an enterprise, and that he
ought to have more. Then the thought
was uggested-yes, sir, 1t was suggested
that ] mighttake the hundred dollars to
a faro bank and win another hundred to
place in the hands Of my friend. | was
| fully resolved to risk not cent beyond
this. The idea took possession OF my
mild, and when he came for the money
told him my plan, and proposed that he
accompany me to the gambling hell. He
was a free and easy sort OF fellow, and
readily assented. We went together, and
! after alternate successes and losses mt the
faro. bank, it ended in the usunl way /
lost the hundred dollars. | went home in
frenzy of anger aud sel!-ieproah. The
old passion was reused again. A wild
took hold upon me. / went night after
night, betting recklessy until not a dol.
lar was left. This happened last week.
Can you wonder that ! have concluded
there is no hope for as weaR fool as /
am 2"
lie paused n moment in his rapid recital,
pacing the floor, with his hand on the
hammer Of the pistol, which he had taken
up.
Now, sir, candidly, don't you think
that the best thing ! can do is 10 blow
out my brains ?" said he, cocking The
pistol ms he spoke.
The thought occurred to me that it was
no uncommon thing for the suicidal to
give way to the homicidal mania. The
man was evidently half mad. and ready
for tragedy. The pistol seemed almost
instinct with conscious evil intentions. II
n suicide or homicide was to end the
scene, preferred the former.
How old are you ?" / asked, aiming
10 create diversion.
am 40" he answered, apparently
brought TO a little more recollection of
himself by the question.
" should think" continued, having
arrested his attention "that whatever
may have been your follies, and however
dark the future you have TO face, you
have too much manhood to sneak out Of
! life by the back door OF suicide"
The shot struck. An instantaneous
change passed over his countenance. -
Suicide appeared to him in new light
ms cowardly, not an heroic act. He
had been fascinated with the notion Of
having the curtain fall upon his career
amid the blaze of blue light and the
! glnmour OF romance and the dignity of
| tragedy, amid the wonder Of the crowd
and the tears of :he sentimental. That
was all gone-the suicide was but poor
creature, weak, as we'll as wicked He
was saved. He sank into II chair ms he
handed me the pistol, which / was very
glad indeed to get into my hands.
"Ynu should be ashamed of yourself
SIR" | continued "You are only forty.
five years old; you ARE in perfect health,
with almost n giants strength, classical
! education, extensive business experience,
and with knowledge Of the world gain
| ed by your very mistakes that should be
guarantee against the possibility OF
their repetitilion. A brave man should
never give up the battles-the bravest
men never give up"
"Give me the pistol" he said quietly;
"you need not be afraid to trust me with
it, The devil has left mo agnin. Per.
nit me to thank you. Good morning. :"
| did hear from him again. the dew il
seemed indeed to have left him. He
went to British Columbia, where he pros
pered in business aud got rich, became II
| pillar in the church ot which his father
was one of the great lights. and commit
led no. suicide, but matrimony. marry.
ing II sweet and cultured English girl,
who thinks her tall Yankee husband the
handsomest and nobest of men.