Year: 1874

upon the correspondents of the bank
and having made preliminary arrange
ments, he found himself with q few
days upon his hands which he nigh
employ in pleasure. On the very even
ing of his arrival he had fallen in will
John Hatton and William Roberts, two
friends and classmates of earlier years
He was startled when he saw them
They were evidently going down hill
were drinking to excess. Yet they were
gentlemen, and Arthur joined them
He spent first and second night in
their company. On this night, for the
first time in his life, Arthur Gravely
drank to state of helpless stupefac.
ton. He awoke on the next day feeling
sad and humiliated. When he met his
companions in private parlor con.
nected with their sleeping apartments,
he found them with a bowl of no,
brandy between them. A spirit. OF
true friendliness came upon him when
he saw the marks of the destroyer Sc
deeply fixed upon the companions of his
boyhood. t.., 'Ht...t
"Boys," said he, "this won't do. You
are going down" ,


They regarded him curiously, and
asked him what he meant.



He told them what he meant. They
were in dangerous way


You forget, old boy" said Hatton,
"that You are in the same boat. If we
took passage before you, it is no less
sure that our route now is the same.
Don't preach, Arthur. Try bit of hot
brandy"


There are moments in lifetime
great crises-when the events of the
past flash before the mind as upon a
magic mirror-when man, in brief
instant. recalls every salient point of
his earthly career. Such moment was
the present to Arthur Gravely.


"Let it alone" he said solemnly.
81 tell you, Jack, and you, Will, that
you are going down. You can't last
much longer at this rate"


"Well," retorted Roberts, with an
attempt to laugh, sit appears to me
that what is sauce for the goose is sauce
for the gander. Hadn't you better try
to let it alone yourself ?'


eff will try it, will you try it % he
asked.


"Will you try it?" demanded Hutton.


81 will if you will join me"


"DoNE -


And they did it. They joined hands,
and promised one another that they
would be true and steadfast.


A new surprise was in store for Ar
thur Gravely. He found upon cutting
off his spirituous liquors that his body
weakened and that his hands shook as
though with palsy. He applied to a
physician for help. Fortunately he
applied to man of sense and under
standing.


"Can you give me something to
steady my nerves and restore my appe-
tite?" Arthur asked, after he had frank
ly stated his case.


"That shows You, my dear sir" said
the physician, "into what dangerous
state you had fallen. 1 can give you
something to steady your nerves, but it
would not help you in the end. Hyou
will be brave and true you will come
out all right in very few days"


Arthur said he should not 60 back.
He wanted no stimulent-no more of
that.


The trial was severe one, and it may
have been blessed thing for Arthur
Grayely that it was so. He felt more
heroism in the conquest, and he also
saw more clearly how deeply the evil
habit had become fixed upon him. On
the morning of the fourth day of his
trial he awoke with an appetite for food,
and was able to eat a hearty breakfast.
He was new Inan from this time forth.
The physician had given him certain
hygienic directions which he followed
implicitly, and thus he held fast upon
his health as it came back to him.


And on the fourth day Arthur saw
Hatton and Roberts. They had kept
the faith, and had been Unexpectedly
prospered. An excellent opening in
business had been presented and ac-
cepted.


On the fifth day the business which
had brought Gravely from home was
concluded, and he set out on his return.
And the last struggle had passed. His
nerves had become steady his appetite
had started up as if by magic his cheeks
had grown fair; and the white of his
eye was growing clear and pearly again.


He reached his own city in the morn 4
ing, and went first to the bank and gave
in return of his business. Mr.. Van
derlain had glanced quickly and eagerly
into his face when he first entered, and
wonderous change came upon the
bankers manner as the business pro-
oeeded. Something outside the busi-
ness in hand was evidently on his mind.


Arthur did not reach his home until
time for dinner but he had sent boy
from the bank with word that he should