r. Will you come in?"

Mr. Martyn walked into the kitchen, glanced round in pleased surprise,
and took the chair that Jane proffered.

"Now, Mr. Watson, I have only heard of you this afternoon, but I believe
you're just the man we want."

"Glad to help you in any way I can, sir," answered Richard, in much
surprise.

"Well, we have taken a hall down the road, here, and we want to fill it
with working-men whose evenings are free; make it a comfortable, homely
place, you know, with books, and papers, and harmless amusements, and an
occasional lecture or address, with, perhaps, a little speechifying
among the men, as some of them know how to talk sensibly. We only
commenced last week, but we are getting on nicely, and intend, on Sunday
evenings, holding a lively service, with plenty of singing. Will you
join us?" asked Mr. Martyn.

"I should like to, sir; but don't talk of me being the one to help you,
for I want helping myself. Perhaps you don't know; but I've been going
down, down, these six years and more, and I'm fairly sick when I think
what a fool I've made of myself," said Richard, with drooping head.

"Come, my friend," answered Mr. Martyn, with his hand on Richard's
shoulder: "that's the first step towards becoming a wiser man. The
second is, to make up your mind that the past shall be retrieved as far
as that is possible, and that for your wife and children's sake you'll
turn over a new leaf."

"It's easy to talk, sir, excuse me; but you don't know what that means
for a poor man like me," said Richard.

"I do know something about it," replied Mr. Martyn; "it means, every
day, facing, like a man, the taunts and jeers of your fellow-workmen. It
means fighting with all the power you have left, and all the power that
God can give you, against the terrible cravings of the appetite for
strong drink which you have created for yourself. It means giving up any
pleasure which you have found in the excitement of the tap-room, and the
company of your so-called friends. But let me tell you what else it
means. It means holding up your head, like a being created in God's
image, as you go through life. It means retaining the love of your wife
and children, and once more rejoicing in home comforts and fireside
joys; and, above all, it means putting away from you the greatest and
most effectual hindrance to your walking in the narrow way, which leads
to the heavenly home and eternal life, in the presence of God."

Richar