l. And as for the tradesmen, they must be content to be paid by
degrees. They'll take precious good care not to be losers in the end,
I'll warrant them."

"Dear Frank," said Hubert kindly, but very gravely, and laying his hand
affectionately on the other's shoulder, "you must bear with me if I
speak a little plainly to you--you must bear with me, indeed you must.
You know that you came out here hoping to redeem the past, and to return
home again a new character. You know what lies at the end of such a
hope fulfilled. Are you really trying to live the life you purposed to
live? There are very ugly rumours abroad. You seem to have nearly
forsaken old friends; and the new ones, if report says true, are such as
will only lead you to ruin. Oh, dear Frank, if you would only see
things in the right light--if you would only see your own weakness, and
seek strength in prayer in your Saviour's name--oh, surely you would
break off at once from your present ways and companions, and there might
be hope--oh yes, hope even yet."

Frank did not speak for some time. At last he said, in a stern, husky
voice,--

"Can you--or can you not--borrow the money for me?"

"If I could feel convinced," was the reply, "that you would at once
break off from your present associates, and that you would seriously set
about retrenching, I would undertake to procure for you the hundred
pounds you require--nay, I would make myself responsible for it."

Frank sat down, and buried his face in his hands.

"Oh, help me, Hubert," he cried, "and I will promise all you wish. I
will pay off old debts as far as possible, and will incur no new ones.
I will keep myself out of harm's way; and will take to old friends, if
they will receive me again. Can I say more?"

"Will you not become a genuine pledged abstainer? And will you not pray
for grace to keep your good resolution?"

"Well, as far as the total abstinence is concerned, I will think about
it."

"And will you not pray for strength?"

"Oh, of course--of course."

And Frank went off with a light heart, the present pressure being
removed. Hubert procured the money for him. And now for a time there
was a decided outward improvement. Frank was startled to find how
rapidly he was being brought, by his expensive habits, to the brink of
ruin. He tore himself, therefore, from his gay associates, and was
often a visitor at "The Rocks." But he did not give up the drink. He
contrived, by dex