ity lead you to test your own poor strength in any combat with
the old appetite, for that would be an encounter full of peril. Trust
in God, and all will be safe. But remember that there is no real trust
in God without a life in harmony with his commandments. All-abiding
spiritual strength comes through obedience only."

Mr. Ridley listened with deep attention, and when the lady ceased
speaking said:

"Of myself I can do nothing. Long ago I saw that, and gave up the
struggle in despair. If help comes now, it must come from God. No power
but his can save me."

"Will you not, then, go to him?"

"How am I to go? What am I to do? What will God require of me?"

He spoke hurriedly and with the manner of one who felt himself in
imminent danger and looked anxiously for a way of escape.

"To do justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly before him; he requires
nothing more," was the calmly spoken reply.

A light broke into Mr. Ridley's face.

"You cannot be just and merciful if you touch the accursed thing, for
that would destroy your power to be so. To touch it, then, will be to
sin against God and hurt your neighbor. Just here, then, must your
religious life be in. For you to taste any kind of intoxicating drink
would be a sin. God cannot help you, unless you shun this evil as a sin
against him, and he will give you the power to shun it if, whenever you
feel the desire to drink, you resist that desire and pray for strength
by which to gain a victory.

"Every time you do this you will receive new spiritual strength, and be
so much nearer the ark of safety. So resisting day by day, always in a
humble acknowledgment that every good gift comes from a loving Father
in heaven, the time is not far distant when your feet will be on the
neck of the enemy that has ruled over you so long. God, even our God,
will surely bring you off conqueror."

Mr. Ridley on whose calmer face the light of a new confidence now
rested, drew his arm closely about Ethel, who was leaning against him,
and said:

"Take heart, darling. If God is for us, who shall be against us?
Henceforth I will trust in him."

Ethel put her arms about his neck, weeping silently. The matron and
lady manager went out and left them alone.

Mrs. Birtwell did not visit the Home on this morning to see how it
fared with Mr. Ridley as she had intended doing. The shadow of a great
evil had fallen upon her house. For some time she had seen its
approaches and felt the gath