nce at once that enticing stimulant
which had already worked him so much misery? Was it worth while letting
so paltry an indulgence separate for ever between himself and one whom
he so dearly loved? Why would he not pledge himself at once to total
abstinence? There was a time when he would have done so--that time when
he spoke on the subject to the rector, and made the attempt at his own
home. But now a spell seemed to hold him back. He would not or could
not see the necessity of relinquishing that which he had come to crave
and love more than his daily food.

"I must use it," he said to himself; "but there is no reason why I
should abuse it."

He wrote to Mary and told her so. He told her that he was now fully
alive to his own weakness, and that she might depend on his watchfulness
and moderation, imploring her to give him one, and but one, more trial.
He would watch, he would strive, he would pray to be strictly moderate.
She should never have cause to reproach him again.

She replied:--

"DEAR FRANK,--It would be cruelty in me were I to hold out any hope to
you that I can ever again be more to you than one who must always take
a deep interest in your welfare, and must feel truly grateful to you
for having saved her life. That you _mean_ now to be all that you
promise, I do not doubt; but that you really _will_ be so, I dare not
hope. You have been seen by me twice in such a condition as made me
shrink from you with terror and disgust. Were we to be married, and
you should be betrayed into excess, the first time, you would be
overwhelmed; the second time, you would be ashamed and pained; the
third time, you would feel it, but not very acutely. You would get
used, by degrees, to my witnessing such degradation; it would be
killing me, but it would be making less and less impression upon you.
I dare not run the terrible risk. I dare not join myself to you in a
bond which could never be severed, however aggravated might be my
misery and your sin. Oh, Frank, my heart is well nigh broken! I have
loved you, and do love you still. Let us be one in heaven, though we
never can be so here. Pray, oh, pray for grace to resist your
temptation! Ask to be made a true follower of the Lord Jesus, and you
will be guided aright, and we _shall_ meet then in that bright land
where all shall rejoice together who have, by grace, fought the fight
and won the victory here.--Sincerel