The half-year's remittance came in due time, but Frank was quite unable to pay the £100 loan. Ruin was now staring him in the face. Tradesmen were clamorous, rent and wages were unpaid, and he was getting into a state of despair, when, to his great and unspeakable joy, a letter arrived one morning announcing that a legacy of £500, left him by an old lady--his godmother--would be paid into his account at the Adelaide Bank. Here was, indeed, a reprieve. In a transport of gratitude he threw himself on his knees, and gave thanks to God for this unlooked-for help. Then he lost not a moment, but rode at once into Adelaide, and went first to the bank, where he ascertained that the money had been paid in. Then he called on his creditors and discharged their bills. And last of all he went to Hubert Oliphant and repaid the loan of the £100, with the interest.
"Oh, Hubert," he said, "I can't tell you how thankful and grateful I feel for this relief. I was getting into hopeless difficulties. I was at my wits' end what to do. I felt like a miserable slave, just as if I was walking in irons; and now I could do nothing but shout all the way home, I feel so light and free!"
"I don't doubt it," said his friend. "But you were talking just now about being thankful. Won't you let it be more than mere words? Won't you show, dear Frank, that you really are grateful to God?"
"I have," replied the other. "I thanked God on my knees for his goodness as soon as I got the letter."
"I'm truly rejoiced to hear it. And now, what do you mean to _do_?"
"Does not your own conscience tell you, Frank?"
"Ah, I suppose you mean, give up the drink altogether. Well, I intend to do it--and at once too."
"And will you ask for strength where you know it can be found?"
"Yes," said Frank, grasping the other's hand warmly; "I promise you I will."
"And what about the pledge?" pursued Hubert, with a loving, entreating smile.
"Ah, that pledge! You can never let me rest about the pledge. I see you're afraid to trust me."
"Dear Frank, is there not a cause? Can you trust yourself?"
"Yes I think I can this time--especially if I pray for help."
"By the way," he said, "I was nearly forgetting that I have a little note for you from Mary, which came to-day in a letter to myself. Here it is."