"God's messenger to you, Edward Howard," said Dallas, fixing his keen eye upon him solemnly; "to you, Edward Howard, who have thrown away talents, hope, and health--who have blasted the heart of your wife, and beggared your suffering children. To you I am the messenger of your God--by me he offers health, and hope, and self-respect, and the regard of your fellow-men. You may heal the broken heart of your wife, and give back a father to your helpless children. Think of it, Howard: what if it were possible? Only suppose it. What would it be again to feel yourself a man, beloved and respected as you once were, with a happy home, a cheerful wife, and smiling little ones? Think how you could repay your poor wife for all her tears! What hinders you from gaining all this?" "Just what hindered the rich man in hell--'_between us there is a great gulf fixed_;' it lies between me and all that is good; my wife, my children, my hope of heaven, are all on the other side." "Ay, but this gulf can be passed: Howard, what _would you give_ to be a temperate man?" "What would I give?" said Howard. He thought for a moment, and burst into tears. "Ah, I see how it is," said Dallas; "you need a friend, and God has sent you one." "What _can_ you do for me, Mr. Dallas?" said Edward, in a tone of wonder at the confidence of his assurances. "I will tell you what I can do: I can take you to my house, and give you a room, and watch over you until the strongest temptations are past--I can give you business again. I can do _all_ for you that needs to be done, if you will give yourself to my care." "O God of mercy!" exclaimed the unhappy man, "is there hope for me? I cannot believe it possible; but take me where you choose--I will follow and obey." A few hours witnessed the transfer of the lost husband to one of the retired apartments in the elegant mansion of Dallas, where he found his anxious and grateful wife still stationed as his watchful guardian. Medical treatment, healthful exercise, useful employment, simple food, and pure water were connected with a personal supervision by Dallas, which, while gently and politely sustained, at first amounted to actual imprisonment. For a time the reaction from the sudden suspension of habitual stimulus was dreadful, and even with tears did the unhappy man entreat to be permitted to abandon the undertaking. But the resolute steadiness of Dallas and the tender entreaties of his wife prevailed. It is true that he might be said to be saved "so as by fire;" for a fever, and a long and fierce delirium, wasted him almost to the borders of the grave.