“Yes, I am one of the men engaged in this work,” replied Mr. G——.  Then, as he looked more closely at Mr. Ridley, he recognized him and saw at a glance his true condition.

“My dear sir,” said he, stepping forward and grasping his hand, “I am glad you have come here.”

Mr. Ridley looked at, or rather beyond, him in a startled way, and then drew back a few steps.  Mr. G——­saw him shiver and an expression of fear cross his face.  Turning to a man who sat writing at a desk, he called him by name, and with a single glance directed his attention to Mr. Ridley.  The man was by his side in a moment, and as Mr. Elliott did not fail to notice all on the alert.  He spoke to Mr. Ridley in a kind but firm voice, and drew him a little way toward an adjoining room, the door of which stood partly open.

“Do the best you can for this poor man,” said Mrs. Birtwell, now addressing Mr. G——.  “I will pay all that is required.  You know him, I see.”

“Yes, I know him well.  A sad case indeed.  You may be sure that what can be done will be done.”

At this moment Mr. Ridley gave a cry and a spring toward the door.  Glancing at him, Mrs. Birtwell saw that his countenance was distorted by terror.  Instantly two men came in from the adjoining room and quickly restrained him.  After two or three fruitless efforts to break away, he submitted to their control, and was immediately removed to another part of the building.

With white lips and trembling limbs Mrs. Birtwell stood a frightened spectator of the scene.  It was over in a moment, but it left her sick at heart.

“What will they do with him?” she asked, her voice husky and choking.

“All that his unhappy case requires,” replied Mr. G——.  “The man you saw go first to his side can pity him, for he has himself more than once passed through that awful conflict with the power of hell upon which our poor friend has now entered.  A year ago he came to this Home in a worse condition than Mr. Ridley begging us for God’s sake to take him in.  A few weeks saw him, to use sacred words, ‘clothed and in his right mind,’ and since then he has never gone back a single step.  Glad and grateful for his own rescue, he now devotes his life to the work of saving others.  In his hands Mr. Ridley will receive the gentlest treatment consistent with needed restraint.  He is better here than he could possibly be anywhere else; and when, as I trust in God the case may be, he comes out of this dreadful ordeal, he will find himself surrounded by friends and in the current of influences all leading him to make a new effort to reform his life.  Poor man!  You did not get him here a moment too soon.”

CHAPTER XXIV.

Mrs. Birtwell slept but little that night and in the brief periods of slumber that came to her she was disturbed by unquiet dreams.  The expression of Mr. Ridley’s face as the closing door shut it from her sight on the previous evening haunted her like the face of an accusing spectre.