The case of Mr. Ridley had not only startled and distressed him, but filled him with a painful concern lest other weak and tempted ones might have fallen through his unguarded utterance or been bereaved through his freedom.  The declaration of Paul came to him with a new force:  “Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no meat while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend;” and he resolved not only to abstain from wine hereafter in mixed companies, but to use his influence to discourage a social custom fraught, as he was now beginning to see, with the most disastrous consequences.

The deep concern felt for Mr. Ridley by Mr. Elliott and Mrs. Birtwell drew them oftener together now, and took them frequently to the Home for inebriates, in which both took a deep interest.  For over three weeks Mr. Ridley remained at the institution, its religious influences growing deeper and deeper every day.  He met there several men who had fallen from as high an estate as himself—­men of cultured intellect, force of character and large ability—­and a feeling of brotherhood grew up between them.  They helped and strengthened each other, entering into a league offensive and defensive, and pledging themselves to an undying antagonism toward every form of intemperance.

When Mr. Ridley returned to his home, he found it replete with many comforts not there when love and despair sent him forth to die, for aught he knew, amid nameless horrors.  An office had been rented for him, and Mr. Birtwell had a case of considerable importance to place in his hands.  It was a memorable occasion in the Court of Common Pleas when, with the old clear light in his eyes and bearing of conscious power, he stood among his former associates, and in the firm, ringing voice which had echoed there so many times before, made an argument for his client that held both court and jury almost spellbound for an hour.

CHAPTER XXVI.

The seed and the harvest are alike in quality.  Between cause and effect there is an unchanging and eternal relation.  Men never find grapes on thorns nor figs on thistles.

As an aggregate man, society has no escape from this law.  It must reap as it sows.  If its customs be safe and good, its members, so far as they are influenced by these customs, will be temperate, orderly and virtuous; but if its tone be depraved and its customs evil or dangerous, moral and physical ruin must; in too many sad cases be the inevitable result.

It is needless to press this view, for it is self-evident and no one calls it in question.  Its truth has daily and sorrowful confirmation in the wan faces and dreary eyes and wrecks of a once noble and promising manhood one meets at every turn.