Written for the Weekly Visiter.


RALPH STANLEY:
OR THE UNSIGNED PLEDGE.

TConcluded.l
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voice almost inaudible by sobs, implore him
to forsake the accursed cup. Mr.. Stanley
was by no means an unfeeling man, and his
love for his family and for Kate in particu-
lar, was strong and fervent; and at such
times the struggle between his better nature
and the demon that enslaved him, was ter
rible. His breast would heave with the
violence Of his feelings; and pushing her
gently aside he would, with voice husky
with emotion, bid her perform some little
office Of kindness for himself, while he sunk
into fit Of musing none of the most pleas
ing-if his appearance was an index to his
feelings. The working of the muscles of
his face told OF the great mental perturba-
ton; yet no permanent good seemed TO re-
suit from these inward conflicts. Some
times, indeed, he would refrain from drink
ing for a few days, but his habits had be-
come too firmly es,ablshed-the thraldom
had existed too long to be quickly or lightly
thrown off


During the progress of the temperance
reform he had been often urged to sign the
pledge, and thus at once escape from the
clutches of the fell destroyer. AT first he
had considered the whole affair puerile
affair, well enough, perhaps, for weak men
and silly women, and had therefore, inva-
riably refused. He was a man, too, who
prided himself greatly on the fact that he
always kept his word, that he rarely or ne
yer failed to perform, under any and all
circumstances, however inconvenient, a
promise he dad made and that he seldom
changed his mind or retracted any thing he
had said AT length one of his former as
sociates, a reformed inebriate, and now a
temperance lecturer, visited s., and Mr..
Stanley invited him 10 accept of his hospi-
iality while he remained in the village
This he consented 10 do, partly because he
wished to stop some time with his former
friend, and partly because he hoped to in
duce Mr. Stanley to abandon the use Of all
intoxicating liquors, as he himself had done.
Before this time Mr.. Stanley had become
convinced that unless some radical change
took place in his habits, the icy hand of
death would soon be laid upon him. He
was not blind to his danger but with him