Exhibit 10.9d

                   FOURTH AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

     THAT EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT made as of the 24th day of January, 1994, by and
between THE WISER OIL COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, and A. WAYNE RITTER (as
heretofore amended, the "Agreement") is hereby amended in the following respects
only:

     FIRST:  Section 1.02 of the Agreement is hereby amended by restatement in
     -----
its entirety to read as follows:

          1.02.  Term.  Subject to the terms and provisions of Article II
                 ----
     hereof, Employee's employment hereunder shall be extended and shall
     continue through the close of business on June 1, 2000; provided, however,
     that commencing on June 1, 1999 and on each day thereafter (such date and
     each day thereafter herein called a "Renewal Date"), Employee's employment
     hereunder shall be automatically extended so as to terminate at the close
     of business on the first anniversary of such Renewal Date; provided further
     that Employee may terminate his employment hereunder at any time for any
     reason.

     SECOND:  Article II of the Agreement is hereby amended to add a new Section
     ------
2.05 to the end thereof to read as follows:

          2.05.  Severance Payment.  If the Company terminates Employee's
                 -----------------
     employment hereunder other than pursuant to Sections 2.01 and 2.03 hereof,
     and Employee is not entitled to a payment under the provisions of Section
     1.05(a) hereof in connection with such termination, then the Company shall
     pay to Employee, within 30 days following such termination, as severance
     pay, an amount in cash equal to Employee's Base Salary at the time of his
     termination of employment.  Such severance pay shall be in addition to any
     compensation that the Company otherwise agrees to pay Employee in
     connection with any services rendered by Employee as a consultant or
     otherwise to the Company or its subsidiaries following the termination of
     his employment.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Amendment has been executed and is effective as of
June 1, 1999.
                                    A. WAYNE RITTER


                                    THE WISER OIL COMPANY



                                    By
                                      ----------------------------
                                       Name:
                                            ----------------------
                                       Title:
                                             ---------------------