$filename = 'users.txt'

        # Create a new hash
        $users = Hash.new

        # Open and read the contents into the hash
        def load
            # Create a new file if it does not exist
            unless File.exist? $filename
                # Open and immedietly  close it (the reason for the block)
                File.open($filename, 'w') {}
            end
            # Open the file and iterate over each line
            File.open($filename, 'r') do |file|
                # Add all of the pairs to the hash
                while (line = file.gets)
                    user, rank, userpassword = line.split
                        $users[user] = { :rank => rank, :password => userpassword }
                        end
            end
        end

        # Write the contents of the hash to a file
        def save
            File.open($filename, 'w') do |file|
                $users.each do |user, rank, userpassword|
                    file.puts("#{user} #{rank} #{userpassword}")
                end
            end
        end

        # Remove a user
        def remove(nick)
            $users.delete nick
        end

        # Add a new user to the hash if not already registered
        def register(nick, userpassword)
            puts "Received !register from #{nick}"
            if $users.key? nick
                send "PRIVMSG #{nick} :You are already registered!"

            else
                if !userpassword
                    send "PRIVMSG #{nick} :Correct syntax is: !register <password>"
                else
                    $users[nick] ||= {}
                    $users[nick][:rank] = 1
                    $users[nick][:password] = userpassword
                    send "PRIVMSG #{nick} :You have successfully registered!"
                end
            end
        end

        # Get a users rank
        def rank(nick)
            puts "Received !rank from #{nick}"
            if $users.key? nick
                send "PRIVMSG #{nick} :#{$users[:rank]}"
            else
                send "PRIVMSG #{nick} :You are not registered!"
            end
        end