string compare function

Hi, I'm having a problem with the stcmp() function. I have it comparing two string variables, $pword and $conf_pword, in a script. I know they both have values, but the result always compares to 1 when $pword is the first variable in the function, and -1 when $pword is the 2nd variable in the function, no matter what string values are in the variables. It seems like the function is comparing the literal name "$pword" and "$conf_pword", not their values. I am working on a Win98 machine, does anyone have any suggestions as to what I'm doing wrong? Any help would be greatly appreciated