The v1.2.6 (the v is implied in the use parameter) is totally different from the string "1.2.6".

You can't pass a string to the VERSION check via the indirect object parameter to use.

You might try passing it as a normal argument to the import function via the import list, instead.

Perhaps the module implements checking one way but not the other; after all, they are incompatible in what you need to have in $VERSION.

See also Ordered Comparison of Generalized Version Strings., which is similar to tye's code but taken to the limit.

—John