If the defendant or his heirs are evicted by a better title from the land so abandoned to him, and they had notified the plaintiff or his heirs to aid them in their defense against such title, they, their executors or administrators may recover back the money so paid, with lawful interest, of said plaintiff or his representatives; but if no notice was given, the defendant, in an action against the original plaintiff to recover the price paid for the premises, may show that he was evicted by a title better than that of the plaintiff.