When an amount due on a mortgage has been paid or tendered to the mortgagee or person claiming under him before foreclosure of the mortgage, and the mortgagee or his assignee is out of the State and the mortgage is undischarged on the record, the mortgagor or person claiming under him may maintain a civil action for the redemption of the mortgaged premises, as provided in section 6304, or for the discharge of the mortgage. On notice of the pendency of the action, given by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where said premises are situated for 3 weeks successively, the last publication being 30 days before the time of hearing, or in such other way as the Superior Court orders, said court may decree a discharge of such mortgage. The record of such decree in the registry of deeds where said mortgage is recorded is evidence of such discharge.   [PL 1987, c. 667, §15 (AMD).]