#!/usr/bin/perl

my $add_user=$ssh->add_account(login=>"bob",uid=123);

# I want output printed (fail or success).
print "$add_user\n";
die if ($add_user !~ /success/);

sub add_account {
    .....
    if (condition) { return "success: user added"; }
    elsif (condition { return "failed: uid not unique"; }
    else { return "failed: unknown error";
}