THE SERIAL OF THE YEAR.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 306, 23 December 1912, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE SERIAL OF THE YEAR.

DRAMATIC STORY BT GREAT WRITER.

In the Supplement to the 'Star of Saturday next will appear one of the most exciting and dramatic novels of recent years. Eden Phillpatte, the writer, ie in the front rank of contemporary novelists, and "The Master of Merripit Farm" is the finest story of life and action that he lias written. To give you some idea of the -cope and possibilities of the novel the following brief outline is submitted: —

Dartmoor in the days of XapoleonS wars was just the spot that highwaymen would choo.-e for their risky but h'ighiy profitable operations, and two brothers. Charlie ami Crahb Spring, have succeeded in terrorising the whole countryside. The beautiful Sarah Rowland, courted by John Coole. a young farmer, and by Saul Copleston. the local innkeeper promises that she will marry the man who brines the '•Twins" to justice. Bot„ men are on their mettle, but Copleston is a braggart, while Coole is resourceful and ready-witted. They quarrel, and Coole, after Saul has attacked him unwarrantably, vows he will make him sue for pardon. A little later f oole falls in with the dreaded highwaymen, and offers to lead them where they may make a good haul. Accordingly they agree to go under his guidance to the Fox and .Hounds. Coole masking himself like his companions. Copleston, iv spite of his vaunted courage and undoubted strength, shows himself an arrant coward, and pleads only that his life may •be spared. After heaping indignities and taunts on the wretched landlord, and robbing the house of all worth having, the highwaymen ride away well pleased with what Coole has done. One day as Sarah Rowland is driving to market with her grandfather. Charlie Spring, meeting them, calls on them to stand and deliver, and on Sarah's spirited refusal he kisses her. She pours out her indignation to Copleston, who tells how the "Twins" visited him. but according to his account he performed prodigies of valour against six men who overpowered and bound him. Coole. who has discovered the highwaymen's hiding place, once more suggests to them a likely place for plunder, this being his own farm. In making his plan he calls upon Christina, Sarah's younger sister, to help him. When he comes with the highwaymen she is to play the part of the farmer's wife, and to show them with much reluctance where the valuables are ' stored in a cellar. Once the two men j are down there Coole hopes to make them prisoners and send for the officers lof justice. The plan works well, but I Charlie Spring escapes and Coole rides frantically after him, only to see him shot by his own watchman. Crabb shoots himself in the cellar, so that Sarah sees there is no longer excuse for refusing Coole her hand, though she knows that Copleston has her heart. But Coole in his dealings with Christina has seen her greater worth, and is more than ready to marry her in place of Sarah, whom he hands over to the humbled Copleston. If you read the opening instalment of this story you will be certain to contra ue it. REMEMBER. I Publication Commence* Dec. 28.