SOME RECENT FICTION

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3160, 11 August 1917, Page 11

SOME RECENT FICTION

The Girl Behind the Trail, In his latest novel, "The Girl Behind the Trail" (Cassell and Co., per S. and W. Mackay),'Mr. James Oliver Garwood takes as away back into the far northwest of Canada, to a wild region inhabited by "bad" Indians and worse white men. ' Thither proceeds David Eaine, a young* New Yorker, disillusioned of life in the great city, on a self-imposed quest of finding a yonng girl' whose photograph lio has picked up i in a railway car. lie does not know.that the girl is the long-lost daughter of the kindly old missioner who befriends him in the wilds, and that in seeking her out he is imperilling his own life. Tho story of Bane's adventures in tho Stickino country is packed with dramatic, even tragic experiences, but the young man has grit in hiin, and pulls through, as he well dosorves'to do, restoring a daughter to nor parents, and- incidentally finding a wife. Two of the most important characters in the story aro the. giant bear Tarn, Marge O'Doono's pet and staunch protector, and David's faithful wolf-hound, Baree. "Thoso who havo read Mr. Curwood's earlier stories need not be told how cleverly the author of "Kn7.au" can interpret animal psychology. A capital story, of unflagging vigour and interest. Jan and Her Job. When J say that "Jan and. Her Job," by Mrs. ,1. Allen Harker (John Murray, per WHilcombo and Tombs), is by the snme clever pen to which we owo those Mr. Wycherlc.v" and "Air. Whycherlcy'a Mr. AVycherley" and Mr. Wycherley's Wars," thoso who know those novels will need r no recommendation from me to make acquaintance with Mrs. Harkor's latest, effort. As a. against ennui, as a refuge from the distracting

war news, here is an. ideal story. The heroine is entrusted with the caro or Two jolly but wholly human, and therefore mischievous, young people, tho children of her dead sister. She is assisted in her job by her ally Meg, and tho pair of young ladies have to "shoo" oft more than one intrusive lover until— well, I will not disclose a delightful denouement. Fay and Tony, the two protected "pickles"—are quito fascinating little paple, and there is a bull-terrier "William Bloomsbury, who will bo an equal favourite with most readers of this witty, humorous, and essentially pleasant story. Mrs. Hnrker has a delightfully simple, but most attjaclivo slyle ; An excellent story for war tfme, or, indeed, for any other time.

The Chief Legatee. "Tho Chief Legatee," by Anne Katherine Green (Eveleigh Nash, per Whitcombe and Tombs), is a well-written "mystery story" by the author of that famous detective novel, "The Leavenworth Case." Tho 6tory begins- with tho sudden disappearance, on her wedding day, of tho young, handsome, ami wealthy (wealthy in her own right) daughter of a New York millionaire. A mysterious twin sister, a long-lost .brother, who turns out-to be the chief of a mysterious secret society, a Lard-headed New York lawyer, and a lady's maid all play important parts in the Itansom mystery, which finds its ultimate solution in a way wliich even the most hardened reader of this class of fiction must admit to bo strikingly original and eminently satisfactory.

Parents sometimes think a child seems deaf, but do not know how to make sure. Hero is a simple test. Place 'the child 12ft. or 15ft. away with his back turned to the observer.- Ask him to repeat the words you say. Start by saying "Five" in a loud voice, and continue to say other numbers, chosen at random, with a' softer and softer voice. Now try tho same experiment with someone whoso hearing is /known to be normal; you will note that a number said in a soft voice is casilv heard and repeated by tho normav person, but does not reach the ear of 'the deaf child. The reason for turning a child's back is that if he is allowed to watch the lips of the experimenter he may guess the word by the movements of the lips when he cannot really hear what is said.