SOME RECENT FICTION.

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 259, 20 July 1918, Page 11

SOME RECENT FICTION.

"The Spotted Panther," "Tliu Spoiled Panther," 'jy < Uml '-. ]"■'rum-is Ihvyer (London: Hndder and StmiKliion) a visorously-told story of adventure, in tlio interior of Borneo, whence, plowed two Ani'-iieans hi scnn-li of ii niyslcviiius weapon, tin; boji'W riled Great Parous; oi' JSuddhii. i-oni-eiiim;; which and its sai-ied origin iind smiernalural proper!iw le?'iid lias over boi-n lnisy Uiroiiitlinut Hie Knst. 'L'lic ndveiitiifers, who learn of the existence oltlio Sword from air opimn-vdddeii J-J)SHsli- „,„„, at ii .)»van seaport, iii'f warm-d llmt the Cireiil. lining is jealously giuml; pd bv its owners, u mysterious tribe <> wtvagta, who live in a marsli-siinomuled <tnm-liold only accessiljle by paths Hie ceerei of which has been handed down ri-oin irciiorution to soneratimi .-ineo the lime the I'oi'Uiiriiese sailors ol l'-n----ri(|«« da Rama bad beeii laker, prisoner Ijy the Oranir ISiikktU. I i\e iiilventnrors reai-h (he stronghold, kmiii; ..Hided thereto and befricmlpd by a lieanteoiw «ir! who worships a Cross set up in tin! wood;, and is olciuly of seiiuGiiropean deswnt. They have, however, to I'oniend iififtin-it Hip ehieflain. whose tribal name sives the title to the story, a "iant who reminds mo nor a little of iwraiii of Sir liidw .UiiskiiviTs African warrior. <V wonderful witch woman, a sort, of Malayan, first cousin <>/ <.m----coola. of "K'inir Solomon's Mines fame,

also plays a prominent part: in the story, which is packed with thrills in its every chapter, and through which also there runs a very pretty love interest. As a story of adventure, ''The Spotted Panther" i? decidedly above the average, and is well worthy the alien!ion of lovers of tin's pnrtieillai , cla.-s- of fiction. "The Lonely Stronghold." Mrs. Baillie Keynohh is a well-praclis-ed storyteller whose novels always possess a. clearly-defined plot worked out in a very skilful and attractive way. In her latest story "Tlio Lonely Stronghold', (C'asseir«ii(l Co., per hi. and■ W. Maekay), sin; talce.s hor readere to the. ancestral homo of Iho Guises, an aristocratic, but in worldly wealth t-adly reduced family of landowners, who live in a wild district of Northumberland. The. house, originally a fortified tower, Mined Pelf, but now 'half mansion, half farmstead, has many curious legends attaching to it, and an air of mystery surrounds its hitler-day occupants. The household is joined by the heroine, a young lady from Yorkshire, who accepts n position therein as ii companion to the lady of llin manor, lfow the fortunes of the 'cuiiumnion, Olwen iiiiies, a highspirited girl, become involved with tlioso of the Guise family, more particularly with those of her employer's Mil, Ximan; how Iho girVs first feelings of distrust of and positive repugnance for the young man become oh.injjed into wannest aliection and finally info ardent love; how Niuian, Ijelieve'd liy his mother to have been guilty of vile conduct to a. previous companion', turns out to bo a hero, chivalrously shielding an erring twi.n brother, tlio old' lady's favourite son; and how. in the end, wealth as well iw happiness come to (he household at Tele are set forth by Mrs. Reynolds in a .story which never .-flags fov a moment, and which, apart from the fine dramatic quality of certain of its leading incidents, contains some exceptionally well-drawn characters..

[Rpviews of several other nuvol.* held over.]

Last year a book describing Foch'a operations on the Maine was published at Paris, under the title of "Lμ llarai.i do Saint Clond," and ran into no fewer than twenty-lhree editions. An English translation of the work, with illustrations and a map showing Ihe operations round the marshes of Saiiit Guild, hms to be published in London last month. Stephen Graham, who wrote so much on Hussia, is now in khaki. He, has found lime, lunvevor. to write a ljnolc of mystical studies, "Tho Quest of tlio I'lic-e." , .In his preface he expresses the view that though "liussia seems to have fallen there is an imperishable- Kiissia which cannot full."

Those who remember Ihe once-notorious Tranby Croft baccarat scandal, in which a very "high porsonage" was indirectly concerned, and which resulted in the social ruin of Sir William Gordon Cummin,,,, may bo interested to learn. tlml in his recently-published "Story of My Life" Sir Edward Clarke, K.C., expresses his firm conviction that the baronet in question was quits innocent of tho charge of cheating at curds which sent him into tho ranks of "broken men." .