NEW PUBLICATIONS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 27, 1 February 1908, Page 13

NEW PUBLICATIONS.

"The Goddess of Rea.«on." By Mary Johnston. London : Archibald Constable and Co., Limited. The author of "The Old Dominion" has essayed a new line, tho historic drama. What success this five-act liagedy would find on the stage could be determined only by actual experiment ; but, judging from reading only, one must acknowledge that the author has most ingeniously combined a stiong human interest with general fidelity to historic truth. The French revolution is, of course, the theme. The period is definitely fixed at 1791-17 M, and the scene varies from the Chateau of Morbec in Brittany in the first act to various localities in Nantes — a convent garden, a public square, a church converted into a prison, a judgment hall, and, lastly, the banks of the Loiie in the hours before the dawn. The two principal figures are De Vardes, Baron of Morbec, and Yvette, a Breton peasant. The- Baron is an idealised figure, almost as foreign to his period and his caste as is Marcus in ''The Sign of the Cross." He is. the descendant of a long line of ' tyrants and oppressor's, and bears an' execrated name; personally, he is studious and philosophic, his life is virtuous, and his main desire is to emancipate the peasantry from their feudal disabilities. To them, however, he is only one more Do Yavdes, with, all the traditional attributes, and tho first act finds the peasantry in revolt, attacking the chateau under the leadership of a fanatic, the beautiful girl Yvette, who- is not altogether of lowly birth ; Eor, as is well known to the community, she is, by the operation of "the Right of the Seigneur,"' ;v cousin of the Baron. The attack on the chateau fails, and the Baron, to the amazement alike of who villagers and his fashionable guests, pardons the insurgents, and supplies them with food. The scene changes to Nantes, whither the revolution has spread. The Baron, concerned for Yvettc's safety, lodges her in a convent, whence she escapes, and, joining tho revolutionaries, is chosen '"Goddess of Reason." The Baron, with many of his friends, is next in durance awaiting the sentence of the- tribunal ; Yvette delivers him, but afterwards in a fit of jealousy, denounces him. Of course her repentencc is immediate, but too late, and the two meet before they perish in the waters of the Loire, to find at last that they have beon lovers from the first. There are many striking situations ; and, without extensive quolabion, ifc is impossible to give any idea oi tko many skilful touches by which, tha varied emotions and motives of the characters are displayed. From thu pervading atmosphere of oppression and brooding revolt \v© pass to fhe lurid glow of the Terror, and havo a vivid presentment of ' the contemptuous indifference with whioli the proud aristocrats faced their doom. The many passages from French Bong 3, revolutionaiy and otlipnviss, and the Latin in the convent episodes, might bo «r disadvantage if tho work was represented on the stage, but to the ordinary reader they present no difficulty. The volume is finely — almost sumptuously — printed, in a htyle distinctly French, and is decorated with old-fashioned engraved title, headpieces, and "culs-dc-lampe" to correspond ; in fact, in outward foim just what a tasteful book-iover will appieciate. "Delilah of the Snowp." By Harold Bindloss. London : John Long(Whitcombe and Tombs.) ■ The author of "The Impostor," "The Dust of Conflict," and several other fine stories of pioneer life has already gained, un assured, position in the' world of fiction, and bach new" book meets a hearty welcome as it appears. "Delilah of the Snows" (writes the Australasian) is one of Mr. Harold Bindloss's chaia'cteristic stories of life in the wildor parts of tar Western Canada. As usual in this writer's novels the hero (Walter lngleby) leaves England for tho new, world to better his fortunes. By ono of Ihoso coincidences which are fo helpful to Mr. Bindloss in the development of his plots ho meets in that remote country a young lady, Grace Conlthurst, by whom he had bcon greatly attracted in England, her father having been appointed gold commissioner in tho mining dintrict in Walter had decided to try his luck in company with a friend and his sister. The conditions of "placer" mining and lifd in an isolated milling community in tho mountains aTO vividly described. Tho miners havo grievances vnich they are unable to get redressed on account of the distance from headquarters, and the obstacles caused by red tape. A3 a consequence they resort to violence, which the small police force on the spot cannot overcome-. It is, impossible to send for reinforcements during tho winter, as all the roads they know aro blocked by snow, oxcept one, across which tho miners have felled a large tree, forming a barricade that the police are unable to get over! Grace Coulthurst is the "Delilah" of the, story. She is ambitious, and desirea to influence men. Hearing that there is a way by which word can be sent over the mountains j explaining the situation and asking for more troops, she determines to find it out by exerting her fascination on one of the mining leaders, and inducing him to betray tlifc cause. Thoro are many exciting incidents ; the characters are firmly outlined, and the scene-painting is bold and picturesque. "The Moon of Bath." By Beth Ellis London : William Blackwood and Co. There aro already three excellent novels to the credit of the author of the volume before us. In "The Moon of Bath" (writes the Westminster Gazette), Mr. Beth Ellis 'has written a capital story of adventure and romance ; in fact, the plot is so exciting and the interest so well sustained that we should advise no one to take up the book who is not prepared to read ifc from cover to cover 1 . The story is laid in the heyday of Bath as a centre of fashion, and the hero of the plot is a certain Timothy Curtis, who is suspected by the Jacobite Society of being a spy in the pay of Lord Pelham. Mr. Curtis is really innocent of any such villainy ; but circumstances conspire against him, and the case is made to appear almost conclusive. The suspicions prove fatal, for a time at least, to his pursuit of Celia Winnington, who, as the beauty of the season, is called "The Moon of Bath." Tho more Timothy tries to freo himself from these suspicions the deeper he sinks into the rairo. Tho Jacobite leaders determine to hunt him down, and but for a turn of fortune's wheel the supposed spy would ha himself locked up in tho Scotch Colleges in Paris. He manages, however, to give his pursuers the slip, although they actually succeed in capturing him. The- reader will be interested to find out what part Celia plays in all this, and how she arnves more than onco in the nick of time to jave Timothy, with whom shs is in love in spito of the charges against him. It would not be iair to give away the secret of the plot. The spy is a person whom no onu has suspected, and we are glad to any tnat justice finally triumpha. Timothy is üble to restore his good name, and all ends happily, although tho stolen papers which are tho Eource of all tbe bother are actually

tound upon him. How they came there, concealed in a' bracelet which 'Celia gave to Timothy, the reader must find out. for himself. The use to which the author, puts the bracelet is most skilful, and altogether his novel is one of the best of its kind that i\e have read for some timn. All the characters aie real, and, although they use eighteenth century phrases, they talk most naturally and sucm to be real tlesh and blood. '"The Centipede : Ho of One Hundicd Legs." By Ben Boothby. Illustrated by Frank Adams. London : Ward, Lock, and Co., Limited. (S. and W. Mackay.) Apparently the name of Boothby is not to pass out of English fiction. "Not Amurath an Amurath succeeds" (writes the Australasian), but Boothby Bcothby. Guy Boothby died a year or two aso, and now Ben Boothby appears on the scene with, a romance as sensational a.» any of his predecessors. "The Centipede" relates tho marvellous deeds of an individual as wonderful as Dr. Nikola. He was "a man of most extraordinary fascination," tall and good-looking, with "almost black hair and eyes," a clearcut face, determination, and - strength written in every lino and featiiro. Naturally ho was a born leader of men, and when he had once made up his mind on n point there was no power bn earth that could change it. Where he sprang from no one knew, bufc he had become notorious throughout the- world by his dating robberies. In India his name was a household word ; in Australia ho was the boldest and most fearless of bushjeaugers : in Persia, and Turkey, iv tho Dutch pearl fisheries, in BuTma, and in South Africa, his crimes were adapted to the conditions of tho country. Al he was always successful in getting- away, he was known far and wide a3 "he" of one hundred legs." The story turns on an audacious crime, by which ho steals jewels of incalculable value, belonging to the Maharajah of Gavalcore. After this "coup" he determines to retire into private life, becomes an English squire and member of Parliament, and eventually Prime Minister, a position which to sensational novelists seems to bo within the reach of almost any clever adventurer. The story is full of exciting incidents, and those who onjoyerl the romances of tho author of "Dr. Nikola will like "The Centipede."