THE THIEF OF VIRTUE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14375, 21 May 1910, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE THIEF OF VIRTUE.

: "••—■■' ■ 'o - - ■—— ' . , Every book that Mr. Eden Phillpotts produces nowadays becomes more and more saga-like in its conception, its treatment, j and its issue. In "The Thief of Virtue'! j (Murray,.London), the novel opens by a | line description of the massing of the aerial ! army of the clouds, apparently, as a prelude , ; to the motif of the novel.itself, which deals ; j with the life of a man whose eyes are always | fixe&on the clouds, never on the earh. Philip j Ouldsbroom, whoso childish,i'"' mercurial nai ture is admirably depicted, carries the I woman he wants, although she has pre- ; viously engaged herself to the shepherd, i Henry , Birdwood, arid 'loves him better I than the richer man who wins her. But I the child that is born subsequently is the I shepherd's, not the farmers,, and although j the hidden, sin is never revealed in word, | it works itself out, by means of. a deadly | antagonism of character between GuldsI broom and his supposed son. This finally ! wrecks the older man, until actual madness i comes upon him. Character-contrast could i scarcely bo carried further. Philip Oulds- | .broom- is a generous, large-hearted, recki less man; Martin Ouldsbroom .is a close- | fisted, cold-hearted, calculating one who, | .with the most virtuous intentions in the I world, drives every shadow of happiness i from the man whom he calls father. Here I one feels distinctly doubtful, for it-is by j no means clear why Martin should have I been born so extraordinarily inhuman. 'I:'- ■■■". ' ■■_■.■ .;• - • •■ ' \ ■