AS A MAN LIVES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2318, 4 August 1898, Page 52

AS A MAN LIVES.

By E. PniLLirs OrrENHEnr. Melbourne: Ward, Lock, and Co.

The unexplained and f-omewhat compromising relations which exist behveen Bruce Deville and the handsome and mysterious Luly at the Yellow House have long exercised the brains and tongues of society. Kate, however, has little time to speculate on other people's scandals, for she is straightway plunged into a mesh of mysteries concerning hoy own father and the lady at the Yellow ilou&e, for though presumably strangers, it is evident that their acquaintance in the past has been both intimate and tragic. Whatever the secret is, Bruce Deville evidently knows it, and when the at traction of mystery is added to the " sauce piquant" of an evil reputation, the splendour of a magnificent physique, and the charm of an almost boorish manner, it is easy lo understand how the conventional heroine falls deeply in love with such a conventional hc:o. c The plot thickens by the appearance or a wealthy and objectionable stronger from luo Janiero. This man, who comes lo stay at Lady Naselton's, having been asked— though a perfect stranger— in recognition of services lendeied to her son in South Afncn, is foully murdered on a Siinday afternoon, between 3 o'clock and evening service. It is a special Sunday in the little countiy church ; the biplion, ka» come down for the

first time since the new incumbent took office, and the church ?s full. Kate, oppressed by a curious feeling of listless presentiment, notices in the soft summer dudk of the farthest pews two people whose very appearance in church seems a presage of impending event — Bruco Deville and the lady of the Yellow House. The vicar takes for hid te\b "The wagei of sin is death," and on thotc words he speaks as a man inspired : as a man for very understanding of the sin and temptation, as a god for dooinful presage of its certain wages— death. As his voice ringrf out through the soft, scouted dusk of tho auuimcr evening there is a little rusile ol the half-open door, and with a sound of staggering fooLstepd a wild, bloodstained figure- leek into the aisle, a shaking hand points at the pale, inspired face m the pulpit, and with a hoarse, choking cry of "Oil, you Judas!" the tottering figure collapsed— -dead.

Lovers of sensational fiction, plot, and plenty of it, thrilling incident, and the recognised mise en scene may buy this book with the comfortable conviction that they will g,eUthe full value of their money. The scene is laid in an English country vicarago; the hero is tho pale, resolute, reserved, and aristocratic-looking vicar, while the narrator—and to some extent the heroine— is the vicar's youngest daughter, Kale Ffolliot. This young lady, of considerable personal attractions, has been educated abroad, while her only sister, Alice, a useful, pleasant, and ordinary little body, has been her father s companion and comfort at home. Miss Kate is a young lady who enjoys society, and, .moreover, she is instantly "taken up" by 'the country people most warmly. She finds their nearest neighbour to be a certain young man of wealth and uof-ition, vhoso eccentric life and boon* manners have plready secured for him the disapproval r>nd condemnation of the county families. After hearing from Lady Naselton a recline of {he young man's real and sup po&ed delinquencies, Kate, woman-like, frankly declares: "But, curiously enough, notwithstanding;- hi^ evil reputation—pei- ] bspj becaufo of it -I was already beginning | to feel nn inteiesl in J>lr Bruce Deville."

Mmdorod, without a doxihfc ; but by whom? Left, for dead upon the moor, or in fomo quiet cop<-o, and finding his way here —for s.uictiu>iy. Such is tlae accepted thooiy, though why Lady Naselton's guest (should have been wandorinp; thus aionc, v, lial enemies he could i!ia\o had in this ppufpful country nook, where he was an enlire stronger, 'are questions which no ingenuity can solve. But ono soon appears upon the scone who is resoh cc! to discover the mystery of her brother's death and bring his murderer to justice. Olne Berdenslein is no ordinary woman, and with her advent and her insane passion for Bru.ce Deville the pi of. thiokciib constantly. How the mystery is all cleared up in the end, n>rA:in;? at onro the history of the lady ot the y"ellotv House, the tragedy of the ■urar's life, and the l'ighteous doom of the miserable Berdonslein musl, bo lefl ; sufiicient has been said to .show that, the plot is full of interesting and intricate complications.