AN INTERESTING BOOK.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12792, 13 May 1910, Page 4

AN INTERESTING BOOK.

In "The Golden Centipede" (Metliuen, London) Louise Gerard weaves a weird and ambitions plot upon the mysteries of West Africa Ju- Ju-isni. The story, however, does not rely only on adventure and mystery, for its success, for- an" ingenious piece of characterisation is an -attractive ieature. Major Sinclair, a soldier-diplo-matist, is despatched to West Al'rira to investigate a series of lawless exploits supposed to have been committed by a picturesque young trader. whose juvenile appearance and outward simplicity have earned for him tho nick-name of "the Babe." Sinclair soon gets into touch with the .jDU'ij, Irogue, and discovers/ tip his surprise that "the Babe" is really iuo persons, brother and sister, who by clever manipulation escape discovery by contriving a-libis."""The real criminal is the boy, and the sister slikkls him only through affection. To 'complicate matters ltfajor Sinclair falls in love with tho girl, and determines in rescue her from her brother's evil influence. But he first has to find sufficient evidence of "The Babe's" nefarious practices. A rare battle- oi wits occurs at the Babe's head-quar-ters, far in the interior, in which the boy and his twin sister win all th'- 1 points, and then make off on a secret expedition, the object of which is to recover reputed treasure from a.vi old native temple in tho midst of a fanatical Ju-Ju district, where the super-stitious-cruelty with- which West Atrica is tainted ireigns rampant. Smclair pertinaciously finds their track. and follows them. An exciting race ensues, enlivened with scores of remarkable adventures, in which a vivid parfc is playod by the golden centipede a poisonous species of a loathsome insect, of which the natives make grim use in their horrible rites. The story ends, of course, with virtue triumphant and .wedding bells. ■