Page 2 Advertisements Column 5

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5748, 17 December 1896, Page 2

"THE STAR." t MAGNIFICENT new,'; story: "' BY A ' ■ ■ BRILLIANT AND POWERFUL WBITEE, i<'. • . . WE SHALL PUBLISH IN OUB COLUMNS ON SATURDAY, DEC. 19, THE OPENING CHAPTERS OP A NEW STOBY 4 Of Exceptional Interest and Power, by a Firet-clasß Author. OUB HEW NOVEL IS ENTITLED • " THE DAGGER AND THE CROSS," And is from the Pen of JOSEPH HATTON, The Famous Author of "By Order of the Czar," " When Greek Meets Greek," " Clyde," " Pnnoeßß Mazoroff," "Cruel London," "Under the Great Seal," and many other widely read Books. His Latest Work has beon Specially Written for Newspaper Publication, and is a Splendid Romance of Love and Vengeance, Crime and Repentance. MR JOSEPH HATTON is one of the most gifted and versatile litterateurs of the day, as cortaiuly he iB the most popular. As a journalist he has probably contributed to more magazines and newspapers than any other living writer, whilst liis novels have increased his popularity enormously in both hemispheres. Novel-writing iB his forte, and his books are eagerly tioueht aud read by an immense number of votaries. His stories are characterised by great dramatic force, very clever manipulation of incidents, aud a charming and cultured style of expression. In his latest story Mr Hatton has again broken ' fresh ground, and given his readers a picturesque, dramatic and exciting story, OUTLINE OP OPENING CHAPTERS. Tho romance of "The Dagger aud the Cross" opp.UH in Venice. Ziletto, a -wealthy profligate, •with powers of fascination almost amounting to hypnotism, has enslaved the fancy of the young »nd beautiful wife of Jioubillac, the painter. The two ineu encage in a duel, in which the painter is disannea, arid Houbillac, to protect his wife from further persecutions, flies with her to Eugland. Their arrival on pack horses iv Eyam village is a pictuvesquo aud impressive event. The village is happy, when suddenly there arrives, iv much stato, Andrea Ziletto, who brings Royal and other credentials, and takes up his quavterß at the Inn. He sees Mnty Talbot.Vho village belle, and is struck by her attractive personality, whilst she is charmod with his personal graces and accomplishments. The profligate succeed-- in overcoming Mary's scruples to a secret marriage, and persuiides her tlnit after marriage they will surmount her father's prejudices. 4 Reuben Clogg. a ,five, manly fellow, who is passionately but hopelessly in love with Mary Talbot, though less wo.l-boru, discovers and makes his way to their retreat. In the midst of an nngry encounter Ziletto is stabbed to death by what Beomed to Mnry and Clegg a shadowy hand. Clogg carries the body to the village, and is charged with the murder. He is committed to the County Assizes, and there condemued to death. . The story increases in intorest with every chapter. Without divulging too much of the powerful plot, we may say that Clogg escapes from gaol, and owing to the Plague is not re-captured. The village in plunged into the valley of tue shadow of death. The real murderer is skilfully concealed by the author, who works out the plot of this remarkablo n romance with masterly Bkill. "THE DAGGER AND THE CROSS," BY JOSEPH HATTON, IS A SPLENDID WORK, Aud we can heartily Cominoud it to our Readers. WE SHALL PUBLISH THE OPENING CHAPTERS IN OUB COLUMKS ■ ON SATURDAY, DEC. 19. r