THE REVIEWER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16713, 20 April 1922, Page 6

THE REVIEWER.

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED. “ The Atheist,” by J. A. T. L-loyd. (London; Stanley Paul and Co.) Tho picture on the front shows a distraught individual in a violently purple evening suit tossing away his crutches and flinging his arms about in sight of an illuminated Cross, and, just about tho conclusion of the story, you will discover what portion of tho tragedy this represents. If, as is announced at the outset, “ For Nora Tremaine the years had been placidly stagnant ” and there is no suggestion as to what other kind of stagnation might be prevalent—the after years while she is attempting to win fame as a singer cau hardly be so described. Whether, however, there is much happniess for Nora is another matter. From the age of seventeen she is in love with Jack Selwyn, who weds another woman, and she is pitilessly pursued by the rich Jew who figures in the purple suit: he lends her money with which she follows her art, and whenever she is about to take any decisive step he is on hand to interfere. Mrs Selwyn is hopelessly in love with an eccentric composer—also a married man, and an enemy of the Jew Hassler. How this tangle is straightened out, and how the Atheist Hassler comes to a knowledge of how wrong have been his views of life and smooths the path for Nora and Selwyn. is told by Mr Lloyd in a manner that, if somewhat melodramatic in parts, is generally convincing. One wonders casually what is the location of the ‘‘ Shalimar,” by which pale hands are credited in song with having been loved. “ The Governor’s Romance,” by Miss Holt. (London: John Long, Ltd.) Cleena, the daughter of an impoverished Irish peer, gets tired of waiting for the young lover who leaves her to go abroad on some mysterious mission and marries a rich South African widower. He passes off the stage in a cloud of mystery, and Cleena, with her step-daughter, appears in Malta, of which island rather frequently referred to by Miss (or Mrs?) Holt as il fior d-l mondo, the lover who came too late is now' Governor. Cleena is the victim of considerable nasty gossip originating from a German woman who for a while is a tenant of her palatial residence, and the Governor, though he declines to make advances to his old love, takes a hand in the game, especially after discovering certain letters that have been concealed by the German woman aforementioned. There is an aggravat ing amount of concealment at various points, and Miss Holt might with profit condense a little, but the story is from a feminine point of view, and will especially appeal to the authoress’s lady readers. il The Foundress,” by John Ayscough. (London : Lohn Long, Ltd.) There are 254 pages, and only about page 222 do you begin to see a glimpse ot light on the question of who is the Foundress: a few pages further on you find out what is founded. But, irrespective of any founding, Mr Ayscoug'n tells an interesting story in . the decoration of the skeleton of which he has made considerable use in his recent American experiences. The story is not particularly original. An English squire of very old family finds himself in a position where he regards it ns his duty to take under his wing a charming but wilful young beauty born and brought up in the United States. The squire is old enough to be the father of his cousin ward’s aunt: you must discover from Mr Ayscough what happens when guardian and ward take up their lives in England. Luring the discovery you will meet some attractive personalities and some unattractive ones, and the betting is against your guessing beforehand what tragedy rounds the drama off any more easily than you can guess the meaning of the title. Mr Ayscough is painstaking and competent in character drawing, and ho lias the story-telling gift. He does not pose as a humorist, but be manages t-o amuse occasionally, for instance, an unintended cnlinarv allusion : “His life had been crammed, with liapoiness because it had been stuffed with love.”