The Sun.
London, England, 1860-12-10 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

The Rouse on the Moor. By the author of " Mar-
garet Maitland," &c., &c. 3 vols. Hurst and
Blackett.
This book is not one of the best of its author's
compositions, but it is at the same time'replete with
much of that truth and nature which have given so
powerful an impress to its predecessors. The whole
description of the House on the Moor, and the
recluse Scarsdale, is admirably done, and is remark-
able for its graphic force and its sad resemblance
to life. His contrast to the frank old soldier,
Colonel Sutherland, is in every way remarkable,
and these brothers-in law offered a curious
study for those who contemplate the extremes
of human nature. The life to which the
disinherited man doomed his children, reminds
one of the tortures of old times, and it is
a positive relief when first one, and then the other,
depart. No matter how cold or friendless the world,
without, its sharpest blasts could not be more chil-
ling than the atmosphere of home—its most inimi-
cal inhabitants could not be more cruel than was
their own father. Susan found a haven of refuge
with her kind uncle, and Horace was only too well
ab
_ _

,ie to take care of himself. This young man
inherited the worst qualities of his father, and he
is almost more repulsive, insomuch as in the, season
of youth it is doubly unwelcome to find such an
ungenial soil and such crafty impulses at work. A
more dismal picture can hardly be imagined than
that presented of the life led by the four beings
who inhabited the dwelling on the moor. It was
enough, if continued, to end in lunacy er some
dreadful calamity to body or mind. Peggy was
the only cheerful occupant of the place, but at last
the task proved too much for her, and when her
favourite Susan departed the old woman seemed to
give way herself. Roger Musgrave is a fine
spirited young man who is worthy of being a hero ;
he was in every way calculated to attract the atten-
tion of Colonel Sutherland, who grieved at not
having a nephew like that, in place of his repro-
bate connexion. Roger, although very mis-
guided in persisting in his attempts to become a
common soldier, by the very pertinacity au-
gured independence very different from the
cringing conduct of Horace, who would
stoop to anything till he had attained his purpose,
and then became the overbearing tyrant where he
had been the fawning suppliant. Chance favoured
him in his encounters with the precious pair of
lawyers, Pouncet and Stenhouse, but at last all his
wiles and machinations failed. Most completely
was he finally foiled, and his grand plans frus-
trated. The wily Amelia soon threw him over
when a titled suitor appeared, while his after
arrangements with Pouncet were suspended in a
terrible manner. He had possessed himself of the
fatal secret, he had unravelled the mystery of his
early years of gloom, but at a fearful cost to his own
peace of mind. He had discovered that he was to
become the heir of his grandfather's enormous
wealth when his father was dead. This was a
cruel revenge to have taken ; it carried the curse
from one generation to another, and the virulent
spirit of the old man might have been satisfied had
be known the strife his vindictive will had engen-
dered, and that future sons and daughters still
unborn would reap plenteously of the harvest he
was then sowing. The news to Horace was decisive ;
he wished that his father's life should not stand
between him and his wishes ; he was forbidden by
I the terms of the will from borrowing money on
pain of being disenherited ; there was but one way,
and he resolved to try it. He procured some poison,
and went to the lonely house on the deserted moor,
where his youth had gone by dreary as the
doom of a convict, and ventured to put his
deadly drugs in the place of his father's usual
draught. He then went on his way with
the curse of Cain clinging to him. He waited in
breathless expectation for the news, but none came
for some time. This is the most dramatic part of
the story, a finely worked act. He had in thought,
but not in deed, poisoned his father. Mr. Scars-
dale was too wary, and did not take his draught,
having ascertained that the box had been inter-
fered with. He was, however, seized with the
illness which almost immediately terminated his
life, and his last look at Horace, who came in
obedience to the summons, struck horror to his
soul. It was not till after his death that Horace
discovered the paper which relieved his fears. Too
late for pease, and he wandered away from every
one, none knew whither. The agony he endured,
the suspense in which he was kept, all combined
to render his life a torment during the interval
that elapsed between his two last visits to March-
main. The riches that would have been his
righteously had he waited, were powerless to him
for good or pleasure. " The unhappy heir of the
Scarsdales went out and_was lost in the world, and
its great waves concealed him and his pleasures
and wretchedness. He had put himself out of the
reach of common blessings and sorrows, the dews
and sunshine of God's every-day world. He had
• his fortune, his failure, his dead burden of guilt to
begin his life withal; and so carried out among
men, and the bustle and commotion of the world, a
second chapter of that hereditary curse which had
made a recluse and wretched misanthrope of
his father, and a dismal prison and place of
bondage of the solitary house upon the moor."
Susan is a perfect contrast to her brother ; she is
a delightful young girl, full of innocent happiness
in herself and all around her. It was a hard trial
to so gentle and gracious a maid to be immured in
such a place as Lanworth Moor ; but while the
misery saddened her, it did not blight her as it did
her brother. She came unharmed from the fiery
ordeal, and all the more appreciated her mercies in
reaching her uncle's house, there to be kindly re-
eeived and warmly welcomed. She had been sent
away by her father, owing to his having supposed
she had abstracted a letter from Col. Sutherland
alluding to the fatal will. This was, Horace's
doing, who had crept in in his father's absence ;
but Susan wisely thought that if the truth were
discovered deadly would be the strife that resulted.
She therefore went away, sadly yet hopefully, for
with her uncle she knew she thould be happier.
The little that appears of Roger Musgrave is very
interesting, and the vacillation of Sir John Armi-
tage in seeking him out on his landing in England
is a useful warning to those who are for procrasti-
nating. They would do well to remember the
early adage that delays are dangerous. Fortu-
nately in Roger's case no eventual evil ensued, and
he was enabled to serve his country in a sphere
suited to his position in society ; and thus while his
mind-was at peace, he could find full exercise for
that daring spirit which prompted him and led
him on to those deeds of bravery which have again
and again spread the fame of British valour, and
made glorious the names of Britain's sons in many
a foreign land and on many a distant deep. The
author of "Margaret Maitland" is always a welcome
, contributor to our popularliterature. She has been a
favoured visitant at many a hearth, and charmed
many a reader of fiction by her touching descrip-
tions of simple joys and sorrows, and made wiser
and better many a careless and regardless person
by her true teaching and high standard of prin-
ciple. This new work, though not equal to some
of her earlier efforts, is not unworthy to be classed
among them, and the story of the lonely dwelling
on Lanworth Moor may arrest the attention of
some, and awaken the interest of others. This is
altogether in every way to be recommended to the
notice of those who like a thinking story, one that
seeks to fathom the motives and analyse tho
actions of men and women, as well as to record
mere occurrences and narrate the conversations
that take place. " The House on the Moor" is
original in its chief point, and striking in the
manner in which the idea is realised. The recluse
is a finished sketch of an unhappy
human nature in which the divine impress seems
effaced or obscured till only the earthly remains.
e of
Some of the secondary characters are mos
ht aptly
described, and the Sergeant Kennedy, with is de-
vices to delude and ensnare young men into his
profession by fabulous tales of suacncyesostanthde prefer-
mentscenes
abroad, is a noticeable personage. The
family of the Stenhouses is also adroitly personified
in its various branches, and m
and passages of these volumes are most graphically
sketched and eloquently described.

Popular Tales of the West Highlands,
- Orally Col-
lected. With a
Translation. By i
J. F. Camp-
bell. Two Vols. Edinburgh : Edminston and
Douglas.
These two volumes bear. evidence of great pains
iler
ou the part of their comp, and are most suitable
for the amusement of the young. They are dedi-
cated to the Marquis of Lorn. In the dedication
chapter the writer thus affirms :—" Amidst curious
rubbish you will find sound sense if you look for it.
You will find the creed of the people, as shown in
their stories, to be that wisdom and courage,
though weak, may overcome strength, and igno-
rance, and pride; that the most despised is often
the most worthy; that small beginnings lead to
great find
results. You will perseverance, frugality,
and filial piety rewarded—pride, greed, and lazi-
ness punished. You will find much which tells of
barbarous times; I hope you will meet nothing
that can hurt or should offend. If you follow any
study, even that of a popular tale, far enough, it
will lead you to a closed door beyond which you
cannot pass till you have searched and found the
key, and every study will lead the student to a fast-
bcked door at last ; but knowledge lies beyond
taose doors, and one key may open the way to many
a store, which may be reached and may be turned
to evil or to good. These words contain the sum
and substance of the book in their forcible and
simple language; and all who would quit for awhile