The Sun.
London, England, 1858-11-16 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

Sylvan Holt's Daughter. By Holme Lee, author
of " Kathie Brande," &c., &c. 3 vols. Smith
and Elder.
It is impossible to peruse the works of this
author without admiring the great ability which
they display, and the vigorous style which ever
characterises them. This story does not equal some
of its predecessors, but it is distinguished by most
of their peculiar traits. Sylvan Holt himself is
sketched with those powerful strokes which stamp
a character at once, and make it stand out for ever in
the mind of the reader with an indelible impression
that cannot be effaced. There is something painful
in the extreme to contemplate the wretched life led
by this stern recluse. Circumstances, and not
taste, had occasioned his extraordinary exile ; and
although he had erred greatly in giving way to
the excess of his passions, there were aggravating
actions to account for, if they could not excuse, his
violence. His daughter Margaret is not of a pleasing
disposition ; she inherited too much of her father's
strong will and ungovernable temper to be suitable
to a feminine nature. There was something
genuine, however, in her feelings, and she possessed
qualities that, under the influence of a better train-
ing than any her neglected youth obtained, might
have shone forth pre-eminent, although there was
the want of softness in her nature which could not
fail to be manifest, as a deficiency for which no
brilliancy and beauty could compensate. She appears
to most advantage in her early days, when wandering
in her native village, untrammelled by forms, and
eager to perform kind offices to all around her.
After her marriage with Colonel Fielding the
darker side of her nature seemed uppermost.
Mingling with the world, to which she was not
accustomed, aroused angry feelings which she had
neither the tact to conceal nor the self-command to
subdue. Her mother's sad tale had filled her with
indignation, instead of awakening any sentiment of
pity to one whose career, if guilty, had been
very sad and full of suffering, which it did not
become her daughter to regard with the cold eye
or an 113CLUIVL cixt a/Asc. . Umfor Lsmovisoly
garet's temper, she was singularly like her mother,
and when she mixed in the circle of her husband's
family and friends, she had to encounter many
painful recognitions, and overhear many startling
remarks which did not tend to allay the angry feel-
ings which were paramount in her nature. A still
more fatal ' obstacle to her peace, and what eventu-
ally nearly proved the deathblow to the happiness
of her after-life, was the discovery that her husband
had been attached to another, years before he met
her. She might have become reconciled to this in
time if everything had not seemed to conspire against
her efforts to think no hasty or unkind thought.
To please her parents, Frances Stanley had married
a Mr. Hamilton, who was very rich ; he died almost
immediately after Rupert Fielding's marriage
with Margaret Holt. Mrs. Hamilton returned to
live with her parents, whose house was situated in.
the village, near the estate which Sylvan Holt
settled on his daughter on her marriage. Margaret
did evince great self-command at that trying period,
and after Frances departure for Italy all fear of
disunion between husband and wife seemed over,
for the unhappy widow was fast hastening away
from the world she had found so sorrowful a
sojourn, and there was no chance of her return to
England. It is in the passage which follows that
there is a mistake made in the description of Colonel
Fielding's conduct. We are informed on a previous
occason, that notwithstanding his early devoted
attachment to Frances, it was his wife only who •
then possessed his heart. This is only natural
when Margaret's many excellent and endearing
qualities are considered, and, above all, her ardent
affection for her husband. It is not, therefore,
likely that Rupert Fielding would have left
Margaret under a false pretence of transacting
business in London, and hastened to Italy to attend
the last moments of Mrs. Hamilton. It would have
been better to have asserted that a lingering fond-
ness for the memories of youth lingered in his
heart, than to have disowned the sentiment which
alone could furnish a reason, however reprehensible
it might have been for so strange an action. In the
scenes which follow, we meet with that vivid descrip-
tion and powerful delineation, which on many pre-
vious occasions have been conspicuous in the works,
of Holme Lee. The solemn death of Sylvan Holt,
" out on the moor," is an awful scene ; and the agony
of his devoted daughter was extreme. The faithful
servant, who went out with her young mistress,
was equally aghast at the sudden departure of her
master. He died alone, as he had lived ; but, as
his attached dependant exclaimed to the mourning
daughter, other than human aid might have sus-
tained the final moments of his weary pilgrimage.
It is satisfactory to find that Rupert and Margaret
were eventually reconciled to each other, for they
were too noble in their respective characters to
cherish angry feelings, after the first pangs of
disappointed trust on the one side, and wounded dig-
nity on the other, had been subdued by time and
softened by reflection. Mrs. Joan Clervaux is an
admirable portrait of a kind-hearted and upright-
minded woman. Whatever was estimable in Mar-
garet's conduct was chiefly owing to the fostering
care of her good old friend. Mrs. Joan had not
sufficient intellect to sway Margaret effectually, and
her exertions were counteracted by the example
of the father at home ; but, still, her genial qualities
and loving disposition were as saving spirits to the
distracted mind and tortured heart of the excitable
and impetuous maiden who was dear to her from
her very isolation. It was through the mediation
of Mrs. Joan that Margaret was reconciled to her
husband, and many were the good offices she
effecter for her in earlier days. Bell Rowley is a
ludicrous sketch of a fast young lady. The spirited
way in which her dashing exploits and bold sayings
are recorded, is an amusing episode in the tale, and
contrasts with its otherwise somewhat sombre tone.
If it cannot be said that this story is so interesting
as " Maud Talbot," or " Thorney. Hall," there is
much that proclaims it not inferior in merit of style,
and not unequal in point of talent. It is shining
with the same light, and nerved with the same
energy, that imparted to their pages unwonted
brilliancy and power.