New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-06-27

detection, and vengeance; but it woald hardly
claim notice in n literary review If Hugh Conway
had not made exceptional reputation by bis first
published novel. Called Back" IN short, int o.
duced this clever siOry-teler to society for which
he was not entirely fitted. and in winch, if he had
lived, he would probably not have been able to sns-
rain himself. He had bold and lively imagination
in the invention Of plots and considerable skill
in mclo-dramatic narrative; but no permanent
success IN woodworking was ever made without
much larger equipment than this. The qualities
upon winch he relied are the soonest exhausted
and the first to pail upon the habtual reader
Whether Living or Dead is an early or late
work we do not know. Judging by IT'S defects it
it mi ght as well be one rs the other The least ex-
pcrienced Of discovers the mystery OF the story
before the action is in full swing, and wonders at
the Obtuscness OF the personages who cannot SEQ
what is obvious. The villainy Of Gresham,
upon which hang years Of wrong and
suffering, is far too Satanic, and the
particular manifestation of it with which tbs
story is concerned has not sufficient motive. Tho
wlnding-up involved Mr. Fargns in a difficulty too
great for him TO manage. Sir Laurence Estmcre,
tricked by Gresham into TeDudiatInQ an innocent
wife and disOwniDg his son, is undeceiyed after
twenty years. He kills Gresham and the family is
reunited. TO reconcile happy old age with the
memory of q homicide and nearly lifetime Of
stupendous injustice Is the problem of the last
chapter The author hurries over it by the sugges-
ton of brain-dIsease which blots from Sir Lau-
rence's mind all unpleasant recollectIons. BIT this
idea is only thrown ont tentatively: it is prob
lem" says the narrator, 81 have not vet solved
The deus er machina here seems TO creak horribly.
1t would not be easy to imagine more disagree
able subject for novel than the spiritual expert
ences of man who has muir Tered his brother.
THIS is the material selected by the author of No
Saint; and she seems to have spared no pains TO
make the story as unpleasant as possible Paul
Henshaw after serving a term Of Imprisonment for
his crime, is brought. OF rather forces him
self. into unnatural not to say incredible rela-
tons with the widow and son of his victim in.
stead of accepting the kindness offriends who would
send bin abroad to begl1 new llfe he obstl-
nately returns to his own village. His mood for
long time is sayage and defiant; and afterward he
passes throughvarlous stages OF tOrturng inirospec
ton and futile stug gle not the least morbid of his
states being an accession Of religious zeal under
tie influence of a Methodist revival. He obtains
peace at last by renouncIng high ideal Of deyo-
ton as a missionary which he had set before his
ewes marrying mis- cousin, and becoming a COM
monp ace scripture reader in London. The novel
drifts rather amlessly to this end. and the auihof
herself IS by no means sure of the lesson
winch it ought to teach. The analysis of Hen.
shaws feelings is times very striking. and the
account of his wrctched existence set forth with
energy but the story upon the whole Is feyerish
and repulsive
The author Of Face TO Face" had happy idea
in brin ging together Oh an ocean steamer spirited
and independent English girl enthusiastic in her adj
mration of the America she has never seen, and IN
Angliczed American youn man who apes the ways
of the old world of which he has too much.
In describing the plumbers which they make about
each other, and daring experiment in mystihca-
ton on the part of the GIRL the author SHOWS con-
siderable humor. Evelyn Plmco's adventures in
the United States presently become serious. After
a round of fashionable anu ement at New
port we find her deeply involved IN
the problem of the responsibilities, of wealth, and
finally she becomes the owner and manager OF
large manufactory, where she il brought face to
face with the conflict between labor and capital ID
its most acute phase. Here the action of the story
become exciting and dramatic and the book closes
with an effective climax. The discussions and re-
Elections all through the novel are too long. but
some of them are ingenious, and the two sides OF
the socastlc argument defended by their
respective representatives with no little force.
In Fellow Travellers we have some effective
sketches of village life and yachting excursions on
the coast of Massachusetts,, and the Conversations
in the Poseti store and hotel are extremely well
done There is a hint of mystery and sensational
ism in the secondary plot but tins is allowed TO ale
away without fulfilling the readers just eypecta-
tons The substance of the story Is a simple love
affair, prolonged through various unexciting mis-
understandings and ending prettlly and pleasantly
without any stirring incidents. The book is
readable, and contains touches and even
whole scenes 50 good that the author
may well be encouraged 10 pcrsevcre.
Hereafter we hope that he Will avoid fault which
disigures Fellow Travellers in common with
hundreds of o. her essays in Amer can fiction. His
lovers quarrel too much The amatory passages
are mostly splitting and scratching. Grace Is no
doubt a nice cir. when you know her we'll but in
the story her temper is generally up and her man
ners are detestable, while Winthrop is habltnaly
a, rude as Il gentleman can be- WeIl-bred people
behave better than Mr.. Fuliers characters, even
when they are III love.
Ihe best of the stories in Mr.. Scudder's volume
are I" Left over from the Last Century and "A
Honse OF Entertainments" The former OF these
has "A quaint romantic flavor well kept through
so newhat long narrative: the idea II ingen Gus;
the details are carefully and adroitly worked ~,
and the hnmor is gentle and pleasant. " House
OF Entertainment" shows a nee poetic t0ucn, with
considerable descrip i've power; and the SIX o Ler
tales and sketches which compose the book are IN
teresting III various ways