New-York tribune., 1889-10-13
THE MASTER OF BALLANT'RAE.
MIR. STEVENSON'S ART.

THE MASTER OF BALLANTRAE,r BY Robert ,ou Louis
Stevenson Illustrated by William Hole. 12mo,
PIP. 331. Charles scribner's sons.
We have here a fresh and striking example OF
Mr. Stevenson's remarkable Intellectual versa
tility and 6exbity. Not only is the Master
of Balantrae7 unlike any of the authors more
recent books it is unlike anything elese written
by him; and this fertility of creation is marked
quite as much in the manner as in the matter Of
the work Let it be observed, moreover, that the
method employed for setting forth this story Is
among the most difficult novelist can adopt for
it involves double attentiveness; first, TO the
carriage Of narrative itself, as in an ordinary
romance, and seoond TO the complete marriage OF
that narrative to the character of the person
charged with its delivery Now, when apply
the usual critical tests TO the chronicle OF Mac
kellar il is seen to be almost faultess in its de-
velopment The events described, the impressions
made by the behavior Of the several actors, reach
us after passing through the mind of dry, mar
row. obstinate, opinionated, faithful old Scotch
retainer; a man whose individuality is as strong
and clear as that of the Master himself yet who
is never in evidence save indirectly. We are
made to know the man, with his pedantry his
intrusive loyalty, his Boswellism, and that pc
culiar quality of tender heart which sometimes
1t was this quality which drew from Mrs. Henry
the penetrating exclamation that Macl<ellar was
" an old maid"
The garruous old partisan, always thoroughly
and naturally himself, is rare portrait painter.
No character in fiction stands out more clearly
thau The saturnine, semdlbolcal pervcrsc yet
fascinating Master of Ballantrae. Hi grace of
person and of speech his caustic raillery, his
ko4ro 80 nc fhar 10
crafty concealment before the old lord, his father
his utter want Of shame, remorse, nobility of feel
ing in any form-al these are set forth with limpd
simplicity and clearness So too is the character
and situation of the unhappy Henry Dure thrown
into strong relief, and the strange dark drama
played in the lonely Scotch mansion rolls
itself out in vivid panorama. The stropx and
continuous restraint put upon himself by the
younger brother, the protracted ordeal imposed
upon him by the combined greed and malice of the
Master issue at last in the terrible scene Of the
night of the eth Of February-as Macllellar puts
it-and at this point Mr.. Stevenson avals himself
of his opportunity to present a most dramatic and
impressive picture. The deadly duel between
the brothers at midnight in the grove by the
light Of the two candles which burn steadily in
the still. frosty air, dwells in the memory.
Here. too d new element enters into the story
Mackellar is the most practical minded of Scotch
stewards but even he cannot keep from his nara
tive after the long illness of Henry and his dis
covcrv of the masters survival, the imposition
upon all that follows of q sense of inevitable doom
the growth of a fatalism which, while most firmly
PLANTED in the enfeebled brain of the new Lord
Durrisdeer. is reflected perceptibly enough in the
medtations of the chronicler. As to the incidence
Of Mrs Henry's relations with the Master, whence
50 many troubles arose. il is less firmly handled.
Mackellar is a mysogynist. lie IS afraid Of all
women and dislilles most OF them Clearly he never
sv1npatlized with nor more than impcrfecly undcr-
stood his masters wife. He is always eager 10
suspect her, and much too quick in seizing occa-
sions OF reproach against her. He only writes Of
her when il is unavoidable, and 1t follows that
she is less distinct than either her husband or fhe
| Master Henry is q church hero. IL; knows how
to do right and does it; but he lacks power Of
/ manifestations he cannot endear himself no. in
terpret himself TO others When he is wounded he
contains himself and is only moody. Pride will
not let him own his smart. His life is regulated
NV high principles, and because he is noble and
seIf. respecting and careful of Others nnd
scIf-sacrifcing he is mere plaything in the hands
Of his brother, the accomplished egotst. who puts
his own inclination before the well-beng of all the
/ world.
The story is Frightened and varied by the inter
calated fragments OF Colonel Burl<e's memoirs
which again present m example Of the authors
adaptability and power OF vivifying the subjective
vehicles Of his thought Colonel Burke is full of
character, consistent alike in his virtues and his
vices. obviously not 10 be relied upon when self
interest or vanity prompts departure from the
truth, but always 10 be looked 20 for a sprightly
and amusing version Of whatever happens Under
his eyes A very feeble person indeed is he beside
the Master but good foil 10 the latter and useful
for the sideghts he throws upon Mr.. Ballys dark
! adventures abroad. Only once does Mr.. Stevenson