New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-22
SOME NEW NOVELS.
KIPLING'S LONG STORY.

THE WAGES OF SIN. By Lucas Malet. 12mo, PIP.
$50. United states Book Company
SCUM BY vaMes. Translated by Edmund Gosse'
12mO, PIP. $40. Lowell 20.
THE GREAT TABOO. By Grant Allen. 12mo, PIP.
OIL. Harper d Brothers
Rudvard Kiplings first novel appears under
pecular circumstances. Two editions are on the
market and they are distinguished nv radlcai
differences The story as published scrally ends in
n way dametrcally opposite to that hnally adopted
bv the author in his latest revision. ana mus
the question is forced upon the critics: Whch
of these endings is the more true ana ar"stc ?
In the serial publication Dick Heldar can make no
impression upon the heart OF Malsie uhli ne loses
his sight and then She meltS, hurrles 10 MS side'
and layishes love upon him. In the revision the
Intelligence of his misfortune brings her to him.
but when in his presence she finds herself IN
capabIe of making the sacrifice demanded Of her
she realizes that she loves him now less instead
of more than before and she leaves him. ashamed
of herself, indeed. hut none the less rcSolutciy'
gladly. and finally. The first edition ends with
the echo of marriage bells. The second concludes
with grim picture Of virtual suicide IN the
Soudan. whittier Dick has fed TO seek the liber-
atinc bullets of the hostile Arabs. The question
is. which of these two endngs is the right one.
M dcubt much may be said upon both sides, but
rho nojnt to determine is that of consistency. Was
Maise the woman t. make a great sacrlhce, or
was she not? There certainly is nothing III the
antecedcnt events of TIE story 10 indicate any
capacitv in her for sef-surrcnder II is made
cleor that IN to the time Of his blindness she did
not love Dick: that she was selfish and self
content, thinking only Of fame, more hungry Tor
that than devoted to art-n short. rather shall
low and unSympathctic young woman. Now. is II
probable that such n woman would he 50 moved
bv nifty as 10 undergo what would amount to a
complete revolution Of her character? No DOUBT
the desire of novel readers for happy cndinSS and
the IRRESPONSIBLE readiness of authors 10 satisfy
that desire without regard to ver.sm tudc. have
established q convention in favor OF the denouc-
mnnt used i'm the first place hy Mr. hipllnG. but
this was not good art. Maisic is no. the kind
Of girl to throw mp possible hrill'ht
career in order 70 become the nurse and guide OF
a blind man, whose day is done. Some women
might have been equal to the occasion, but not
this kind Of woman; and her iailaTr though
kccnly realized by herself, could not change her
dominant instinct. which was 10 pnt herself hrs'
g. 70 Dicks end as given in the revision, it is
cutie i'm keeping with his previous life. lie Is
represented throughout as reckless. unbalanced,
man: and. placed in a situation 50 difficult that
il might have overwhelmed the most highly dis
ciD!incd nature nothing could he moe natural
thah his desperate conclusion. Life had become
not worth living 20 him The future held no
homes He had not alternative between the set
gray life and apaihctic end and IT," sudden
rcnurciation Of existence upon which he de-
tcrlnircd And therefore. though there may hc
no question rs to tie superior plcasontncs> OF the
original ending 81 far the satisfaction for amsr
mcut alone is concerned the answer L. the question
put at The beginning must Dee thot Mr. kipling
revised ending is the more artistic of the Two
Bat il is right 10 protest against the haste ana
carecssness which stand out only too plainly nd
:hc causes of this sudden. and doubtless 10 many
irco,nprchcnsible reversal of his earlier judgment
No writer is justified in playing such tricks upon
the public No writer is eXcusabe for putting To
press n novel 50 il-wroupht that he hnds il neces-
sary 10 make sweeping an alteration in The
outcome Of his story. This change is a clear
confession That Mr. kipl!ag did not understand
his own creations, or that ne was willing 10 do
yiolcnc, - their natural characters and tendencies
for tine sake Of an orthodox Phia;inc ending.
Either Of these differences is serious indictment
of his methods and his art, and ii is 10 be hoped
that the lesson Of this solfc1p,sup will have Us
his stories completely before hc allow, them t.
20 f. press Apart from the question Of It's
diverse cndiucs. The Light that Failed" exhibits
power, freshness wonderful descriptive talent
and Il rare stock of knowledge concerning out
ol-thc-way matters and things He has not learned
- draw u woman Yet. however. Ills Nai>ic j,
IN artificial creature and the grccn-cycd com
p,nion i not more satisfactory. Bat he is young
and with patience and devotion his great gft
also may come 10 him. Meantime his friends Should
counsel caution and st1utcr resistance 10 The
temptations Of syndicat"s and publishers, who
care only for his vogue and nothing at all for hi,
future
Lucas Malei" is n finished workwoman. She
does not reel oil novels h. The fathorn but takes
her time and puts nothing ont of her hands
that is not complete in every detail The Wage
Of Sin" is story Of prra, power II is realistic
IN the highest .cnsr. heinz a draft from life. II
is the story Of young painter Of genus who. IN
his youth is led 10 contract a iiaison with pretty
country girl H. Is not wholly his sin for the girl
having fallen II love with him in the village
where she lived follows him back 10 London anil
filings herself at his head. But the waqcs of sin
have to be paid all the same. TIE man does not
| love her, hut there is child. and ne cannot ol
viii not abandon her. lie becomes deeply ATTACHED
10 pure and refined woman and his love is re-
turned. After long uphill struggle his qcniu.
is recognized his pictures are hung on the lin,
in tie Academy exhibitions and he is famous
Further indications are needless The early false
step produces consequences which are more and
more cllamtous The mans cndoavors t. rise aboyc
tie error Of his youth are succce,ivcly barlcd
Even the enduring love of the first victim works
all manner Of mischief 70 the object of it, and m
the end c,mpasscs his death This tragic histor,
is told with eloqucncc. arrEhic force. subtle in
sight and an inclsivc emphasis which reminds II,
at times OF Balzac's fiery realism. The character
drawing is excellent, the dalo9ur BRIGHT and
lively, the description careful ard true and tn.
whoc work conscientious and strong.
Tic latest novel OF Valdcs. Scum La Is
puma, has been well translated hy Edmund
G0see who prefacrs il with a short Introduction