New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-12
FICTION WORTH READING.
NOVELS AND SHORT STORIES.

iIarland 12mo, PIP. 347. John W. Lowell Co.
THE MAMMoN. or uNRIGHTEoUsNEss -, BY
Hjamar HlOrth Boyescn. limo, PIP. 3oO. JONI
W. Lowell Co. .-.-.
NouvEAUx PAsTELs DIX PORTRAITS
D'HOMMEs(. Par Paul Iourset; l2mS ,' Pr; 421'
Paris: MphOnse Lenerre. New-1ork: j. W.
Cllrstern.
Mr. Besant in bis new novel has, in part. reverted
to those eighteenth century motives with which he
has achieved some of his greatest successes. His
story begins with the fateful year 1903, and though
the French Revolution does not directly figure In It, In
directly it affects the described materially
The whole history is told by Of the actors In IT, and
this mode Of narration enables the author to employ
that quaint and semrch1ic style and language in the
use of which be Is q past master, and 70 which not
a few Of his happest effects are attributable. The
freshness and originality OF the life lived in the old
Precinct of Katherlne's by the Tower will impress
the most "blase" novclreader. No situation at all
resembling this can be recalled. On the one hand, we
see the semlmonastic claustra quietness and decorum
Of the Precinct the other, the chronic turbulence,
dissipation and evil ways of the Thames Bank popula-
ton half nautical, half criminal and wholly law
less made up Of stevedores, Jumpers nver-tbievcs.
smugglers and mud-laTIos. In these curious sur
Ioundngs Mr. Besant has placed story the motive OF
which Illustration of that mysterious force which,
after existing for ages under innitude Of designa-
tons, has come under the systematic observation
Of men of science toward the close of the nineteenth
century, and has been rebaptized hypnousm. Mr..
Besants heroine IS the victim Of this mysterious force.
she is in fact what shodd call to-day hypnotzcd.
She is further brought under the dominant influence OF
suggestion, with lamcntlble results herself and the
man she loves. OF course Mr.. BesaDt commits no
anachronsms The teller Of the story does not pretend
to account for the mystery lie only relates the facts
Others of the characters lean strongly TO the theory Of
witchcraft, while certain Wise Woman pronounces
the misfortune Of poor sylvia TO be example Of the
Evil Eye. We know now, think know, that all
these really denote one and the same agency, the
said agency being one or another phase or form Of
hypnotism. What hypnOtlsm is yet do not
understood, though some OF our men Of science I'M
agine that they have got TO the bottom Of it-and
others, equally scientific and eually experienced have
found quite different explanation for the phenomena.
In this story, however while the heroine loses her mind
for time through hypnotic suggestion, the hero, re-
acted upon by her wOful condition, becomes mad
through bailed love- The plot is peculiar. and it IS
worked out with much skill and tact. As is usual in
Mr.. Besant's novels, there is much careful and
striking portraiture The unconscious wizard, owner
Of the evil eye, or hypnOtst, is very fine example
Of the villain in fiction reality, though
arc afraid that his punishment belongs rather to
the former than to the latter. The old Wise Woman
is another striking individuality and, in fact tho novel
has many characters which promise to live In the
memory. The interest Is maintained without tagging
from beginning to end and taking IL altogether the
story Is the best its author has written for several
years.
Mr.. Henry Harland's method in "Mea Culpa,' is
that Of Mr.. Besant in one particular lie makes one
Of the principal actors relate the story. 1t is Of
those domestic tragedies for parallels TO which must
90 to medieval Italy, rather than TO modern countries
and peoples. The woman who tells it is. by her own
frank admission, murdeTcsS. Married against her
will to a Russian Prince who, maddcned by her cold
ness, gradually comes TO treat her abomnaby, She
it is true without realizing the full implications Of her
conduct-induces an American painter, who had been
her lover before she encountered the Prince to lead the
latter into duel In which lie IS killed OF course the
reader land this the that lie yields to the realism
Of the narraGve suspects Monica Of coloring the facts
TO favor her side of the story This is Of the in
cvitable consequences OF allowing participant in a
crime to tell the story of that crime, and therefore the
arrangement is necessarily detective from the artistic
point of view Perhaps the best work the author has
done hero consists In his character Studies Of which
there several, exhibiting marked excellence. The
mtst striking IS Prince LeOntcheG At the first blush
is apt 10 think this monster Of egOtIsm and self
concet caricaturc mpossibilty But, curiously
enough. there is historical evidence to the possibility Of
such character, ard have the very man, so far
regards ecOtism in the person OF CaSsi0dorS, the
secretary and project of Theodore the Goth. Prince
Lecnchcf surpassed the letters written by this
fifth century statesman, who sets down his own
CXccUenceS when wiring 10 ms SuperlOrS as
calmly, fully and ingcnuOusly as though lie
were speaking Of another 1t is true We
can recall other parallel to Prince Leontchcf,
and even with this testimony 10 his possibility must
admit that he IS rare bird. and very like a black
swan-as that really by no means uncommon fowl ap
pearcd to the ancents. Monica herself Is sufficiently
difficult young woman, and we think II clear, despite
her excuses that she behaved badly to Julian North
Tho denouemcnt will remind BrOwinges Of an episode
in Pppa Passes" 1t IS indeed by no means un.
natural one given finely strung soul; but NOrths
final decision and indeed his whole bearing after the
duel, reflects a sort of degradation upon the woman
for whose sake he has passed through the gates Of
hell The story, however, is distinguished by great
power and firm hand, and it shows that Mr.. Harand
has not yet reached the limit Of his resources.
"Thc Mammon of Uriighteousncss,o by Ijalmai
IIjorh BoycScu. is decidedly strong novel, thougl
occupying wider field than either of the tales prcv
ously nOtCel. II Is the history Of cynical ana low
cvclled soul, bent upon material success despisng all
spiritual aims ard aspirations, reinforced by an ali
normal virilty and mental acuteness. As foil /,
this distinctly unpleasant and repulsve hero We have
his brother who almost bis opposite and who. from
the point of view Of the average MammOn wOrslppcr
comes to grief though he marrics tho girl OF hi;
choice. Horace Larkln himself, indeed. meets hi.
punishment In due course, after lie has broken the
| heart OF woman who loves him, that he NAV b.
free TO marry faulty faultess and Jelly perfect
daughter Of q Knickerbocer millionaire; but after
all his punishment Is Of a kind not likely TO cause
much anguish 70 a heart hard as Horace Larkins
Some Of the best touches IN the book, however, arr
connected with that Of the people and millionaire
old Obod Larhn, who las endowed u university and
| does his lest TO it, The faculty Of that uni
verslty, It must be owned comprised very queer
prof ssOrs aid the institution itself scarcely produces
tho impression Of seat Of learning. II might rather
DO taken os a Western district school raised to IL
highest power. But the picture is amusing, II onl
| feels obliged 10 hope that 1t Is not drawn
| from life, for old Obel IL was needless
| for the author 10 disclaim In advance the sin o.
| portraitts!ing for him sclfmadc who worship
their creator are fortunately unfortunately as
hon as blackberrics In all Engslspeaking communl-
ties aid not few Of them seek and have sought 10
connect their memories In some sort with the higher
lie by founding schools and colleges AMI universities
Therefore Obad L1rllin mas be chccrfuly accepted
solely and simply type, and IL Is proper to add that
Notwithstanding his foibes and eccentricitles he Is
really mt at all unavOable specimen OF his class