The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-02
RECENT PUBLICATIONS.
The Right of Way.


that are out of the common, that deal with
new and unhackneyed themes. or that
treat old themes in fresh and original
way. He has produced nothing that is
dull. but in this latest book, The Right of
Way" he has surpassed all previous efforts
in the way Of entertainment Primarily,
the book is psychological study, and
though before the Eruption of the histori-
cal novel fiction readers were heard to pro-
test against the prevalence of psychology
in novels, book of this class comes now
as a refreshing change But it is not
tune played upon one string; it is psycholo-
sical, but it is also descriptive ana it
touches life upon many sides, though its
scene is, for the most part laid in viii
lage In the Canadian woods almost as
remote from modern civilization if the
time were centuries ago instead of to-day.
The moral regeneration of Charley Steele"
is the central theme. Charley Steele is in
troduced in the first chapter as the lawyer
Tor the accused in a murder trial in the
city or Montreal. He is known there as
Beauty" Steele, being a handsome man
and something of a fop. But he is dis
sipated and only at his best mentally when
under the influence of drink. Public inter-
est in the trial is due to his part in it
ra Their than to any care for the prisoner
lie makes brilliant plea and clears the
man. VINO IS French half-breed from the
backwoods. The next scene shows him
indulging in reckless carouse in a low
suburban resort He taunts and maddens
the rough river men and is knocked on
the head by one of them and thrown into
the river. He is taken out of the water
by the man he saved from hanging, is
taken TO the home OF the latter in the forest
near the village of Chaudiere, more than
hundred miles away. and there comes TO
perfect physical health, but with total
loss or memory. When he RECEIVERS his
mind, after many months he learns from
stray newspaper that his wife. whom he
had long before estranged by his conduct
and wilful neglect, has married again and
that his blacksheep of a brother-in-law
has laid upon the shoulders Of the sup
posedly dead Charley Steele the blame of
misuse of trust funds OF which he him
self is guilty, and has thus blackened an
| honest mans name. After due reflection
he decides that since he is thought to be
dead, and since his return will bring to
shame the woman he once loved and for
whom he has faint lingering affection,
| he Will remain in obscurity. This he does,
and, as the tailor of Chaudiere, works out
his salvation as best he may. How he
| does 1t forms the burden of the tale.
| Wherever this forceful man lives, even
| though he remains silent and stirs up no
| ulsSenslOn willingly, unusual happenings
| are sure to come about, and they come,
| many of them, affecting his fortunes and
/ those with whom he is thrown into asso-
j citation. The contrast between this keen,
/ trained mind, this sophisticated, world
| weary man, and the simpe-minded VIII
| layers is one of the most striking effects
|
| struggles to overcome the old craving for
whisky, which returns TO him from time
| TO time; how he fights against and over
| comes temptation to wrong the woman
who has come into his life in that out Of
| the way village, by marrying her without
| telling her of the other wife who does not
! know of his existence; how these struggles
| eventually make a new man of Charley
| Steele-theSe things are told in a direct,
| convincing way that leaves nothing TO be
desired. 1t is a swift-moving narrative,
| the author being evidently animated by
/ the single purpose OF telling his tale with
| out interruption or unnecessary comment;
TO the Demonstrated, meandering, not to
| say foundering, fiction with which the
| bookshops are filled. Unfavorable criticisms
| have been made of the book, but when
analysed these prove to be criticisms OF
Steele himself and the author does not
| present him as sanity character, even
| strikes false note. perhaps in the final
| scene and introduces suggestion of melo-
| drama through the appearance of Katha-
| rine and her new husband, and the bring
/ ing of Steele's eyeglass into play for the
| last time; its appearance in the dying mans
| hand jars upon the sense of fitness, but the
| prOporiety of its place there is merely a
matter of opinion. The author doubtless
! felt ii to be a characteristic touch-the IL
| lustration of an old habit strong to the
| end of life.
The Right OF Way belongs in the rather
! limited list of novels Of the first class is
| sued during the year. Harper & Brothers.