New-York tribune., 1901-04-27
A BRAVE ROMANCE.
LOVE AND ADVENTURE IN SIXTEENTH
CENTURY PARIS.

THE s,,rh,s HELMET OF NAvARRE, By Bertha sata
l2no, PIP. K. 40 The Century Company.
The title OF Miss Runkle's book is taken from
a passage in Lord Macaulay's "Ivry." which she
also adopts as motto:
Press where ye my white plume shine
amidst the ranks Of war,
And be your orihamme to-day the Helmet Of
Navarro.
The reader begins in expectation Of soon see
ing the king. but although that parsonage does
not appear until the closing chapters are reached
one is not in the least disappointed or regretful
On the contrary. the authors restraint in the
matter inspires something like gratitude. Kings
are difficult beings TO manage in fiction, except
when IL is intended they shall hold the stage
to the exclusion of all others, as in MI Hew-
let's Richard Yea-and-Nay'; and there is
nothing more judicious more artistic in Miss
Runkie's novel than her treatment Of the mon
arch to whose time she has gone for her inspira-
tion. His cause is at the bottom of the events
TO which we at once introduced. The great
Due de ST Quentin is his partisan, and at the
opening Of the story he has just come up to
faunt his loyalty-with more or less discretion
in the Paris that still remains in the hands Of
Mayenne. The excitement Of a critical stage in
the history of the city and of France is in the
time only the material for plot in which
to entangle the dukes lovelorn son and young
eervitor of his house In their hazardous
paign against skilful and ruthless enemies lies
the charm of a very charming romance.
Felix Bronx, the servitor aforesaid, is a fortu-
nate lad. When his father sends him to take
service with the duke he meets the threshold
Of his career rebuff terribly damaging to his
pride, and apparently fatal to his prospects.
Then the sky brightens, however with CLEANS
OF danger. and as he has started out in search
of adventure his modification is turned to joy.
He shares in all that happens, and this means
a great deal. for Miss Runke's powers of in
vention seem never to flag. Swords flash again
and again. Felix and the dukes son, the Comte
de Mar, move from one peril to another with
a cheerful Indifference to sudden death that
gladdens the heart. They are both well drawn
characters; the master a debonair lover, who
takes nothing seriously save his fathers mis-
taken wrath and the love of Torrance de Mont
luc; the servant a boy who can be hero but
can also remain boyish. The adventures of the
two are devised so as to make q good drama,
but they are also ingeniously exhibited as
springing no less from the play of their char
acters than from the Vaccinations Of their foes.
In fact, this book has human nature in 1t as we'll
the flavor of well planned intrigue. Best of
all, it has the ring of true romance
This we partly to Miss Runke's deftness
in characterization, but perhaps even more TO
her narrative gift, which carries the tale along
not only with rapidity. but with that brave
spirit which is indispensable to the historical
novel. Felix BRONX is made to talk easily,
tersely, with little flashes of humor here and
there, and throughout, with a most edifying
sincerity. His escapes are sometimes miracu-
lous. but he describes them with such aplomb
that we never doubt him. He delights in it all,
and so naturally is his emotion expressed that
1t is Immediately communicated TO the reader
Miss Runkle generally eschews the local color
that is supposed to exist in turns Of speech, in
characteristic oaths and exclamations. The
few phrases Of the sort that appear in her
pages fit the persons who use them; they have
no taint of artiice. This merit, indeed, is every
where visible. 'HThe Helmet Of Navarro gives
a spontaneous, lifelike account of romantic fig
ures and deeds; its atmosphere is genuine,
hilaratng, and it should give keen enjoyment
to all readers who for good story We'll
told.