New-York tribune., 1903-04-12

GoMEDE OF 5S f. HH n. censnl5 Msl5
Company.
Mr.. Gwynne has written In 1.-The Pagan at the
Shrine a move, such we too seldom have the
privilege Of reading. 1t is not by any means
great novel: In fact there Is genius In 1t:
there is only talent, but the talent is OF an un-
common order. MIR. Gwynne has invention ne
has the narrative gift. and in treating Spanish
life he has the advantage OF knowing whereoi
he speaks There Is a great deal about spanish
life in this book, almost as much ABOUT lts va
rious aspects In a drowsy corner OF Andalusla
as there is about the people whose experiences
provide the dramatic elements OF the story But
this Spanish life Is never dragged in merely to
I'll space or to show the authors knowledge IL
is introduced In order to create an atmosphere
and in order to make more clearly uhoer-
stand certain types Of Spanish character the
types that are placed In the foreground tne
atmosphere Is there, on every page we Ho'o
In it and breathe 1t, and seem for the tlille
through its aid to be living veritaDly IN spain
The Spanish character is there, so synpatheti-
caIy, SO candidly, and, withal SO plcturesquei'
realized that we seem in this perfectly credible
environment to be watching living people
,>et this is not great novel The reason Is
p,Ain enough Mr.. Gwynne misses the las'
touch of the creative artist, the touch tna'
SWANS us to deep emotion by some mag1cai
mower 1.-THE Pagan at the Shrine Is natural
convincing, in everything save its plot 1hat Is
well enough devised, and well enough hahoieo
for us to feel a lively interest in It's develop
nent but all the time. in spite OF the char1n
Of the book, we scent the acrid fumes OF Ineio-
drama and end by reluctantly admitting tha'
this is after all, only a story for an idie even
Ing not the poignant page from lie that AZ -
meant to be
will not
the very first chapter It is declared the charm
of a romance set forth easily, persuasivey, with
"a certain hurnor underlying the narrative, ana
with above all. that atmosphere to "hlch we
have referred beguing US in every moment "A
Jesuit priest is the central figure man WIZ
has committed a sin in his youth, ana mas
thereby laid the foundations for lifetime OF
regret to say nothing Of one shock after an
other eliminating on a tragic plane. Through
his error there is lost at the outset letter OIL
the utmost Importance to the welfare OF his
Order The loss seems to be conclusive, anu
Manuel has expectation OF its ever causing
him further trouble. But Mr.. Gwynne with
that melodramatic instinct which Is MS least
valuable asset writer, allows US 10 see thd'
the missing letter is destined to wreak havoc
and all along the line are awaiting the up
shot Of the episode of its transferrence from one
individual to another under circumstances pre-
saying disaster. be II SdiO 10 tHe dutHoi SiCNAN
that we are in the main too absorbed in his
narrative to blame him very seriously. AT
least he is immensely entertaining, and for that
one can forgive much
If all the four hundred pages OF Mr.. Brady's
latest novel were to be blotted out, save for five
lines that occur early in the book, the pract1sed
novel reader would still be able to reconstruct
from those five lines the entire tale They give
the words Of the heroine to the hero when both
are very young Boyd Peyton,' asks Miss
Mary Annandale, "do you mean to tell me that
YOU don't know that Lincoln is going to send his
hirelings down here to take away our slaves,
and make citizens of them, and voters, and
social EQUALS and all that sort Of thing?" 1t
is hardly necessary, after this, for US to explain
what THE Southerners" is about. We gladly
confine ourselves to stating that the author has
made very good play with his familiar motives.
drawing from the passions and sorrows-and
joys-of the Civil War, ore more romance that
may not be memorable. but that is, at all events.
spirited and interesting. In the preface we are
told that the book has been years in prepara-
ton and though the author may have got
through with the actual writing of it with the
rapidity said to be characteristic of him, the
tale is skifully told, it is neither hurried nor
shallow. 1t bustles with action, matter of
course but the quieter claims of sentiment
not neglected, and it is read with attention and
with pleasure.