New-York tribune., 1906-06-02
TWO NOVELS.
Sfudtes of Elemental Passions in
NesU Lands.

THE E, SPOILERS. By Rex z: Beach with four
pp. 3l4 Harper & Bros 00-
THE SPUR: OR, TIE BONDAGE OF KIN
Doubieday. Page & Co. -'A'''"''''' i-'iO' ~
''The Spoilers is a story Of Nome. Alaska, and
deals with the transition of that place from
mining camp. self-governing. so far as II ac-
knowiedged any government. to district under
control of the federal authorities and subser-
Went TO federal law. The transition was neither
easy nor pleasant, according TO MIR. Beachs
showing. He represents the United States Com
missioner. Judge stiman. as in league with or
under control of syndicate formed for the
purpose of jumping the claims of the first COM
ers. and throwing the claims into receivership
administered by the chief conspirator with un-
determined but enormous profits TO the synni-
cate-the spoilers" OF the title. The plot hinges
on the love OF Roy Genister. half owner OF the
Midas" claim for the commissioners niece,
Helen Chester who had been unwilling tool
Of the spoilers" the success of whose plans
had been rendered possible by GlenisteTs
chivalrous championship OF the girl. The tale
is full Of plots and counterpiots. Of conflicts
between the authorities and the enraged miners.
banded together as vigilantes; OF personal rival
ries. vendottas. and the lively incidents OF
disturbed and semi-lawless community. The
Of elemental passions under such strenuous
conditions making a not unconvincing psyche
logical study OF the partial tanning Of the hero
under the spell of his love for the girl from the
States" and OF the gradual stripping off of her
artificial veneer OF Eastern convention until
they both were able to meet on a common plane
Mr.. Beach writes with little refinement of
thought action style; he is bold, often brutal.
In his characterizations. with a tendency TO
overenaphasis the less agreeable sides OF
human nature: but, II at times he breaks
through the limits OF true art. he is doubtless
consistent with the truth SIS he sees 1t.
Not altogether dissimilar in motive is G. B.
Iancaster's novel OF Australasian nfe the
Spur" The hero. Kin Severne, is a strong. SELF
wiIled. self-centred, boyish sheep shearer, with
literary ambitions, who is gradually trans
formed by love of a girl into a completely
rounded, seif-sacriicing man. The scenes OF
the story are laid in Sydney. on an up-country
ranch In New Zealand, and on Samoan plan
tation Like The Spoilers" "The Spur deals
with mankind in the rough but the author car
ries the development of her hero to more ex-
treme point than Mr.. Beach attempts to do. and
subjects him TO the influences or a more
Fictitious environment There is something
almost fantastic in her conception of the device
by which Severne is enabled 20 realize his
literary ar1nltlonS- ne HldAcS d ba4 sam "ANAA
an unscrupulous Australian man OF letters and
affairs named Haddington, by which the latter
agrees 10 advance Severne enough money FOR
three years 10 educate him for the literary life.
and In return Is to receive half Severne's earn
ings and If he has not made reputation as
q writer within that period. Severne is TO serve
his master for seven years in any capacity
Haddington may determine. Severnes love af-
fair comes into his life Just at the point where
he is beginning TO make a name for himself
1t so unsettles his confidence in his work that
the book by which he hoped TO buy his freedom
falls fat, and he is obliged to take charge of
a plantation on the island of Upoiu, for Had
dington believing that his New Zealand sweet
heart does not reciprocate his affection AL
though this misunderstanding IS eventually
cleared I'D and Severne brings his bride 20
Samoa. the story ends in a tragedy which can
not but be regarded as unnecessary since it is
due to a forced and exaggerated sense of honor
on the part OF Severne. who sacrifices himself
10 the terms of an extra legal contract, which
Haddington could never have enforced. and
which he had indeed violated. Through all the
mazes of this unlikely plot. further complicated
by a murder mystery involving the birth and
parentage of the heroine, the author reveals
series of highly entertaining and breezy pictures
OF life on the greater and lesser islands OF the
South Pacific The heroine and her New Zea-
land heighbors are all engaging personalities.
They are drawn with simplicity and truth and
betoken a knowledge gained at first hand. It is
when tte author ventures into the more sophis
ticated life OF Sydney that she gets false per-
spective Of human nature and betrays the
novice's tendency 10 overconstruction A less
involved plot would have served better TO set
forth her characters and would have saved some
OF them from marring Inconsistencies AS a
first novel. however. The Spur is full OF
promise and not without fuIhIment OF the in
dications of talent shown in her volume OF
short stories. Sons o Men"