Evening star., 1906-09-08
THE GUARDED FLAME. By W. B. Max

THE GUARDED FLAME. BY W. B. Max
we'll author of The Ragged MeSsen-
GER &c. New York: d. Appleton &
Co.
When THE Ragged Messenger" appeared
two seasons ago the EnglIsh-speaking world
began to feel that new force had devel-
oped in modern fiction. AS the son or
Mary Elizabeth Braddon much might be
expected from him, but he had yet, even
tn the face OF that powerful presentation
Of sociological problems, to demonstrate
his full measure of strength. Such DEM
onstration has clearly been given in The
Guarded Flame" a story deserving rank
with the best of recent novels. and certain
to be widely discussed A novel that pre-
sents as It's hero a philosopher past middle
age and which closes with him still on the
stage at eighty-six, Is essentially strfk-
ing performance. Such work requires
courage in conception and Infinite skill IN
execution. Mr.. Maxwell has proved both
his courage and his skill. In Richard Bur
goyne he has offered character certain
70 assume towering proportions In the
ranks of fictional personages. His life Is
the guarded flame OF the title. HIS young
wife is the guardian. True to her trust for
q time she lapses. Love bids her to the
side OF her husbands secretary. and a
catastrophe follows. causing the collapse
OF the giant intellect. Contrition smites the
erring woman and she devotes herself to
aer role with the assiduity Of pentent.
Gradually the great mind Is released from
Its thralldom and resumes Its work. Far
above the laws limiting the mental actfy-
tiles OF man. Burgoyne proceeds, in his ao-
vanced years. to describe In a Dook MS
own case, from the point Of view or a
scientific observer. In the course OF ms
preface he dscloses to his wife the fact
that he has been aware of her sin, and has
condoned It, Sublime. he rises far above
the petty bases of human conduct. That
Is the plot. In its treatment the author
sets forth a remarkably interesting de-
scription of the working methods OF the
philosopher, giving his point Of view, snow
ing his marvellous grasp of the infinite. AS
q study in mental processes and scientlnc
workmanship 1t is wonderful story.
RICHARD THE BRAZEN. By Cyrus
Townsend Brady, author of The
Southerners," and Edward Peple, au-
thor of The Prince Chap" &c Illus.
trated by George Gibbs. New York:
Moffat, Yard & Co. Washington: Bren-
tanos.
The co-authors of this amusing story de-
clare that they are so attached to each
other personally that they have dedicated
the book to each other, respectively, each,
however. claiming all the bright things
1t contains and blaming his collaboration
for every fault which any reader may just
ly or unjustly criticise. Thus is the fault
finding reader thwarted at the outset. But
as he reads he discovers that he must
abandon all thoughts of blame. for the col
laborators have produced a smooth work or
modern life which entertainS without
srousing question. The unwilling masquer-
ade OF young Texan as an English noble
man in the house of his fathers bitter
enemy leads to series OF complications
which grow more intricate as the tale
progresses. The hand of the law is about
to be laid heavily upon the shoulder of the
victim of circumstances when he Is res
cued from his predcament. Cupid plays
the most important role in the comedy,
the wanton elf laying traps for his VIC
tins with the skill of ages of experience.
The cowboy who rescued beautiful New
York girl from a bunch of milling" cat
tie on the plains transformed into bogus
earl with monocle. all for the sake of the
lady. is a delectable spectacle. presented
by Messrs Brady and Peple with consum-
q freshness of situation which charms from
the outset.
THE MASTERS OF FATE; the Power of
the VIII. By Sophia p. Shaler. New
York: Duffield & Co.
Mrs. Shaler drew her inspiration for
this book from a belief of her husband
that the field of invaldism in its relation
to intellectual and moral development de-
serves a special consideration. She has
examined the biographical records minute
ly with a view to ascertaining the iniu-
ences which have aided those afflicted with
bodily Ills to rise above their handicaps
and achieve success in the realm OF
thought and action. Her thesis Is that the
will is the dominant force in human activ-
tiles. Much OF the testimony she advances
is derived directly from the personal state
ments OF men and women who fall into
this category. She says:
Herbert Spencer. for instance, tells of
the intellectual stimulus he got from physi-
cal exercise; Harriet Martineau, OF the
beneficial effect of a particular environ
ment, while others show the result of un-
spoken observation and ambitions. leav-
ing one to infer how, Of their infirmities,
they made for themselves ladders. But be-
one in particular with whom he finds q
personal compatibility so strong that It
will go far toward making him a sympa-
thetic friend; a friend capable of stirring
up the virtue within him. so that he too,
may meet successfully the adverse crcum-
stances of his lot, not merely in cut
and-drled way, as If by contract but with
the freer grace that pleasure gives
PICTURES FROM THE BALKANS. BY
John Foster Fraser Illustrated. New
York: Cassell & Company. Washing
ton: William Ballantyne & Sons.
MI. raSef journey through the Balkan
region was attended by many dramatic
incidents, as is always the case with tour
ist who goes forth determined to see all
that is OF interest and also all that is dis
tresSing. Much that is observed by such a
traveller is necessarily horrifying, for the
atmosphere of this part of the world is
charged with electricity and sparks are
always flying, causing tragedies This vol
ume contains pictorial evidence that Mr..
Fraser came upon the scenes of some of
these tragedies. Certain of the iIlustra-
tons indeed, are so gruesome that the pub
fishers have considerably caused them to
be printed in such a manner that they can
be torn out by the sensitive reader The
text is vividly interesting, setting forth the
distressing complications of Balkan politics
and intrigue and warfare, and explaining
much that Is mysterious to the average
westerner.
THREE SPEEDS FORWARD; an Auto
mobile Love Story with one Reverse
BY Lloyd Osbourne. author of Baby
Bullet SC. New York: l.. Appleton
4 Co.
This short story, published originally in
Everybody's Magazine, is an excellent type
nf ha oP hoo