New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-01-26
NEW NOVELS.
Tangled Plots, Sentimental and
MeEodramatic.

inc f1sha5 q With s mts coi6p
eRTa~ings by the author. svo. ID. fsa Harper
THE DANegRvII.LB NHERIrANcR A De-
PIP, sl2. The John Lane Company. -''
Ta RAM2 36 S sP Fl sE M RsPs:ss u'
Illustrated i2m S.i-f Pr sa BOSTON, Tttis.
The author OF Gray Mist" has chosen for the
scene OF her story part Of France In which the
commonest interests OF everyday life take on. at
least for the friendly observer, certain roman
ito picturesqueness. She goes TO the Breton
coast for her material and relies for her effect
no less upon the vivid colors in her background
than upon the incidents OF love story having
simple peasant folk for its figures. When the
tale opens. a f1sherman's wife, mentally unbal
anced by the loss OF her child. IS suddenly made
happy again by what seems 70 her gift from
the saints A waif is brought TO her from the
sea, baby that takes with miraculous celebrity
the place OF the one she has lost, and this found
ling grows up knowing only the mother thus in
spired 10 open her arms. The finding Of the
child makes pretty scene. and there is some
very clever descriptive work In the chapters that
follow, painting the development Of young Pier
rex into stalwart lover. The experiences Of
his boyhood and youth embrace much that II
not Indispensable 20 the plot Is at all events in
teresting 10 the reader. inasmuch Il gives
him a clearer sense OF the way In which life is
lived among the obscurer peasants Of France
The dramatic complications that brought
forward in due time turn, of course, upon the
secret Of the heros origin. This IS not dis
closed until the mystery has been mads thor
Oughly tantalizing. and then we como upon
climax surprising enough. "Gray Mist" which
sv S-vllF Saah M. al
grim note. The romantic atmosphere of tho tale
is SITS chief merit.
''The DangerviIle Inheritance" IS odd de-
tective story. oddly told. In the nrst chapter
we are introduced 10 a practically ruined noble
man, who goes ingeniously TO work TO make his
earIdom bone of contention for those who are
to come after him. The scheme he adopts is
little puzzling. but II is nothing TO the scheme
OF the book that is made out OF It. The affair of
the earldom seems very soon 20 get itself set
tied, and then the author asks US 60 be inter
ested IN the misfortunes OF a British o1icer who
has a racehorse on his hands and a lot Of debts.
What has this gentleman 20 DO with the inhert-
lance in question: The author Is the last man
In the world TO tell until the end of his tale
is reached, and even then he leaves us somewhat
bewildered. This is not the way In which 10
write q good detective story. and, 20 tell the
truth Mr. Fox-Davies Is not IN tho least to- be
congratulated upon the construction OF his novel.
II is too erratic by far On the other hand. this
book undoubtedly holds the readers attention,
filling him with an ever-growing wonder as to
how the amazing succession Of mysterious cpl
sodes is ultimately TO be explained. II Is only
this element Of suspense that pulls the reader
through, for not OF the characters is in the
least degree sympathetic. Indeed, we have
rarely met in the fiction Of the day queerer set
savory and improbable.
Mr. Max Pemberton never does things by
halves. Having decided 20 make a gang Of
criminals conspicuous in 1.-The Diamond Ship"
he makes it a gang of truly stupendous noten-
tIalities. At it's head he places fearsome old
Jew one Val Imroth. who talks gloatingly of
tearing a man limb from limb, and is in fact,
capable OF all kinds of murders. and at the same
time so devotedly loves his wife that a threat
against her wellbeing reduces him 10 state Of
whining fear. Against the villeiny Of this
tonishing type the author pits the resources OF
wealthy English doctor with passion for beau
tiful Jewels and a certain taste for perilous ad-
venture DR.. Fabos goes to dance and there
meets a young whom he is destined TO
love- incidentally he discovers that she wears
some pearls that have been stolen from him. and
thenceforth he pursues her and her supposed
father half in the mood Of the detective and
half IN that OF love srnitten swain. The chase
grows exciting. II takes the doctor TO sea, and
there occupies him with all manner OF melo-
dramatic encounters. His efforts threaten to be
all thrown away. but, Of course, at the last mo-
ment matters are Strengthened out in such wise
as to enable him TO claim the reward which
we know at the outset is going TO be his. 1t
is light stuff very light stuff. but II is amusing.
.aThe Slave Of Silence" is not what Americans
used 10 call a dime novel; it is, instead, what
the English still call shilling shocker. When
we meet the heroine she is the eve of a
hateful marriage, enforced upon her by selfish
father who asks for the sacrifice in order that
his finances may be set upon better footing.
In the midst OF the wedding the man she really
loves bursts in with the information that her
wicked parent has been found dead in his room.
This would be bad enough for any BRIDE but
worse lies before this sorely tried lady. She
has barely adjusted her mind TO the fact of her
fathers decease when doctor enters her room
and says. by some strange means, certain peo-
pie entered Sir Charles's room last night and
carried him away" Beatrice is breathless and
so is the reader 1t is long time before calm
ness once more broods upon the scene. Mean
while, sinister forces move everybody concerned
In the plot in an almost fantastic manner The
mystery grows deeper and deeper. Naturally
ono reads on until the mystery Is solved. but
Mr.. White is not exactly a master OF style and
the Job OF getting through his lurid pages Is
sometimes a little heavy.
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A