Los Angeles herald., 1908-04-19

sion, and the Lady Ursula, being sent
for by Queen Mary, makes her appear
ance grandIy, to the confusion of all
the envious and the malicious. The
story is told with abundant energy and
skill, and is good reading.
In Mary's Reign. By Baroness Orczy.
New York: The Cupples & Leon Co.
With a vigorous and far-reaching
flight of imagination Samuel H. Adams,
in his new novel, 1.-THE Flying Death"
attains a front-rank place among nc
tionists of the Jules Verne school. 1t Is
not difficult to create on paper appalling
things that make humanity shudder;
the real art Of the story telier is IN
welding these chimeras of fancy SO
closely to the fabric of human expert
ence that an impression or realism is
secured, adm maintained.
In Mr.. Adams latest work, as in 1.-THE
Mystery" dramatic illusion prevails
over reckless fantasy. Notwithstand-
ing it's wild and fantastic assumptions
the balance of credulity remains undis-
turbed.
The scene of the story is laid in a
fishing village on Long Island, where a
few visitors were spending the winter
at a little boarding house, among them
young doctor in search of his health,
an archeologist and a professor of bot
any.
OIlG SlOII1y l1Shl cb ollAp Welo ONS"AH
on the rocks, and the visitors turned
out in a body to help the crew OF the
wrecked vessel, who were hauled ashore
alive and we'll save one, who was found
dead with a deep wound in the back,
though it was conclusively proved that
he had left the ship alive.
For weeks after the wreck the visit
ors were startled by hearing strange
sounds in the air, as of the tapping of
huge wings, always accompanied by
a peculiar oily odor. The scientist con-
fessed himself baffled at this unknown
and mysterious harbinger of evil.
Another death occurs; a coast guards
man is found lying on the beach, muir
dered in the same inexplicable way as
the sailor, and things reach crisis
when the young archeologist, who had
gone down to the shore to investigate.
was found by his friends next morning,
lying dead with a deep wound in the
back.
What is the explanation of this
strange phenomenon, whose ravages be-
come daily more frequent and daring.
who who never allows itself to be seen?
1t evidently comes through the air, as
1t leaves no trace behind.
Whether it is man, bird or beast Is
not explained until the last few pages
of the final chapter, when the mystery
is swiftly and tragically solved.
Adams. New York: The Mcclure Co.
Every religion that is worthy of the
name has produced literature-not
only a dogmatic and theological liter
ature, but a literature of poems and
fiction as we'll. This is the case with
Christian Science, no less than with
it's predecessors. Young as the sect IL.
some of it's members have sought TO
embody it's precepts in verse; others
have made them the key to plots for
stories and novels. But an absolute
novelty is the juvenile Christian Sci
ence story, and that novelty is achieved
in "Delight," a charming little story
by Gertrude Smith, which has just
made its appearance. The theme is ap-
healing and the style is simple. But
| the chief charm of the book lies in the
delineation of the child's character.
Delight: The Story of Little Chri-
tian Scientist. BY Gertrude Smith.
Philadelphia: Henry Altemus cons
! pany.