Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1909-03-04

Maybclle Esteile, and II offered rare Cd
portunities for the portrayal OF captivat-
ing, ingenious girlishness, but the OBJ
portunities were not fully improved.
Miss EsteIle was desperately, monoton-
ously tragic. She never dropped to an
everyday tone Of voice and, seemingly,
could not give utterance to the simplest
lines without q great waste of soulful ex-
preston.
In happy contrast there strolled into
the scene the happy-go-lucky George
Huntley. an engineers assistant, most
successfully impersonated by Frank Dee.
This young man found relaxation for
him self and the audience by badgoring
the Scotchman, whose erring wife he
justified by declaring that IL he had to
live with McTavish he'd elope with the
family cat.
Then appeared William Mcdonald, the
engineer, up in the woods marking the
route Of new railroad and carelessly ex-
/ tracing what enjoyment he could far
from the designations and gaities Of the
big towns. Henry Duggan in this role
did splendid work. His half-suggested
swagger, his cool, cunning pursuit Of
the pretty Hilda, his insolent look and
tone made him a villain whom the spec
tators so cordially hated and feared that
they almost forgot to recognize the art
that had won q detestation, in this in
stance, more fattering than applause.
Last of all to come to the cabin door
was Jules Beaubien, the hero of the
piece-a handsome young French-Cana-
dian, played by SEVERN DeDeyn, whose
name would indicate that his excellent
French pronunciation was more natural
than acquired. His clothes were a little
too dapper, his soft felt hat a little too
modish and unsullied for life in the
woods, bat be was a fine personable hero
and his acting had the charm OF ease and
naturalness. He rose to whatever the oc-
casion required with no exaggerated en-
phasis and his enunciation was some
\ thing after the laconic style of Edgar Sell
wyn.
To Jules, the engineer confesses his
treatment of Annette, who happened to
be Jules half sister, and also Acknowl-
edges his intentions with regard to Hill
da, for whose favor he charges Jules with
being his rival.
In the next scene is shown the interior
of the cabin, with the skins OF McTav-
ish's game tackled to the walls, a wide
fireplace and mantel, and Mcdonald
bending over lot Of blue prints on the
table. In this scene Mcdonald gets Hill
da to consent to go away to the States
with him if her father is willing, and he
wins McTavish's approval to the plan by
promising to take Hilda to his mother,
representing her as q stern Scotch woman
OF the Presbyterian kirk who will con-
tinue the process OF saving Hilda's soul
with q rigor greater than McTsvish's
own. The compact is but completed
W hen Jules is discovered at the window
absorbing the conversation. All sorts OF
trouble Immediately ensue. McTavish
raves, Mcdonald likewise, Hilda flies tc
Jules and Ba'tiste levels gun from the
window on the engineer and McTsvish.
The setting OF the third scene was su
perb, a moonlight view of the river anc
its bends, bit OF woods and path, dowI
which stole Jules, Hilda, Huntley anC
Ba'tiste with the canoe that was to tak'
them to Montreal All embarked excep
Jules, who, sending the weeping Hildl
away, strayed behind to meet Mcdonald
close on their trail. After their depar
ture and while Jules waited for his riva
to appear the bowling, barking AND
whining Of pack of wolves was hearC
from a graphophOne record and added
genuine touch of realism. To Jules ]
: meant tnat oeatn was near 10 someone
! himself or Mcdonald; for ii is an IndiaI
! legend that when the wolves run il
packs, death is not far away.
r At last Mcdonald creeps stealthil,
down the path the others trod, catche
, sight of Jules in the dim light, fires ant
bis man drops. apparently dead. Draw
: ing closer. he bends over to look at hi
: victim, when the latter suddenly spring
at him from the ground and grapple
I with him in q deadly struggle. Tn
/, fighting figures are just discernible in tn
/, semi-darkness and when one falls, tn
( spectators are left in suspense as to hi
: identity until the victor, striking
Z match to see the fate of his opponent, let
I its light fall on his own eountenance-
and, with a sigh OF relief, the house see
: that it is not Jules the wolves are after.
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