The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-05-29

pond with all kinds of Interesting pos
sibilities. The editor ia an American
Saint BcuYe to Paula Ltnster. because
he is SO quick to discern genius and to
reward It. She never fully understands
Saint Beuvc's foelipg for herself. how
evor, and he is sufficiently mastor Of
tho situation TO put his claims out OF
sight and rejoice over happiness
in the Towering of which he has proven
on active potentially. From first to
last Saint Beuvo lives up to the Ideal
which Paula has formed concerning
him.
Into the woll- balanced purity OF
Paula's existence comes an alien ana
disturbing influence, that OF Dr.. Bell
lnBham, hypnotist and teacher OF ESQ
teric women's classes. organizing New
york lecture courses in Prismatic Hall,
man whose presence sets to quiver-
Ing within Paula. fears engendered
from the great occult past. Opposing
Bellingham's influence is q rcmarkab BILE
woman. Madame Nestor. who has
been noticed by Paula at philosophical
gathering and brotherhoods. She comes
to see the girl and warns her: "When
I saw Bellingham's eyes settle upon
you last night, IT appeared to me that
you are to know him we'll. came here
TO give you what strength could. for
he is the chief of devils He wants
life. floods OF young. fine vitality. He
fears death and renews his life from
splendid sources of human magnetism,
such Is you possess You sec in him
an empty thing. which has lived, God
knows how many years. creature
who knows that to die means the
swift disintegration of an evil prin-
clple."
From this time forward there is car
ried on between Paula and the nagi-
clan conflict OF will power. the oc-
cultist using every effort to get the
girl within his power and under his
control. summoning her, pleading with
her. almost breaking down her resist.
ance. A name, that of man she loves;
thought. that OF n book the man has
written. stand between her and Bell
ingham's Vaccinations. She writes
to this man and he to her, Of many
things. among others of Catholic
priest. Father Fontanel. of Saint Pierre
Martinique. of whom he says: IN all
my thinking upon the ultimate happi-
ness of the race, he stands out as the
bright achievement" i
This mention OF Father Fontanel is
significant In its relation TO the story
For because OF a mistaken Impression
made upon Paula's mind concerning
The man she loved. by IN actress nam
cd Selma Foss. Paula ran away 10
Saint Pierre herself. She was prompt
Is followed. both by her lover and her
enemy. She was in Martinique at the
time OF the eruption of Mont Pelee,
and was married there by Father Fon-
tanel in the fireliEht under the Seven
Palms and the ardent mystic smile OF
the Empress Josephine
For her and for Quentin Charter, the
mar she married. life began afresh.
BellinEham found IN st. Pierre death
instead OF life, the death that he fear
ed rather than life that ,he loved, al
though youth lay like a barrier Of de-
tense against death across his knees
The book is beautifully written and
Its emotional and psychological phases
are wrought out with thrilling real
ism. Paula Linster is the creation be-
yond all others on which the writer
has centred his noblest efforts every
character and incident of the romance
contributing something toward the at
mosphere. In which her mental powers
expand and full comprehension OF what
life means. in its weakness as wen
as It's strength. IS borne in upon her
There is much that is original in the
conception of the book and in the way
the conception is sustained and develop
cd. The house which is being built is
the house of life, and VIII Lexington
Comfort shows that woman may be
the ideal architect OF the ages.
BY Horace Bleackley. John Lane. The
Bodley Head. New York. $50.
story of Merry England when
manners and civilization were NOR Q
elemental than at the present day.
The story opens with a celebration
at her home. in the South OF England,
of the coming of age of Mistress Mar
garet Crofton, the joyous occasion OF
which was interrupted by a summons
to the heroine OF the evening from a
discarded sutton, a Major Thornton,
OF the British army, who threatened,
unless she acceded to his plea for an
immediate marriage. to make public
matters that would disgrace her faith
ers memory.
Margaret's refusal to entertain
Thornton's propositions led to an at
tempt on the part of the man to alb
duct her. In this he was foiled by
Dick Maynard. the son of the rector at
A1argaret's home. who had for the
young woman a very honest affection
and had won her favor.
Then a determination to travel alone
TO London on Margaret's part and get
pardon for her father from the Sec
rotary of State led to any number of
adventures. involved the headstrong
heroine and young Maynard In no end
OF difficulties and came near costing
young MAYNARD his life on the gallows
But reprleNe came at the last mo-
ment and Dick was given back to his
sweetheart. The action In the book Is
continuous, and attentions is not al
lowed to lag for moment. The story,
as whole, Is entertaining for the
lover of the romantic and adventurous
in fiction.
"phe Stolen singer.o
BY Martha Bellinger. Illustrated BE-
Arthur William Brown The Bobbs
Merrill Co. S1.25 net.
There is a decided flavor of Stock
ton about this story, something of
Stockton's humor and not a little OF
the charm of his easy style. The re-
semblance is suggested first by the
plot which is exactly the kind OF mix
UP Stockton delighted in. and again by
the old New England farmhouse, so
lovingly described, and the happy lives
L - a