New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-10

THE DEVILS GARDEN. By " 10.
Maxwell I2mo pp. Ifi. The BoDOS-
Merrill Company
Considerable time has been allowed
to clause between the publication In
this country of Mr.. Maxwelfs new
novel and the advertisement given IT
by the British Libraries Associations
censorship. Whatever the commercial
value Of this advertisement, 1t is evil
dent that both Mr.. Maxwell. and his
American publishers have chosen not
to take advantage OF it, but TO make
the story stand on its own merits with
us. It was, indeed, a question Of only
few passages unnecessarily realistic
PERHAPS. since they went beyond the
point where the mature reader would
fIily understand. yet just!fable in the
retrospect. after ote has finished the
story. as adding a significant touch TO
the Interpretation of the character Of
the woman in the case.
In it's point of departure the plot OF
THE Devils Garden" closely resembles
that of Zolas La Bette Humane In
the Frenchman's story we have "A rural
station master, self-made man, who
discovers, through a chance remark Of
his wife, that his success has been due
not to his own ability and work but to
her dishonor when she was young
girl He kills the guilty man, who is
81 Of no
undetected. In N. Maxwells novel II
is a rural postmaster, born of poor
peasants. who is saved at critical mo-
ment in his official career by the inter-
venton Of the lord of the manor; and
il is a chance remark Of his wife,
former servant at the great house, that
leads to his discovery Of her secret and
the murder Of his protector. From this
point on. however. the two, stories
diverge widely.
Thereafter The DEVILS Garden" be-
comes a noteworthy study OF the in
fiuence Of a mans crime upon his char
actr. There is unity throughout a
steadily progressive development Of
certain fundamental traits in him, born
a peasant, semi-educated. satisfied with
himself at first out of all proportion
to his achievements Jealous rage
drives him to murder; Immediately af-
terward caution bids him TO allow his
wife to accept the legacy left TO her in
the dead mans will. He even borrows
this money from her to buy farm.
and, as he prospers, saives his con-
science, after he has repaid the loan,
by anonymously donating a similar
amount to charity. He considers the
affair closed with this restitution, but
remorse, which has thus far troubled
his sleep, but which he has kept silent
during his waking hours by sheer will
power, begins to overwhelm him. His
shallow fortress of confused scientific
he turns to religion, the manner OF his
conversion and its aim being again a
reversion to his stolid peasant ancestry.
Finally, growing old, and become a
lOrd OF tIle manor III MS OWN Sildi
way, he is confronted with the tempta-
ton to which the man he murdered
had yielded. He has not the strength
to conquer 1t, he realizes, wherefore
suicide is the only way out. But from
this he is saved by circumstance, which
to him seems to be an act of grace.
In its passive way, the character If
the wife is no less well drawn; the
story is, moreover, filled with multi
tude of minor characters dexterously
sketched, admirably merged with the
proper local color and atmosphere. AS
a piece of writing, of planning and
execution, The Devils Garden" is. in
deed, a piece of sterling workmanship.
If not a great novel, it is at least a
notable achievement from the pen Of
contemporary novelist whose work is
steadily growing in strength and sig
niflcance.