The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-01-10

better handled, even than its predecessors.
and represents not only departure in
kind but an advance in quality. 1t would
seem that Mr.. Miller, though he has ac-
CURED an enviable reputation through his
earlier books, has really now come int }
his own for the first time, mas discovered
the kind of a story that he can write
better than any other.
1.-The House of Toys" is narrative flaw
ored with poetry and instinct with high
ideals. Though 1t unfolds a plot that
might almost cause it to be described
as a problem novel. 1t is lightened and
sweetened by the sentiment and fairy
like air of 1t all so that it Is lifted quite
above all sordidness.
David, the hero. is a man who loves his
chosen work for the pure joy of creation.
not for the gold 1t may bring. He lives and
loves In the realm of the Imagination. But
his lovely wife is of another metal
The manner of the telling Is graceful
fluent, charming. The theme-the diff
Guilty man and his wife have in find
Ing way to live happily together-is
Charged with huamn interest, and the
transformations are remarkably genuine
IN every phase of the novelist's art the
author shows growth. The reader begins
the story with interest and ends 1t i'm
pressed with its splendid sincerity and
strength
''The House of Toys is one of the best
novels of the light-serious sort that has
been presented this season.
THE PATROL OF THE SUN DANCE
TRAIL"
By Ralph Conner. George H. Doran Co.,
publishers, New Yor.
The most popular hero ever created
by the famous author of BLACK Rock,
the Sky Pilot" and "The Doctor" ia
corporal Cameron hero of the book
Of that name. The Patrol of the Sun
Dance Trail is a new story of Cameron,
though 1t is entirely independent of the
other.
Here is the great brave book into
which Ralph Conner has put his best,
most intense writing, and In which he
has-and seizes-his biggest chance for
strong drama. 1t is the story of a
savage uprising of Indians and half
breeds, through which the northwest
mounted police fight for home and
country against tremendous odds--the
real, inside story OF tbs actual Louis
Riel rebellion. now first revealed.
Here is the sheer gold of Corporal
Cameron's welded love. Married to
Mandy, the brave girl of the frontiers.
Cameron has left the northwest
mounted, and on the Big Horn ranch. in
the purple shadows of the Rockies, he
lives a life that is the most perfect
idlyy man can know. Crisp winds from
The snowy peaks, the roaring fireplace
at night. leaping rivers filled with trout,
perfect freedom, honest work. the noble
love of a virile man and a clean wom-
an-such is their life
There comes the sinister Indian re-
bellion led by Copperhead, the Sioux
plotter Ranches and hamlets are threat.
ened with horrible death: the dominion
needs action quick and sure. The gal
liant little band of northwest mounted
Is driven to death. They must have
Cameron to patrol the perilous Sun
Dance Trail. And, backed by the true
heart of his wife, he answers the call
From here the story rises step by
step, through an exciting narrative OF
mans endurance to a climax of inten-
sity. How Cameron finally won out,
makes Connor's biggest. surest, most
interesting tale.
Through The Patrol of the Sun
Dance Trail, an exquisite minor note,
runs the shy young love OF Cameron
girl sister, little Mora, from the glens
OF Scotland, which--but that is the un-
expected end of this story. tender and
true and strong-Ralph Connor's tri-
umph
BY c. N. and A. M. Williamson. Double
day, Page & Co.. publishers, Garden
City. N. Y.
ITO the Legion" such is the dedica-
ton of c. N. and A. M. Williamson's
lew book. "A Soldier of the Legion"
romance OF Algiers and the desert. A
most timely dedication it is. too, con-
sidcring the fame this regiment of
daredevils is amassing in the fighting
in France at the present time. and con-
sidering the ending of the book which
reads:
-Four months later Max left his
bride to go with q French, English and
Russian contingent of the legion to
fight with the allies in France In the
war of the world.
''sanda waits and ,prays aid
hopes"
Although the peripatetic Williamsons
have laid one previous book in Africa
t"The Golden Silence'). never were
they more fortunate in a subject and