Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-09-04
ss1HE MASTER OF MAN'' DEALS
WITH FASCINATING PROBLEM
Sir Hall Canc, in His Latest Book Uses as His Sub
jcct the Strong Conflict Between Public Duty
and Private Interest

The central subject Of The Mas
ter Of Man." by Sir Han Game 81. L.
l.ippincott Co. philadeiphia), the
! strong conflict between public duty
ar religious principle and private
! interest. has had Il great fascina tion
Tor some OF the foremost novcliSts
as in tho cases OF Mrs. Barhauld cart
and Naturc"). Scott c"rhc Heart OF
Midloth!ano. Loci hart ("Adan,
l5!atr). Haw thorne c'Thc Scarlc,
l.ettcrD. l.ytton C"Paui Clinord')
Karl Emil franzoS 1.Thc Chief JUS
ticeD. Stevenson c'we!r OF lIcrms
TONI. Tolstoy C'RcsurrcctionD, and
others
There have often hccn great differ
cnccs in their treatment of the sub
jet or often important rcsemblanccs
In some cases the person in whose
soul the conflict takes place is n
clergyman: In other cases he is a
Judge: In one case an advocate. In
another juryinan, and yet another
sister who holds the fate OF the
sinner in the palm OF her hand The
spiritual responsibility has sometimes
been the immediate consequence of a
sin. while sometimes II has been the
Indirect result of it. The foundation
has nearly always been laid on actual
occurrences, though the authors have
generally departed from the facts as
they found them. In nearly every
instance the sequel has been the
triumph OF public duty or religious
principle over private interest. but IT
has differed widely In incident. the
victim OF the struggle frequently
lying In the act OF achieving the vic
tory OF conscience and less frequent
~ being saved through love CASUALLY
the love OF noble hearted woman).
md the hope of n great resurrection.
Hall Game in The Master of Man
viii probably be judged by the meas
urc In which his Imagination has
brought new values, new uucS ton :
and new meanings to subject OF
universal and enduring interest a
great human subject (sin and its con
sequences that has perhaps never
ihccn new and can certainly never be
old
Tho following is brief synopsis
OF tho story: Victor Stowcll. a young
man OF fine nature. coming Of Fam
lily with high traditions, commits a
sin against Il woman in circumstances
OF extreme temptation such a. come
10 million OF young men In every
generation. He conccals his sin and
his conccalmcnt leads To other and
still other sins. until his whole lifc
Is wrapped up in falschood, and even
the little community in which he lives
is in danger OF being submerged In
the consequences In his suffcriuEs
he dcsccnds ns into hell. but AT length
ne sees that there Is only one sal
Walton for himself, his victim and his
pcoplc--confcssion and PREPARATION.
After he has confessed his secret sin
and paid the penalty in rcnunciat"n,
he is saved from spiritual death by
the love OF "A noble hearted woman
who has inspired him to IN" act OF
atoncmcnt-so the Gilman % the st"r%
is the resurrection OF his soul. The
scene is literally in the Isle OF Man.
and the period the present but the
one may l." said To he all the world.
ana the other all time. for the sub
jrct is universal.
II is n tremendous book. Their"
is no other word for II. II will GER
tainly create most profound i'm
preston. Sir Hall cainc has done
what n really great artist can do.
lie has taken a subject of universal
and undyinG interest an old and Of
tcn-fllcd chalicc. and has poured into
IL the new wine Of his vital person
ality and genius.