Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-08-27
REVIEWS OF NEW BOOKS.
.The Master Of Man. A story of sin.
BY Hall Caine. Philadelphia, Pa;
- &

Z -. ID. IslEHiilGoAi " Si.tt.
/ Hall Caine will be warmly welcom-
ed by his thousands OF readers as THE
Master Of Man" in his first novel in
eight years. IL is, of course, a novel
of great power, setting forth in alb
sorbing form and manner. his marvel
Gus ability in picturing scenes and
incidents and revealing human life.
i'm high or low garb, with a clearness
of detail that presents his characters
10 the reader as living human beings
and imparts sense of personal inter
course with them and active partici-
patton in their doings. The scene of
The Master of Man" Is laid in that
attractive little Isle OF Man. so promi-
nent in history and so rich in ro-
nance. also the dwelling place of Mr..
Caine. which is known the world over,
notwithstanding its physical isola-
tion in the middle of the Irish Sea.
The motto given for this book by
the author is: BE sure your sin viii
find you out" It's chief feature is
revelation of the power of conscience,
and how it will impel men of naturally
high character and strongly moral
natures 10 DO what is right, and to re-
spect the majesty Of the law. even un-
der conditions which lead TO their own
downfall. and in consequence of events
which otherwise they might conceal
from the view of the world In this
respect THE Master of Man" will APP
peal most effectively to all who en-
joy the pleasure of its perusal, even
though some may recoii from the real
foundation of the story and wish
hos 1e .J1,
human life had been selected in its
place.
The plot OF THE Master of Man" as
conceived and delineated by Mr. Caine,
is most extraordinary. Victor Stoweu,
the hero. is a son Of the Deemster
Judge of the courtl of Man, a citi-
zen of high character and stainless
life. AS a boy he was not especially
promising, though never really bad
But. inspired by love for Fenella
Stanley, daughter of the governor of
the island. he set himself 10 a con-
sistent and assiduous study of his
fathers profession, became a lawyer
of note. and eventually, after the death
of his father, succeeded the latter in
the priced office. hel5 by him so long
and worthily.
But meanwhile mJ troubles had
commenced. While on his upward way
fate threw him into a casual ac-
ouaintance with a young woman of
the lower class. with little education
and no strong sense of morality, and
there was the natural sequence. al
though the result of no intrigue on
his part, but OF incidental happen
ings which. he did not direct But he
had a conscience. and believing he had
wronged the girl. he decided TO edu-
cate her and make her his wife. Hard
was the struggle involved in this con-
for he loved the other wo-
man with a strength that was of his
soul.
But fate. as directed by the master
hand of Hall Caine, decreed other
wise. He had a warm friend, a close
companion Of schoolbcy days. Aleck
Cell by name. who at this time fell
madly in love with the girl. and she
with him Cell determined 20 marry
her. despite the bitter opposition of
his father and family. and they ar
ranged for this end. But the newt
able consequences, not anticipated at
irst, intervened, and the girl found
herself in state that would have
made marriage with Cell tragic. She
sdrove TO conceal her condition and
rs effects, so that keeping him in ig-
norance she could hold his love and
marry him in time. But her child
was born. and il died soon thereafter
Sy her hand. although the act was ae-
cidental. not deliberate
Discovery followed and the girl was
arrested and arraigned for trial on |
a charge OF murder. with death on the |
saliows as the penalty under the an
cient laws OF the Isle of Man. And |
The man mainly responsible for her |
Tall. then in the high office Of Deem |
ster. had 10 preside at her trial, and. |
after a verdict of guilty by the jury, ]
sentence her TO be hanged by the neck !
until she was dead. What a situa-
ton. What torment for the man |
thus confronted with such horrible /
Of his indiscretion.
The recital Of Victor Stowells |
wrestling with his conscience during /
his ordeal is narrowing. 1t gave him /
40 rest. His grief was intensified by
he fact that he had gained his hearts
iesire in the promise Of Finella STAN |
ey 10 marry him. He endeavored TO |
and in this direction he
vent so far as to secure the escape of /
he condemned woman from her pri-
son on the night before the day set /
or her execution, securing the aid of /
sleck Cell. who went with her on a
steamboat which carried them to free
iom. Then Deemster Stowell drew a /
ew breaths of relief hoping his /
iwful probation was over
But il was not Conscience still /
ternly challenged him for wrong
ioing. Hc had deliberately broken
he law he had solemnly sworn to up
old and execute without fear or favor.
His friend. who was innocent was
and charged with enabling