The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-05-29

tween have rushed away behind, the present fading into unreality and un- reality becoming real. One does not read but rather lives and moves amid the scenes of long ago.
 With Stephanas and Shaoul we enter the second city of the world, Antioch In Syria, and with them we are carried breathless from scene to scene through the unfolding drama of their lives. Who are these pilgrims and what Is the tremendous power that drives them ever onward to the fulfilment of their mission? Through a shifting series of strong scenes we come at last to learn the tremendous truth that underlies the story We are gripped from the first, when Stephanas wins favor In the eyes of Princess Salome, that later turns to love. Then comes the race. He loses, but the love between them grows with a strength that tears him from the friend of his youth and turns him from the great mission upon which they had set out together. They are destined to meet again. but only after fate has torn Stephanas from Salome, turned her into soulless dancer thirsting for re- venge, and left him desolate. Then 1t Is that he feels again the mighty call of his former mission, and the events that follow lead to the final meeting of the two friends. Stephanas and Shoual, when the former has reached the ultimate goal of his supreme faith. Here Is depicted one of the most dramatic and gripping scenes of this unusually powerful novel.
 Dr. Jenkins builds upward from the carnal and passionate into fine. clear atmosphere of dominating faith. Only really great book has that subtle quality of fastening itself up the mind and memory in such way as to haunt us long after we have finished reading Such Is the quality of Princess Sa lome," tale of the days of Camel Bells. It Is in fact a vital message of yesterday for today that cannot fail to stir the soul of any thinking man or woman.
 THE MYSTERY OF THE SYCAMORE" By Carolyn Wells (frontispiece in
 color) the J. B. Lippincott Company,
 Publishers. Philads dslphia.
 Here is the latest "Fleming Stone" detective story from the pen of that clever and fascinating writer of mys- ,ery tales, Carolyn Wells. In "The Dia- mon Pin" Raspberry Jam" and other Fleming Stone" stories. Miss Wells won a host of friends who each year look forward Eagerly to some new ex- ploit of the intrepid detective. nor have they ever had cause to be disappointed. This year she has given us The Mys- tsry of the Sycamore" and 1t can be safely predicted that she will add more friends to the already growing num- Der. Here Is the story. or enough of Is to whet the appetite for more.
 Accused of forgery. pardoned, and then eXiled from his native state until the sycamore on the ridge comes over to Massachusetts without the aid of human hands, such was the fate of Daniel Wheeler a t the hands of his po- years later Appieby seeks Wheeler's in- fluence towards the placing of his son. Sam, Jr.. in the gubernatorial chair. At the Wheeler home, Appieby and Wheeler go to the latters den to dis cuss the proposition. A cry of fire is raised from the garage and in the midst of the excitement Appieby is murdered Wheeiersand his daughter Maida, are found staring at him. Such is the crux of the gripping mystery that holds one spell-bound,
 With the voluntary confession of three people to the murder, the reader is completely mystified until Fleming Stone is called in to clear things up. Readers of Miss Wells previous stories in which he figured so brilliantly will have no doubts as to his ability to bring the guilty party to light in short. order and will be delighted to find him in better, form than ever. His Expose of the real criminal is as an exkiting a deHeuemeat as one could wisA for