SOME RECENT FICTION.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1901, 8 November 1913, Page 9

SOME RECENT FICTION.

TWO NOTABLE NEW "AMERICANS." Two of tho best novels of incident we havo had from America for somo time past are Zane Grey's "Desert Gold" (Harper's, per Whitcombo-and Tombs), and James Oliver Curwood's "Isobel" (Harper's, per Whitcombo's). Tho Tho scenes of tho two novels aro far apart, Zane Grey's novel dealing with lifo in Arizona and New Mexico, Mr. Curwood's. story having for its background tho extreme far north of Canada, the desolate plains just to the south of Hudson's Hay. In "Desert Gold" aro narrated tho adventures of Dick Gale, a young American, and exHarvard man, the son of a New York millionaire, who finds himself in tho littlo border town of Casita. Here ho comes to the aid of an old college chum, George Thome, an officer in tho United States Army, who is in love with a beautiful Spanish girl, Mercedes Castencda, who is pursued by tlio unwclcomo attentions of a border bandit, ono Rojas, notorious for his unbridled sensuality and fiendish cruelty. Gale rescues tho girl from a dangerous position, and.takes her to tho houso of a fine old American, named Ladd, a_ frontier official, with whom 'ho is staying, and with whoso daughter, Nell, tho young fellow is in love. A force of bandits, under Rojas, cross the frontier, and threaten Ladd's station, but aided by a Yaqui Indian, of whose race Rojas lias been an unrelenting enemy, tho two voung men and Mercedes escapo into the great desert of Southern Arizona, finally taking refuge in an old crater. Hero they are besieged by Rojas and his desperadoes, whom they drive off, only to bo threatened by death from, thirst. How, by almost a miracle, preoeded by acts of true heroism, tlio little party succecd'in getting back to ' Ladd's house, and of the subsequent happenings I must not tell. This much I can say, however, that thero is a decided freshness of treatment right through this well-written romance which, though highly sensational, is pleasantly frco from any taint of mere melodrama, and contains not only somo skilful character drawing, but many descriptive passages of a high order of literary merit. Zane Grey's previous novel, "The Heritage of tho Desert," was a, deservedly popular story, but "Desert Gold" is, in certain respects, its superior.

. From tho merciless sun of the Arizona desert to the frozen plains of the Hudson's Bay Territory is indeed a change. Mr. Curwood's story is not so long as Mr. Grey's, but it has an equally fine romantic and dramatic flavour. The hero, Billy M'Veigh, sergeant in the R.N.M.P., otherwise the Royal North-west Mounted Police, is told off to track down and capture a reputed murderer, one Scottie Deane, who is supposed to have taken refuge with a tribe of 'Esquimaux in the dreary far northern region, a miles_ or more straight north of civilisation. M'Veigh finds Deane, but is tricked out of his capture by tho refugee's wife, a sweet and lovable woman, whose loyalty to her husband is positively heroic. The story soon resolves itself into the record of the difficult struggle of thojicro to square duty and love, for his affection for the poor woman is as deep as it is suddenly evolved. Deane, who is consumptive, dies, but not beforo his innocence, has been established and before, also, recognising how bravo and tmo a man is the sergeant, he confides his wife to M'Veigh's care. M'Veigh's happiness and that of the woman aro not, however, to bo speedily achieved, for misunderstandings and various untoward circumstances block the way for a time. Tlio conclusion, however, Is one which cannot fail to please all who read the story. M'Veigh's romance is worked out with charming delicacy, and ill'few, recent novels have I encountered

a sweeter, more lovable, heroine than the much-tried Isobel Deane, tho embodiment of all that is good, and noble in womanhood, 'l'hb picturesque local colour of tho story, its fine dramatic quality, its terse' and vigorous stylo mark "Isobel" as one of the best novels of Canadian life that wo have had for somo tirno past. SHORTER NOTICES. There is both dramatic strength and real pathos in Harold Goad's story, " The Kingdom" (Win. Heinemann; per George Robertson and Co.). The scene is Italy, the immediate background a Franciscan convent at Assissi, the principal figure, a monk, Father Bernardo, who has adopted a religious' career as tho result of disappointment in love. But the fates ordain that he shall again meet Ids old love, Vittoria, and her husband, his old friend, Orlando, and tho result is a violent struggle between religious vows and the conlictinc influences of the world. The story "is well written and, incidentally, gives an interesting and, in places, ratlior ugly picture of present-day peasant life in Italy. "Pleasures and Palaces," by Juliet Wilbur Tompkins (Hodder and Stougliton, per S. and ,W. Mackay), describes "the home-staying adventures of Marie Rose." Marie lioso is a well-to-do young American lady, with a passion for travelling, who, however, settles down to a solitary existence in a New York flat, and thero finds housekeeping a dull and irritating thing, for she is blissfully-ignorant of even an elementary knowledge of cooking. Fortunately, in the same building, there is a handsome and clover young mining engineer, whom experience out West has made into a Singularly gifted "handyman." Instruction in cookery is pleasantly blended with love-making, and when, in tho final chapter, tho heroine starts for Japan, but "calls in" at tho engineer's camp in tho "ltockies," tho journey, once broken, is not resumed, and, well—you can guess what happens. A slight, hut prettily told, story, with somo dainty illustrations by Howard Chandler Christy.

Tho Itiviera is tho principal sccne in Christian Read's novel "Princess Nadino" (G. I'. Putnam's Sons; per Georgo Robert-son and Co.). Tho heroine, a lovely Russian princess, of American blood on her mother's side, is being pestered by lier ambitious mother, to marry His Serene Highness, Princo Maximilian of Altenberg, who is first favourito for the vacant throne of "Serabia" a Balkan State in want of a ruler. Tho young lady herself is favourably inclined to the marriage, but there happens along a mysterious American, named Jack Leighton, a millionaire, and political adventurer, from Central America. Despito many snubs from both mother and daughter, the newcomer succeeds, by dint of his strong personality and chivalrous befriending of the lady under somewhat trying circumstances, in making her return liis love, and after a long series of curious complications, intrigues with Russian revolutionists and so forth, tho "strong man" carries off tho prize, tho beautiful princess foreswearing all European honours to elope with the adventurer on his yacht. Vory American; but readable enough in its way.

"Pollard tho Punter," b.y Edgar Wallace (Ward, Lock and Co.; per S. and W. Mackay), is a shilling reprint of a story, mainly concerned with racing, which was first published under tho title "Grey Timothy." Since then Ml'. Wallace has come to the front as tho author of some excellent stories dealing with West African life. Compared with bis later work, "Pollard tho Punter" is but poor stuff and was hardly worth reprinting.'

In "Sold to tho Sultan" (Georgo Bell and Sons; per Whitcombe and Tombs), E. de la Villeneuve recounts the adventures of a young French engineer, who

befriends tlio beautiful young info of Ali Boy, ono of tho Turkish revolutionary leaders in 1908. The Story gives much curious information as to harem life at Constantinople, and the chief incidents of the revolution which brought about tho downfall of tho infamous Abdul Hamid are skilfully utilised by tho author. Derek Vane's latest story, "Tim Soul of a Man" (George Bell and Sons; per Whitcombe and Tombs), has a first-class villain, in tho person of Count Vororitsoff, a character worthy almost of Wilkie Collins. Tho story is sensational, but not ill-told.

Our old friend, Fergus Hume, is a skilled compounder of the " mystery " novel, and his latest production in this genre, " Seen in tlio Shadow," i 3 a well constructed, highly sensational and very readable story, which will hold its own with tho work of much more fashionable authors of tho day. The publisher of Mr. Nat Gould's sporting stories proudly reproduces, from the "Athenaeum"—of June, 1911 • —tho following quite staggering statement: "All living writers are headed by Mr. Nat-Gould, and of the great of the past Duinas only surpasses his popularity." Alas, alas, for, Miss M—' C— and Mr. H— C—. What of their mana as\" best sellers now ?

The. "Athenaeum," on another popular novelist, not Mr. Nat Gkmld this ■time:—"Mr. Wells, the social rebel and reformer, Mr. Wells tlio story-teller, are with us in their prime, but -Mr. Wells the artist has not developed. . ." But this is only an ' isolated sentence from a review (on Wells's latest novel, "The Passionate Friendship") which is, as a whole, highly favourable, almost —as regards tho story as a story— enthusiastic. A review of Robert Hichenß's latest novel, "Tho Way of Ambition" is held over until next week.