RECENT FICTION

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2729, 25 March 1916, Page 9

RECENT FICTION

"Merry Andrew." ' We are always sure of- some light and agreeable entertainment in one of ;Mr. Keblo Howard's novels, and his latest story, "Merry Andrew" (John Lane), is 110 exception to the rule. Mr. Howard's hero. is a jolly young fellow, who fails to secure a degree at Oxford, and who, having literary leanings, seeks his' fortune in Fleet Street. His earlier experiences of journalism are not encouraging', and he accepts a position as 'an assistant master in a proprietary ■ private school, escaping eventually from what proves to be a sordid and miserable existence to become the sub-editor of a popular London weekly, and finally being able to marry a charming young lady who has remained faithful to him through all his dreary and depressing experiences. The author knows his Fleet Street as well; as did Mr. Phillip Gibbs, when the latter wrote that capital story, "The Street of Adventure," and liis pesonal experiences as "Chicot" .of "The Sketch" havo no doubt assisted him not a little with the ideal colour. In his sketches of life at a third-rate private school, lie exploits a new and profitable field, and this part of tho book is distinctly fresh and convincing. Altogether ft very pleasant and .readable story. . ■ . _ . "Demi-Royal.". In "Demi-Royal" (Methven and Co.), Mr. A.shton .Villiers has written a semiiiistorical novel, possessing a novel and exceptionally . interosting plot. The story j which opons in 1800, lias for its principal male figure, a country squire, of wealth and social distinction, whose good name is temporarily, and guite -unjustly;; lying under a cloud. He has, too, suffered the loss of his fiancee, a Quakeress, and is ripe for any project which shall free his mind of unpleasant! memories. So he plunges into adventure, seeing service at Jena (with a Swedish- contingent), being afterwards employed on a mission in the Peninsula, and having many otiher oxcitementladfen experiences. On tho retreat from Jena he meets with a- little girl who, so the author would have u- believe, was the offspring of the morganatic marriage contracted by the Prmce of Wales (afterwards 'George IV), with the beautiful but unfortunate Mrs. Fitzherbert. The story, Mich develops a series' of highly dramatic and romantic situations, is supposed to be narrated in the memoirs which a grand uncle compiles for the future amusement and edification of his grand nieces and liophows. It displays evidences of a close study not only of tho history of the Napoleonic period, but of the social habits and customs of the timo, and is in every way an original and interesting production. . The Latest Le Queux. Mr. William Le Queux; whatever be the faults of his literary style, is un. questionably a master of. the ultra-sen. sational, and will always have a big public of admirers who vastly enjoy hia ingeniously, conceived stories of mysterious crimes, wicked plots of European revolutionaries, and so forth. Just now Mr. Le Queux is specialising in tho Bpy -'story, his latest production in this genre, "The Mystery of tho Green Ray" (Hodder and Stoughton. per S, and W. Mackay), being a particularly gc-od. example of this class of fiction, It is a story of the war and of a pecu. liarly devilish invention employed by two German spies, an invention by which tho Kaiser's agents can smite his enemies with instantaneous blindness. The hero, however, is fully equal to all emergencies, and the story of how ho outwits the demoniacally clover 'Germans, restores his sweetheart's sight, and captures for tho British Naval Intelligence Department the wonderful installation of the Green Hay is told by Mr. Le Queux with all his usual vigour. "The Mystery of the Green Ra.y" can be specially recommond'ed for a railway or steamer journey. "The Little Blind Cod." Miss Anne Weaver's novel, "The Little Blind God". (Andrew Melrose; •per Gordon and Gotch), is a lively, not to say exciting, story of tho late Georgian days, with a handsome young baronot and two ladies, Barbara Cardeen and Lady Rosamond! Estcourt, as principal characters. Sir Simon has been somewhat of a gay young dog, but his love for his mother's protegee, the pretty and gentlo Barbara, results in his becoming disgusted with his dissipated associates. Unfortunately, Lady Rosamond has marked tho eligible parti down as her special prey, and' lier jealousy of Barbara leads her to employ another of her gallants, a roystoring, gambling, expert duellist, to deviso a scheme by which the baronet's attachment to her rival may !)►: broken off. A secret passage, an interrupted duel, the tardy repentance of Lady Rosamond's intended tool, and tho natural jjood sense and honour, of the baronet

all contribute to provide a conclusion vastly disconcerting to the jealous rival, and equally satisfactory to tho lovers. Tho st° r y ? s brightly written, tho heroine in-particular being a refreshingly dainty and charming character. . 4 "Tho Lost House." Mr. David Lyall, the author of "The Lost House" (Hodd'er and Stoughton, per S. and W. Mackay), has the reputation, I believe, in certain circles, of being what is called a "safe" author, one whose novels generally convey a highly desirable moral, and are therefore peculiarly suited for what is known as "family reading." But the author of "The Land of the Leal" is by no means a mere goody-goody writer. Ho is a well-practised story-teller, and knows how to enlist and retain, the interest of hip readers. His latest story deals very largely with journalistic life in London, his liero, David Heriot, being sadly neglectful of his good wife, Jeannice, the pair, indeed, threatening to drift permanently apart. Fortunately, Btaunch friends and good influences alter a perilous situation, and the repentant Heriot turns over a new leaf, husband and wife d'evoting themselves to the now congenial task of rebuilding their "Ix>st House" of comfort and happiness. As' in all Mr. Lyall's stories, there is a strong religious interest, but it is by no.means overdone. A pleasant, wholesome story.