SOME RECENT FICTION.

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 229, 15 June 1918, Page 11

SOME RECENT FICTION.

"Martie the Unconqiiered." Mrs. Kiithleon Norris's earlier novels, "The Story of Julia I'uge" and "The Heart of.Kaehai , !," were fio greatly abovo the avorago of Utter day Auiorican fiction that tlioso ivho have read tliuin will turn with feelings of pleasurable anticipation lo her latest filory, "Martie the Uncoiiquercd" (John Murray, per Whitcombo and Tombs). They will Hiill'er no disappointment, ifvs. Morris's new sloi'y introduces us l:o a very charming heroine in Martie Monroe. In her youth; a youth passed in a (|iiiel. liltlo coimtrv town of California, she is a more goodnatured, ease-lovim: girl, whoso destiny it would seem to be to marry some com-mon-place bucolic admirer and eel tie down complacently to an uneventful existence. But gradually there is developed (juili , another Martie. who hungers for independence, who is ambitious and wilful. She marries a handsome l>ii t wastrel young actor, who takes her to Now York, whore, tho pair lead si curious life—periods of ease and almost luxury being alternated by lean years which give full srope for Martic's indoni- ' itabla spirit to display ibsolf. Eventual- j

l.v llw wastrel husband dies, and the widow, who has become n fairly successful uutlior, goes buck lo the old"homo with her boy. Her parents plan .1 second marriage J'or her wilt a wealthy local banker, by whoso assistant tli'o decaying.fortune:; of (to Monroes may be improved, but at Uio last minute an old admirer (urns up from New York, having diveced his wife, and pleads passionately lor Martio's love. SIIO feels she cannot marry Hie banker, so much, her senior, and on the other hand cannot decide to accept her old lover's offer. So oft ho goes to the i'ar East on it scientific mission,' and again the emo--1 inn-torn woman turns lii -Now York, there to livo her own life, a i! urtie completely free and independent. The 'iiillnir, liowovnr, makes it fairly clear that after John Dry-den's return from Hie I'iiwl Martio j,,<iy V> willing, after all, to forfeit that independence wliicli has been her lil'u's ambition. Ho much as tho roughest outline of a story rich in human interest, and specially remarkable lor thu number and variety of its welldrawn charatcers. Alilto in its city and country scenes this is in many ways a novel quite out of the common". "Sir Isumbras at the Ford." Tlio period of Mr. D. K. Broslcr's newromance, "Sir Ismnbras at the Ford" (ilolm Murray, per Whiteombo i.nd J'wiibs, Lid.), is (hat of llio dying years of tbo eighteenth century, the background being mainly Brittany. Tho gallant but ill-fated attempt of "the .Breton royalists is skilfully utilised by Mr. Brosler, who again, as in that fine story, Chanter-merle," proves himsolf tlio master of a vigorous and fascinating style. in tho first part of f be story the interest centres round tho kidnapping of a delightful littlo French boy, tho'Comto Anno Hilarion de I'kvezny, who may stand for tho "lytille knave" of tho ballad from which comes the title of tho book, and his recovery by tho gallant Sir lsurnbrne of tlio ballad, otherwise that highspirited, audaciously gallant:, nobleman, tho Chevalier de la Vireville, who follows tho kidnappers to Paris, for tho refugee Royalist a most danger-laden atmosphere, and rescues the lad from the ■Uepubliean nijent.s. 1 .liter on ive'li.ivca long series of vividly picturesque- episodes from the story of the rebellion in Brittany, that rebellion of which Balzac gave such a masterly sketch in his novel, "Les Choiians," and from tlio true story of which J[. Gnsliivo Lenotro lias recently drawn so many romantic, incidents. 'J'he heroine, the sweet and essentially womanly Kaymonde de Guefontniuc, is a specially engaging figure in the BtoTy, which is most generously packed with exciting adventures, and contains: many well-drawn subsidiary characters. It is not. often (hat a writer of to-day can reproduce so convineim>ly mi -historioil atmosphere as .does Mr. Broslor." His novel ean lie strongly recommended to fchoso who enjoy historical romance.