SOME RECENT FICTION

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 270, 3 August 1918, Page 11

SOME RECENT FICTION

"Tho Unguarded Hour." Always skilful in the concoction of a complicated plot, Mr. A. W. Marchmont, to whom lovers of sensational liotion are already so greatly indebted, has been exceptionally sikwiwlut in Ins latest story, "The Unguarded Hour" (CussellandCo.; per S. and A\ r . Mackay). A young and wealthy Canadian makes acquaintance, up iu'tlie Trossachs, with a beauteous young lady, whom he .promptly entitles his "Lodestar." Unfortunately, the young lady is in charge of a wicked pair, Sir James and Lady Ledlield, who wish her to marry and endow with her for'tune of JiSU.HOO-a fortune of which the heroino is kept in ignorance—a dissipated and rascally follow, a, son of the female schemer by a former marriage. Directly Carton's affection for tho girl is discovered eho is carried off to London, whore every possible obstacle is placed in tho way of tho lovers meeting eooli other. Soon, also, matters are complicated by the arrival from Canada of Carton's father, of whom, it turns out, the wicked Sir James is a younger brother. The plot: now rapidly thickens, toy Carton pere had had a romantic "affaire" in his youth, and for a timo there is some doubt as to, whether his. son may not havo fallen in love with his own. sistei. Sensational developments follow each other with almost bewildering rapidity, tho villainy of tho Ledfields assuming deoper hues as the conclusion approaches. Exactly how tho tangled web is straightened out it would' be unfair lo Mr. Marchraoiit to disclose. Suffice it, however, to say that in tho final i chapter villainy is'• completely vanquished and virtuo-and truo love—duly triumphant. Save for' an occasional suggestion of the melodramatic, the story, as a story of sensation, is cleverly planned and well told. "The Great Game." .Mr. Hamilton Dnimmoml, who has written several exceptionally good historical novels, and is as fond,of Franco and the French Court as a background for his skilfully-concocted plots as was wont to bo Mr. Stanloy Weyman, gives us, in his latest romance, "The Great Game" (Stanley, Paul and Co.), a wellwritten story,, based upon tho struggle for supremacy which existed between those two famous French statesmen, Colbert and Louvois. Ah the result of a cleverly-devised scheme, a young gentleman of good family, who comes to Paris in sench of adventure, and, fortune, is compelled to become the unwilling - tool of Louvois, by whom ho is dispatched to the wild Ceve'nnes region, there to gather —or manufacture—evidenco of Colbert's alleged frauds on the Royal Exchequer. In the Coveimes, however, young Pierre do Gerson discovers that neither Louvois nor Colbert exercises any power, the country gentlemen and peasants objecting to being taxed for the benefit of an extravagant Court, but preferring to support the local magnate, tho famous Count do la Tour d'Auvorgno. De Gorson rapidly _ becomes immersed in n serious of exciting and dangerous adventures, his fortunes being involved in those of a noble family, the. Monvalluts, and more particularly with those of the beautiful daughter of tlio house. Family and other jealousies seriously obstruct tho course of (he love, story, and for a time tho hero is in grave danger. How ho proves himself an honourable as well as a very gallant gentleman, how tho cunning Louvois is outwitted, and how de Gerson wins his bride, aro sot forth by Mr.Humilton in a vigorously-written, smoothlyflowing narrative, which makes most entertninin!,' rcadin::. The opening scones, at Court,"and in a Parisian gaming-houso, are quite- in the approved style of Dumas. Tho clash of swords echoes loudly throughout the slory, but'the sentimental interest comes ;is a pleasant foil to tho fighting. Quito a good story in its