SOME RECENT FICTION.

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 79, 28 December 1918, Page 3

SOME RECENT FICTION.

"The Butterfly Man." "Tho Butterfly Man," by Mario Conway Oemler (Wm. lleinemi\nn, per Angus and Robertson and Whitconibc anil Tombs), is a new American novel very much above the average in originality of plot and of a distinctly pleasing excellence in literary style. The hero, John Flint, is an alias ,; Slippy M'Gee/' ex-criminal, once a clever "cracksman," who comes to the little manufacturing town of Appleboro, in North Carolina, to live a ne,v life and develop into the good angel of a pair of young people, the path of whose love is fated to be more than usually rock-strewn and difficult to walk along to that one and only end wbich all good scntinientally-inclinod readers consider a satisfactory conclusion. Tho story of "The Butterfly Man" and of the gradual evolution of his new character is teld by u kindly, shrewd old priest of semi-French extraction, who is one of the most lovable, most convincing figures met with for some lime in American fiction. A specially strong featuire of the story is its fine character drawing. The author brings quite n, number of people on to heV fictional stage. but hownver nt first seemingly unimportant is the rolo played by each, liis or her value ns a necessary part of tho general design and unity of tho story soon becomes patent to the reader. The author is evidently a keen student of natural history, and tlie hobby, which gives the hero his nickname, is responsible for some very pleasant descriptions. "Tho Butterfly Man" can be recommended as a novel which is decidedly out of tho common aid well worth reading during the holiday season.

"Miss Gascoigne." Miss Katharine Tynan is , not only a prolific novelist but she is n born storyteller, who always succeeds in gaining and retaining the interest of her readers. In her latest effort, "Mis-3 Gascoigue," (John Murray, per Whilcombo and Tombs), eho takes us to n little English village, where the heroine, the lady of the manor, the tall, fair, sport-loving, wealthy, nnd good-natured . Miss Gaccoiyue, has (wo suitors, one an English country gentleman of good family, the other a self-made man, an equally good fellow in his own way, who ha.s returned to the Old Country after spending several years in South Africa. With the lovo etory of the heroine is interwoveu to' some, extent that of a highly sentimental, but very prim, and, to tell the truth, rather priggish lady, Miss Amanda Pippin. Tho two Indies, plus, of course, the two gentlemen, tako part in what might be called a romantic comedy, and some amusing complications occur which are described with smuch quiet, pleasant humour. The village life, S'itli its email scandals and jealousies, is described with a very, engaging vivacity. Altogether a-very cgreeable and entertaining story.

A New Zealand Story. In her latest story, ,r ßobin of tho Hound House" (Ward, Lock, and Co.)' Miss Isabel M. Peacacke, of Auckland, fully maintains tlio reputation she has won as a writer of well-planned, ■pleasant-ly-told stories specially suitable for girl readers. Tho baukjround of her new story is Mnugere, near Auckland, where two very jolly girls make their homo in a cnriously-slmped little collage built by a retired sea captain, who has left .them a legacy which forces them from their old drudgery as typists in tho busy city. Tho girls befriend and adopt a lovable little boy, Bobin, and there is soon developed a £e.ntinienwl interest; which is cleverly worked out to a highly satisfactory conclusion. Miss Pencocke's stories challenge nnd can well bear comparison with the work of Miss Ethel Turner, nnd her latest story should be very popular as a gift-book. Two Australian Story Books. From Jnssrs. Ward, Lock, and Co., Melbourne, come two books which aro admirably suitable as presents for youthful readers at tho' present season. These .are Miss Ethel Tumor's (Mrs. Unrlewis) "St. Tom ami the Dragon,", and Mrs. Mnry Grant Bruco's "Dick." In both these pleasantly-told stories we meet some very agreeable types of Australian youths and maidens'. Miss Turner hae always had a 'happy gift of humour, and this .ie again exemplified in her new story with very entertaining result. Mrs. Bruce, top! well maintains 'he excellent reputation she won with youthful reader? by those excellent stories. "Mates at Billnboii"" and "A Little Bush Maid." Her boys nro what Mark Twain called "human," and the author's descriptions of their very varied escapades and youthful joys and woes nre brightly written and niake very pleasant rending. Both books aro well'illustratcd. As gift-books for young people in their middle and later "teens" they iro everything that could be desired.