11 AUGUST 1894, Page 26

The Woman with the Iron Bracelets. By Frank Barrett. 8

vols. (Chatto and Windus.)—This is a tale of "The Woman in White" kind, We do not mean that it resembles Wilkie Collins's story in plot, or that it is in any way indebted to it as a model, but only that is an elaborately contrived series of secrets and sur- prises. The heroine certainly surprises us at the beginning by what looks an indefensible proceeding ; the presumptions against her grow stronger. To go any further in our account of the tale would be to spoil the interest. These novels must of necessity be left with a very scanty modicum of criticism. But that is a small matter, if, as we believe to be the case, the public has a taste for them. Mr. Barrett's name will be taken as guarantee enough.