12 DECEMBER 1931, Page 30

SUSPENSE AND DROSS. By Henry Seton Merriman. (John Murray. 7s.

6d.)—In spite of the startlingly black and white characters of hero and villain, and all the mis- understandings and agonizings, the first story in this volume is as readable to-day as it was in 1890. The same can be said of Dross, which is a thrilling novel of life in Paris, during the time of the Third Napoleon. The many admirers of Merriman's art will welcome the reappearance of his earlier stories.