12 OCTOBER 1907, Page 22

Fair Margaret. By H. Rider Haggard. (Hutchinson and Co. ee.)—Mr.

Rider Haggard has essayed a very difficult task with as much success as could be expected. The merchant who is the principal figure in his drama does not convince us. We do not know that any one has before attempted to picture the personality of those very strange beings, the Spanish crypto-Jews. If they were like the very admirable person who is hero portrayed for us, we shall have to reconsider certain moral problems. When we come to the story itself all is excellent. The scene in which Ferdinand and Isabella figure is most picturesque, and nothing in Mr. Rider Haggard's earlier work surpasses in con- centrated interest the story of the escape.