15 AUGUST 1903, Page 24

Dacobra. By Harris Burland. (Everett and Co. 35. 6d.)— Mr.

Burland's story, to which he gives the encouraging second title, " The White Priests of Ahriman," is a great contrast to the last-mentioned novel. A dark mystery surrounds the heroine and her supposed father, and there are great dealings with a gentleman whom it would be old-fashioned to call the Devil, but whose works have much affinity with those of our old acquaintance of the horns and the tail. Certain horrid little white monkeys, which appear from nowhere, play a great part in frightening both the dramatis personae and the reader. The story is fairly exciting in its own particular line, but not first-rate.