17 NOVEMBER 1906, Page 10

By Bitter Experience. By Scott Graham. (S. W. Partridge. 2s.)—This

is described as "A Story of the Evils of Gambling." It is not well, perhaps, for a writer to show his hand in this way. The metaphor is appropriate ; the moral should not be labelled. The story has merits, but it is not improved by being written, so to speak, to order. There is a certain infection of formality in it, Did ever a man propose in such periods as Leslie uses : " Forgive me for reminding you of such a painful episode, sweet ! It was then that I saw what you were,—self-controlled, clear-headed and unselfish to a degree" ?