18 JULY 1891, Page 11

Under Sentence. By Mary Cross. 2 vols. (Ward and Downey.)

—A secret assassin pervades this story. He fires a shot and nearly kills the hero ; he fires another and actually kills some one else. The reader is much exercised—that is, if he thinks it worth while—with imagining who the murderer can be. One of the characters does his best to be suspected ; but finally the guilt is fastened on a very different person. The surprise is undoubted ; but then, one can always make a surprise by being improbable. Besides the murder problem, there is a very unhappy marriage going on ; so that Under Sentence, though there are some strong situations in it, is not a pleasing novel.