18 MARCH 1899, Page 23

God's Prisoner. By John Oxenham. (Hurst and Blackett.)— A man,

justly accused of embezzlement, takes a pistol from his desk, and, intending to shoot himself, shoots his accuser. How is his crime to be measured ? That Mr. Oxenham does not tell us, except so far as may be gathered from the fact that the doer of it is not considered to be beyond hope. The second part of the tale is entitled "The Punishment," and the third "The Redemption." It is told with some vigour, and may be recom- mended, without reserve, to readers who like plenty of startling incident. The winding up of the tale is decidedly ingenious.