The Better Man. By Arthur Paterson. (Ward and Downey.)— We
have pleasure in noticing another, and perhaps the best, of Mr. Paterson's lively stories of Western life. The characters are well, and some of them finely drawn,—the hero's especially. The book abounds in interesting and exciting incidents ; the account • of Tom's rescue, and the breaking-up of the Carita "ring," for instance, keep the reader in a fine anxiety. There is some humour too, but its presence is not remarkable. Mr. Paterson is aiittle too lavish of exaggerated passion, and makes his characters clench their hands, press their lips, and lock their teeth tightly together, too often to be natural. We are glad to observe that he has not yet adopted the fashionable plan of making his stories end badly, and we trust he never will. The Better Man ends as well as one can possibly wish, and the reader lays it down with feelings of satisfaction, and a regret that he has come to the end.
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