20 DECEMBER 1884, Page 20

Preston Tower; or, " Will he no come back again

?" By Jessie M. E. Saxby. (Oliphant, Anderson, and Ferrier, Edinburgh.)— There is a great variety of interest in this story. There is abund- ance of incident woven together into a well-contrived plot, and there is powerfully-drawn character. The old " merchant " (in the Scotch sense of the word) is very fine indeed. The parting scene with his son is particularly striking. Then, again, the love story of Mona and

Dr. Munro is conceived with real judgment and skill. Mona's love, ruled by wisdom as it was, is pictured as a mighty power to conquer evil, and it meets with the success which it deserves. Preston Tower is a story which is sere to interest, and can hardly be read without some advantage.