21 MARCH 1891, Page 24

Before our Lord Came. By Lady Amabel Kerr. (Burns and

Oates.)—This volume contains some Old Testament stories told in simple language. The work has been done well. It is, per- haps, Protestant prejudice that makes us think the narrative of Tobit wanting in edification. No question of the Churches is concerned when we criticise the statement that the Darius who took Daniel into favour after the fall of Belshazzar—or Baltassar, as Lady Amabel Kerr prefers to call him—was a Persian. Cyrus, the King who Caine after Darius," was unquestionably the first ruler of the Persian race.