24 APRIL 1897, Page 13

A Romance of Wastdaie. By A. E. W. Mason. (Elkin

Mathews.)—Mr. Mason mixes into a draught—potent certainly, but as certainly nauseous—the ingredients of a woman's weak- ness, revenge, murder, suicide. It is only fair to say that the story is well written throughout, and that in parts it is, in point of conception and in style, unusually powerful ; but it is a pain to read, and, as far as we can see, an unnecessary and fruitless pain.