Venus Victriz, and other Stories. By Helen blathers. (Digby, Long,
and Co. 6s )—The four stories in the volume called Venus Vietria are calculated to stimulate the interest of the most languid reader. In two of them manslaughter is done; in another suicide with the intent to bring an innocent woman to the gallows on a false charge of murder; and in the fourth a husband and wife who are warmly attached to one another quarrel, separate, and are very nearly estranged for life. But in all the tales the misunderstanding out of which the tragedy threatens to develop fatal issues is cleared up in time to avoid a pessimistic conclusion. Miss Mathers's talents show at their best when concentrated to produce an effective short tale ; and this volume may be safely recommended to all who like their fiction to be pungent without being either morbid or immoral. The stories illustrate, among other things, the danger of trusting too much to circumstantial evidence either in a Court of Law or in everyday life.
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