In the Way. By " J. H." (Barns and Oatea.)—This
is a tale of Protestant conversions to. Roman Catholicism, by a skilful and thoughtful writer. The oonverts dealt with are very humble people, not at all to be included in the cultivated classes, and some of the readers may wonder what magic it was by which so many poor and prejudiced folks were so rapidly converted,—a good many more, we think, than would. in ordinary easel; have rewarded equal zeal and ability. Apparently it is the doctrine of the Real Pre- sence in the Eucharist, and the evidence of the existence of a Church with living power and authority in it, as compared with Churches transmitting only a far-away tradition, which converts so many ; though those who are thus converted have, of course, no chance of comparing what they are told of the Virgin Mary and the Saints as " bridges " between the Redeemer and ordinary men, with the actual facto which show that these "bridges" too often end in themselves. However, we are not called upon to criticise this little book theologically, and we must admit that its theology is touched off with a fine and delicate hand, showing a rare mastery of the subject. The characters, especially Mrs. and Miss Penfold, Fanny, and old Brett, are drawn with considerable insight, nor is the picture of the somewhat hard but very capable schoolmistress at all wanting in vigour. Father Tempest, the parish priest who reaps so amazing a crop of converts in so short a time, is not quite so vividly drawn. His sermon on the Real Presence is more skilfully conceived than himself. We hardly know whether Miss Fanfold the convert, or Mrs. Fanfold the inconvertible, is the more happily indicated.
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