26 SEPTEMBER 1896, Page 23

Dr. Soomadhi of Ashantee. By Frankfort Moore. (A. Con- stable.)—This

is a story in which two familiar themes are corn- bined,—the irreclaimable savagery of the negro, and the magical powers that some of the race can exercise, powers called "Obi" in Africa, hypnotism in Europe. All this is good enough, but Mr. Moore approaches the verge of the ludicrous in the catastrophe; the wicked doctor loses his magic stones, and his fate reminds one in a way of that which overtook the imprudent apprentice of Cornelius Agrippa in Southey's story. But the story is distinctly a success in its way ; and if it is somewhat horrible, yet it is not unwholesome. What a mercy that is, seeing that too often we ought to lock up the novels sent for review as one locks up poisons.