28 NOVEMBER 1868, Page 27

Out of Church. By the Author of Askerdale Park. A

Novel. Throe vols. (Skeet.)—A. very interesting story, albeit distinguished neither for brilliancy of style nor delineation of character, since, with one ex- ception to be noticed hereafter, the personages of the tale are little more than mere outlines. Nevertheless the plot is so well constructed, and the denouement, constantly imminent, so skilful', put off by the clever interweaving of new and unexpected incidents, that the interest is sustained to the very last page. We venture to affirm that the most experienced devourer of works of fiction will never guess the solution of the mystery described in Mr. Forrior's long-winded testamentary letter. There are several highly dramatic "situations " in the story, and we fully expect that the midnight scene at the Somersetshire country house—eclipse and all—will bo eagerly pounced upon by the manufacturers of sensation melodramas. Mrs. Ferrier is admir- ably drawn. The all-engrossing feeling of maternal affection, roused to protect her child from what she thinks a fatal danger, carries her completely out of her ordinary tranquil life, brings her into contact with all kinds of disreputable people, and leaves her at length aghast at finding herself an unintentional accomplice in a most frightful crime. Mrs. Douglas and Miss Varnish are both of them good in their way, and we fear that the anti-Papal advocate, M'Quantigan, though very highly coloured, has, in many of his attributes, more than one prototype at the present day.

Rochefoucauld's Maxims (Tegg) is a convenient little reprint of a book which is far oftener quoted than road. There is a use and an interest in the study of morbid morality, as in that of morbid anatomy ; but in both there is need of restrictions. This is one of the books of which we should like to order, as the Jews ordered of the Song of Solomon, that no man should read it under thirty years of age.