Swifter than a Weaver's Shuttle. By James W. Gambier, Captain,
R.N. 3 vols. (Swan Sonnenschein and Co.)—Captain Gambier has not been by any means sparing of incident or sensation in thie story. Perhaps he might have made it a little leas harrowing in parts without any loss to its real interest,—might have omitted, for inatance, the crowning villainy of Rosalie Romeyn's lover. But it is certainly an effective story. As Captain Gambier's name in new to us, and we see no notice of previous authorship on the title-page, it is presumably a first effort,—and if so, one of no little promise. The most prominent character in the book is a certain Herasa Artaki. She is a Lamia, with a difference, the difference of having a heart, not easily reached, indeed, bat still existent; an unscrupulous adven- turess, but yet capable of a genuinely noble act. Gould, the villain, is a less artistic charaoter,—a conventional figure, all blackness, without one relieving gleam. The plot is ingeniously contrived, and makes a really interesting story,—one that a reader is unwilling to lay aside, though we doubt that he will care to take it up again when once finished. Bob how few novels there are which are read a second time! There are some lively sketches of the ways of French Judges of the First Instance, a class of which the author has a mean opinion, —almost as mean as that which he entertains of Turkish officials.
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