The End of a Life. By Eden PhilpOits. (Arrowsmith.)—The author
of this story has very nearly succeeded in accomplishing what is obviously his intention in writing it,—the creation of an altogether unique villain. Till Salem Gingold was created by Mr.—or is it Mrs. or Miss P—Eden Philpotts, it is probable that not even in fiction has a man committed suicide for the express purpose of getting another man, who has supplanted him in a love- affair, accused of his murder. The "inferior fiend," Snape Crystal, savours only a little less of improbability than does Salem Gingold himself. There is too little fun in The End of a Life to act as a relief to the subtle " psychology " and preposterous villainy of the story ; but what there is, is contributed chiefly by a wonderful Major, whose most remarkable characteristic is a capacity for talking Johnsonese on the smallest provocation. All things considered, The End of a Life is a clever failure by a clever writer, who has evidently ability enough to do something very much better than he (or she) has done.
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