The Black Tor. By George Manville Fenn. (W. and R.
Chambers)—Two neighbours in the North Country, the Edens and the Darleys, cherish an hereditary feud. No one exactly knows how it arose. The Edens attribute it to an unprovoked and un- pardonable outrage on the part of the Darleys ; the Darleys have the same story, mutate nomine. Mr. Fenn tells the story of how the enmity was healed. A company of caterans, ex-soldiers of the most disreputable kind, settle themselves in the neighbourhood, and rob the whole countryside with the most absolute impartiality. Hence an alliance, not worked, it may easily be imagined, without misunderstandings, but helping gradually to clear away the obstacles to peace. Other things come in to help. Natural emotions of pity and kindness have opportunities which can- not be ignored of showing themselves, and the old peacemaker, Master Rayburn, sees his wish accomplished. The novelist has an uncommon faculty of realising, and making his readers realise for themselves, the incidents which lie describes and the localities in which they take place.
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