5 DECEMBER 1908, Page 9

The Seed of the Righteous. By Frank T. Bullen. (Robert

Culley. 5s.)—Mr. Bullen writes with his accustomed directness and simplicity. The conventionalities of tale-writing do not please him. It seems very hard, for instance, on Dick Hertford that the brother and sisters for whom he has done so much are so ungrateful. Few tellers of stories would have had the courage to put into the picture lines so dark. But Mr. Bullen believes that he is true to life in doing so, and does not spare us a shade, —only we might say that these heartless people were also "the seed of the righteous." For the rest, it is an excellent story. Dick is a real living creature, not by any means perfect, but holding fast to that sense of duty which is the practical stay of life.