Maidens Three. By A. Fraser Robertson. (R.T.S.)—Three girls, who have
been close friends—" chums," to use the most appropriate word—leave school together, and this story follows their fortunes. Esther Hatton, who tells the story, is the eldest of a large family, and takes up the charge of her father's house- hold ; the more important of the other two is Isobel Wynch, an only child, wealthy and beautiful, and of a fine nature. The tragedy of her life is that she is loved by, and loves, a young man whom she cannot marry because he is not a Christian. This, indeed, is the characteristic of the story, the necessity of conver- sion. We doubt whether it is well to make this the turning- point cf a tale of love, for indeed Maidens Three is this. Esther also has a lover ; only in his case the question is,—Is she a Christian P No one ever succeeded, this lover tells us, in "making the best of both worlds." But surely this is, in a sense, a Christian's duty. If not, the ascetic life is the only logical alternative. Such a life as Samuel Maby's, prosperous, full of good works indeed, but also enriched with all worldly blessings, is, from this point of view, an absolute mistake. And does not St. Paul say " godliness " has "the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come"
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