6 NOVEMBER 1897, Page 10

Martin Luther. By E. Velvin. (S. S. IT.) — This

is one of the "Splendid Lives Series." Of course it is difficult to give anything like a fair or adequate account of such a life as Luther's in so small a compass. The real difficulties have to be avoided,—e.g., Luther's attitude in the Peasants' War, and in relation to the Elector's marriage. When we are told that "indulgences were short letters, written by the Pope, promising complete forgiveness and absolution for various sins," the state- ment is not fair. Doubtless they were sold and bought as such, and the whole traffic was an odious abuse, but the theory of the indulgence was that it was a remission of purgatorial penalties. " Complete " is too strong.