The Success of Mark Wingate. By U. L. Silberrad. (A.
Constable and Co. 6s.)—This is, without doubt, a powerful story, and worked out artistically to the necessary end. We have a prejudice, possibly old-fashioned, for the " lived-happily-ever-after " conclu- sion, and think that there is a certain affectation in the aversion with which the present-day novelist regards it ; but there is no doubt here how things must go. We see it from the beginning. There is no room for any passion but one in Mark Wingate's heart, and that is not one which is to make Judith Loring happy. She, indeed, is really a noble figure, and Miss Silberrad in drawing her has achieved an uncommon success. Mark is not so con- vincing; there may be such men of iron, but we do not come across them. Anyhow, he had to be for the working out of the fine dramatic character of Judith. The detail of the story and what we may call the byplay are excellent. This is a book to be remembered and read over again. Let us make one protest. " She was a true Londoner, and never walked a step further" than she could help. "True Londoners" walk ten times more than country people.
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