The Old Bank. By William Westall. (Chatto and Windus. 6s.)—The
Old Bank is a spirited story of provincial life, in which an extraordinary number of unusual things happen. The girl in whom the plot centres is the adopted daughter of a widow, Mrs. Fynes, about whose antecedents there is a shadow of mystery. Ida Winstons herself is completely wrapped in mystery. But she is young, beautiful, full of vivacity, and quite good. Three men fall in love with her at first sight,—Ernest Warnham, the solicitor; Julian Silvercross, the banker's son; and Stephen Leuknor, the villain of the story. Julian is the man she loves. Warnham takes his defeat like a gentleman, and when emergency arises renders her a tremendous service. Leuknor plots against her ; steals the will in which Mrs. Fynes leaves her an her fortune; spreads evil reports which cause a run upon the bank, and threaten ruin to Silvercross ; and finally senses her of having stolen some jewels. Ida is arrested and tried for theft ; but deliverance comes through her innocence, the magnanimity of Warnham, and the arrival on the scene of an American millionaire, who turns out to be her father. There is no subtlety in the book, and no attempt at any kind of fine writing, but there is some shrewd character-drawing in the portraits of Julian's family. One reads the book through, however, for one reason only, and that is to know how it will end.
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