Elsie's Art-Life. By Mrs. A. M. Diehl. 3 vols. (Bentley
and Son.)—It is not the" art-life" of Elsie or any one else that is the main subject of this story. Frank Clare is married to a certain Lady Georgina. Lady Georgina is in love with an Italian singer of tho name of Lirani ; Frank falls in love with Elsie, daughter of an obscure composer, whom he befriends for the girl's sake. That is the sort of complication which seems to interest the public for whom Mrs. Diehl and her like write. The author knows something about the musical world, publishers, singers, teachers, composers, and so forth. She is less at home with the clergy—the vicar and his wife are particularly foolish caricatures—but what she relies on to please her readers is what we have indicated above.—The Forbidden Sacrifice. By W. H. De Winton. 3 vols. (Hurst and Blackett.)—The plot of this story may be very briefly put. Raglan Heatheote falls in love with, and is loved by, Helen Benson, but is compelled by his uncle's will—on pain of forfeiting the greater part of the property bequeathed to him—to marry his cousin Margaret. Helen marries the Rev. Algernon Portal, then an East-End clergyman, he removing to the parish of which Raglan Heathcote is squire. The old passion is renewed. Helen drowns herself to free herself from the complication, and to give back to Margaret her husband's love.
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