The Apotheosis of Mr. Tyrawley. By E. Livingston Prescott (Bentley.)—The
idea of the conversion to reputable courses of some chevalier d'industrie or other "bad lot" through the instru-
mentality of an overmastering and unselfish passion is no new one. But to Mr. Prescott belongs the merit of having given it a modern setting. His Infelix Tyrawley is a rather badly brought up than bad lad, although he does commit what he knows to be something more than a peccadillo. He would have probably gone altogether to the bad had he not fallen in love with Nina St. Just, whom he saves from drowning, and, perhaps, still more had he not been taken ill and so fallen into the hands of a gruff but warm-hearted medical man, McAdam by name, to whom he tells his whole story. Even then he might have "gone under" if he had not found the courage to try an honest life, and exchanged dubious billiard•playing for the business of a costermonger. His experiences as a coster are told with a delightful mixture of pathos and humour, and Naylor, his disciple, who administers a chastise- ment to Paget, the rival of Tyrawley, that brings his " shady " past before the St. Just household, is well drawn, almost as well drawn as Doctor McAdam. The story is rather hurried up at the end. The good and well-to-do uncle turns up rather too suddenly, and it is not easy to see how Tyrawley can patch up his weak heart and weaker lungs in time to justify his marrying Nina. But one forgets improbabilities in the pleasure with which one reads a story the "fun " and the " purpose " of which are equally good.
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