LIGHT FICTION.

THE TALE OF THE OLD TEMPLE. By John Edward Magian. (Cape Town : T. Maskew Miller. 7s. 6d.) A South African story written in a stilted style and interspersed with verse. A mixture of poetry and prosiness.

A SELLER OF PERFUMES. By Thora Stowell. (Leonard Parsons. 7s. 6d.) Anglo-Egyptian social life vividly portrayed. The story is of less consequence than the staging.

SECRET SHRINES. By Helen Donavan. (Hodder and Stoughton.

7s. 6d.) A melodramatic Jacobean romance. The most is made of musty properties.

To THE ADVENTUROUS. By E. Nesbitt. (Hutchinson. 75. 6d.) Readable little tales. They might while away time in a doctor's waiting-room.

A MAN OF PURPOSE. By Donald Richberg. (Hurst and Blacken. 7s. 6d.) An autobiographical sketch of a superstitious

soul : intimate style, susceptible hero, " human Insight," very shallow.

" RILEY." By Alice Howard. (Hurst and Blacken. 7s. 6d.) Australian novel. Scene after scene of astonishing cruelty--chief property a cowhide whip.

THE CAREER OF DAVID NOBLE. By Francis Parkinson.

(Nash and Grayson. 73. Od.) An ambitious, discontented New England boy succeeds in becoming a discontented London surgeon, and returns disillusioned.

RACKHOUSE. By George Agnew Chamberlain. (Mills and Boon. 7s. 6d.) A " broke " millionaire begs, steals and explores the seamy side of New York. A braggart of low experience.

DEEP SEA. HUNTERS IN THE FROZEN SEAS. By A. Hyatt Verrill. (D. Appleton and Co. 6s.) A healthy, exciting bock for boys.

THE TRAIL OF THE WHITE MULE. By B. M. Bower. (Hodder and Stoughton. 7s. 6d.) Two Americans seek adventures in the desolate places of Egypt. Result-blood and thunder.

CHICK. By Edgar Wallace. (Ward, Lock and Co. 7s. net.) Somehow we are induced to take an interest in " Chick," an innocent young clerk who comes into a fortune. In the end he is safely united to a virtuous actress.

THE VANISHED MOOR. By John Trevena. (Mills and Boon. 7s. 6d.) If anyone thinks that life in England has not improved during the last hundred years, let him read this book. It deals with the country. side between Exmoor and Dartmoor.

BAROQUE. By Louis Joseph Vance. (Hodder and Stoughton. 7s. 6d.) The Spiritual Siamese " would have been a better name for this story. An Italian family resident in New York constantly produces twins, one with criminal instincts and one with good. They always hate one another but cannot be happy out of each other's sight.

CLANCY OF THE MOUNTED POLICE. By Ottwell Binns. (Ward, Lock and Co. 7s.) Mr. Binns again sets his story in the Arctic Circle. A snow-piece, with blood in the foreground and Cupid in the middle distance.

(Continued on page 718.) THE KEYSTONE BLOCK. By Harold Bindloss. (Ward, Loch and Co. 7s.) A Canadian pioneer story of considerable charm. Heal people move about in a real landscape.

OUR ELIZABETH AGAIN. By Florence Kilpalric. (Nash and Grayson. 3s. 6d. net.) Like most funny books Mrs. Kilpatrles last story is not funny throughout; all the same, it is exceedingly funny in patches.

MISS MANNERING. By Pelt Ridge. (Methuen. 7s. 6d.) Another novel whose self-conscious comicality charms only at intervals. Here, how- ever, there is a good deal of what we may call sordid relief.