His Cousin's Wife. By "Alva." (Ward and Downey.)—It seems probable
that this story would never have been written but for "The Giant's Robe" and "The Silence of Dean Maitland." Theodore Mainwaring, suddenly confronted by the necessity of having to preach to a very distinguished audience, is personated in the pulpit by a cousin. He has to live up to the height of the discourse which his cousin, an original thinker of advanced views, delivers, and is unequal to the task. Another complication embarrasses him. He can prove an alibi for a man accused of murder, but is bound to silence because he is supposed to have been in the pulpit at the time. Men have been personated in examinations—in China it is a lucrative occupation—but the pulpit seems an extravagantly improbable place. This however, once admitted, the book must be allowed to have merit. Some unextravagant plot might have been worked out to more advantage. Possibly "Alva" may do better another time. She would do well to avoid such unnecessary episodes as the "Lady Godiva " chapter.
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