Saint and Cynic. By Albert Simmons. (Digby and Long.) —The
author chooses to call this a "psychological romance ;" why, we cannot imagine. It seems to us a somewhat squalid, commonplace story, with a quite unusual number of absurdi- ties in it, and distinctly disagreeable, not to say revolting. When the villain• of the story is arrested, he is apparently put into the witness-box, and examined in the French fashion
by the Magistrate. After this, nothing in the way of blunders can surprise one.—The Chosen Valley. By Mary Halle& Foote. (Osgood, McIlvaine, and Co.)—It is an affront to mention this pleasant story after that which has been noticed above. The plot has been suggested by one of the catastrophes which have appeared in the States in the matter of water- engineering. Here we have work done on scientific principles, contrasted with that which has to be suited to the money-market. The rival schools have a very pretty feud, which is brought to an end partly by love, partly by the action of natural forces,—other than those which are at work in human hearts, we mean. A good story, rich in colour and full of interest, is the result.
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