Inchbracken. By Robert Cleland. (Wilson and McCormick, Glasgow.)—There is a
purpose or sub-purpose of controversy in this story. The hero is a Free-Church minister, a very good fellow indeed, but, we are given to understand, not very wise, and in this respect a contrast to his father, who had seen no reason to follow the Seceders. The villain of the story is a most detestable hypocrite, who acts as clerk—or whatever the official may be called—to the Free-Church congregation. There is nothing especially attractive in this combination ; and the story which is built upon it is of but small merit. The minister finds a child upon the sea-shore on the morning after a wreck, and the scandalous tongues of the village take advantage of this incident to fasten upon his blameless life the odium that really is due to the misdoings of his clerk. Happily, there are better beings than this in the book. Some of the sketches of character are happily touched, and the dialogue is commonly well managed. What is " stentorious breathing ?" And is it a sign of approaching death ? " Stertorous," we say, in these parts.
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