A Life's Reward. By H. M. Lysons. 2 vols. (Tinsley
Brothers.)— We have unfortunately failed to perceive whose "life" it is that gets or does not get a "reward." The chief personage in the story we take, for here also we are not quite certain, to be a certain Captain John, who marries a woman of evil repute, or rather thinks that he marries her, for of course there is bigamy in the matter, only, by way of a change from the usual course, it is the woman who is really to blame for the unfortunate captain marrying twice. When the reader is told that the second wife is also a thief and a forger, and finally commits murder, he will agree that Captain John, though he is an undutiful, selfish, foul-mouthed, and drunken creature, gets punish- ment enough for his offence. As is to be expected, the wrong person is tried for the murder, and it is one of the few things to be noticed in a dreary and common-place story Of crime how coolly the brother accused, talking with his counsel, speculates upon the probability of the crime being brought home to the brother not accused.
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