Helen Murdoch or Treasures of Darkness, by Alice Jane Muirhead: published by Allenson, London, and on sale at the local stores.
By those of us who are acquainted with Mrs. Muirhead, a new story from her pen will be received with pleasure. Perhaps to many who will read this short notice the writer of Helen Murdoch is better Known from her magazine article, graphic description of an up-country trip, or bright Christmas story; yet in Dulthaven, Sybit Garth, and again in Helen Murdoch, there is a delineation of character and' narration of incidents in English home life that, while interesting to read, are also true and instructive. We are glad to know that several of her writings have been of service to not a few in the interests of whom they were conceived.
'A leading British daily reviews this book as follows:—' As may be gathered from the title this story is a religious one ut it has the somewhat rare merit of not being marred by injudicious and inopportune' moralizing. The plot though of the very simplest is perfectly natural yet by no means deficient in interest and the characters introduced are well drawn, sincere and high-toned but free from cant. In point. of it merit too the story is considerably above the level of the ordinary moral tale and of many to which the epithet could scarcely be applied." The facility of appropriate quotation and illustration, a not uncommon feature in Mrs. Muirhead's writings, is noticeable too in this work; those on pp. 37 and 134 may ven as examples.
"If we might criticise a detail of the story, the situation brought out in chap. 31 is too strained; Helen surely here places herself unnecessarily in a false. position; but the story is written to illustrate its title, the truth of which many know from experience and those not called to pass through real trials may yet obtain some insight into the verity that many of the best things seem to come to man through sorrow.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.