16 MAY 1903, Page 25

On Behalf of the Firm. By Hamilton Drummond. (Ward, Lock,

and Co. 6s.)—Here we have more deeds of daring. This time they are performed by a commercial traveller, who, as the title of the story indicates, is travelling in the interests of his employers. Mr. Drummond gives a most lurid description of the black Republic of Haiti, and the scene in which the hero witnesses the performance of the black magic of the " Vicns-viens " is very well and dramatically managed. The end of the book is a little confused, and the introduction quite late in the novel of a new villain and a different set .of adventures is rather bewildering. It is captions to grumble at having too much of a good thing, but the story is finally rather overloaded with events. t...As a whole, however, it is exciting reading.