The Paladin. By Horace A. Vachell. (Smith, Elder, and Co.
Co.)—The chivalry of Mr. Vachell'a Paladin is merely superficial, and the author throughout writes of. his hero in order to sneer at him. This will strike the reader as decidedly unfair. It is not the fault of the unfortunate Harry Rye that Mr. Vaahell has made him so detestable, and once his creator resolved to paint him in such unpleasing, colours, the least he Gould do would, be not to laugh at him. meanwhile. 01104 however, the reader, has made up his mind to accept Mr. Vachell's point of view, he will not be able to help admiring, the cleverness with which it is presented. The portrait of Harry Rye is far more carefully finished and. more original than that of the heroine, Esther Yorke, though the adventures of this young lady are really the theme of the book. The story is well and vigorously written, though the character of Napier, the modern doctor, is perhaps a little conventional.
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