3 NOVEMBER 1894, Page 14

The Flaming Sword. (Digby and Long.)—It would be safe to

say that Dr. Percival would never have written his "account of the extraordinary adventures and discoveries" which he under- went and made "in the wilds of Africa "—we might say, would never have existed—if there had not been a certain Allan Quater- main. Dr. Percival obtains possession of a marvellous manuscript which suggests to him the expedition which he makes. This device is by this time somewhat threadbare ; as for the story, the writer should remember that the merely marvellous does not please. Touch our hearts and we shall be ready to accept any improba- bilities. But we doubt whether the author has the capacity of doing this.