Page:A book of the Cevennes (-1907-).djvu/426

 John Long's New & Forthcoming Books SIX SHILLING NOVELS Continued THE SHADE OF THE ACACIA By JESSIE E. LIVESAY To say that " The Shade of the Acacia " fulfils the high promise which was held out in the author's previous story, "The Little Tin Gods," does not adequately describe the fine qualities of this novel. It not only shows literary gifts of an unusual order, but there are flashes of insight and penetration in it of rare power. The plot is taken up with the marriage of a baronet to a young girl who loves her husband's best friend; and the eternal duel between love and duty is presented in an entirely original form ; even the minor characters are distinct and individual. In a word, " The Shade of the Acacia " belongs to the higher rank of fiction. THE SACRED HERB By FERGUS HUME This story deals with a herb, brought from the South Seas, which is used for religious ceremonial, and is called the " Devil Root " by the natives. When burnt, the fumes produce insensibility, and release the spirit, which can see all that takes place on the physical world, without being able to interfere. The hero is a witness (while in such a trance) to a murder, for which he is after- wards blamed ; but he cannot prove his innocence, until assisted by the heroine, whose psychic powers enable her to clear his character. The book is a new departure for Mr. Fergus Hume, as, although the mystery is still retained, the tale deals largely with the power of the occult in modern life. JOHN LONG, 12, 13 & 14 Morris Street, Hay market, London U