of family life. The development of early heresies, the rise of the Papacy, the doctrinal controversies of the East and West, the missions of the Middle Ages, the conflict between Mohammedanism and the Church, the rise of religious orders and scholastic philosophy, the Reformers before the Reformation, and the conflict between Romanism and the new Protestantism, form a series of stirring chapters. The sections on Arminius and the revived Arminianism of Wesley are specially instructive.

John Bright. By C. A. VINCE, M. A. London: Blackie & Son. Toronto: The Copp, Clark Co., Limited. Price, 90 cents.

This book is one of the Victorian Era series of small volumes on great subjects. It is a sympathetic account of England's great Quaker Tribune, one of the purestminded statesmen and noblest orators in her "bead-roll of immortal souls." Few men ever more thoroughly carried conscience into public life and lived as ever in the great Taskmaster's eye." During the Crimean War, when his voice was raised in solemn protest against the policy of Great Britain, it was only a "voice crying in the wilderness," but history has vindicated the wisdom of his position.

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Our author describes Palmerston and Bright as "the cheery pagan and the grave apostle, the man to whom politics were a career and the man to whom they were a mission." The peroration of Bright's fine speech against the war was most impassioned. Let it not be said that I am alone in my condemnation of this war, and of this incapable and guilty administration; and even if I were alone, if mine were a solitary voice, raised amid the din of arms and the clamours of a venal press, I should have the consolation I have to-night, and which I trust will be mine to the last moment of my existence -the priceless consolation that no word of mine has tended to promote the squandering of my country's treasure or the spilling of one single drop of my country's blood."

Bright's fine use of Biblical figures was strikingly shown in a later speech on the same subject: "The angel of death has been abroad throughout the land; you may almost hear the beating of his wings. There is no one, as when the first-born was slain of old, to sprinkle with blood the lintel and the two sideposts of our doors, that he may spare and pass on. He takes his victim from the castle of the noble, the mansion of the

wealthy, and the cottage of the poor and lowly, and it is on behalf of all these classes that I make this solemn appeal.'

The Bible and Milton were the books with which Bright was most familiar, and to them his addresses owed much of their power. His speeches against war, slavery, and intemperance, against the corn laws, and on the Irish Church question will enbalm his memory as one of Britain's greatest statesmen. His political creed is expressed as follows: " May I ask you," he said, "to believe, as I do most devoutly believe, that the moral law was not written for men alone in their individual character, but that it was written as well for nations, and for nations great as this of which we are citizens. If we reject and deride that moral law, there is a penalty which will inevitably follow."

The Trail of the Sword. By GILBERT PARKER. Toronto: The Copp, Clark Co., Limited; William Briggs.

This is, in our judgment, one of the most successful of Gilbert Parker's works. It describes the French life of the old The

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régime with which he is so familiar. period is that of the attempted capture of Quebec by Sir William Phips two hundred years ago, of the government of the fierce and fiery Count Frontenac and the fearless adventurer, La Salle. makes the dim old past live again, lit up with a thousand natural touches which we seek in vain from books of history. This is the third of a uniform series of Parker's works issued by the Copp, Clark Co. It is well printed, bound in buckram, and illustrated with six capital full-page engravings.

Shrewsbury. A Romance. By STANLEY J. WEYMAN. With twenty-four Illustrations by CLAUDE A. SHEPPERSON. New York: Longmans, Green & Co. Toronto The Copp, Clark Co., Limited.

Stanley Weyman is not surpassed by either Anthony Hope or Conan Doyle in the vividness with which he calls up the storied past and makes it live again. This story describes an historical episode in the reign of William of Orange. The strong contrast of parties and principles of the period offers opportunity for vigorous character painting. Out of the storm and stress of the Revolution have come the liberties of to-day. King William of Orange, Lord Shrewsbury, and other makers of history live and act in

Nature and Attributes. By RANDOLPH S. FOSTER, D.D., LL.D. New York: Eaton & Mains. Toronto: Win. Briggs. 8vo. Pp. xxxvi.-280. Price, $3.00.

Bishop Foster's studies in theology have assumed the proportions of quite a library in themselves. These books, while not lacking logical connection and systematic order, are suffused with the spirit of sacred eloquence. They do not so much smell of the lamp as breathe of the free, fresh, open air. The great preacher as well as the learned divine are apparent in these pages. This book is of such importance that we have placed it in competent hands for more comprehensive review. That is a noble motto that is placed upon the title page. ΠΡΟΣ ΤΟ 422-Toward the Light.'

Review of Historical Publications Relating to Canada. Edited by GEORGE M. WRONG, M.A., Professor of History in University of Toronto. Assisted by H. H. LANGTON, B.A., Librarian of Toronto University. Vol. II. Publications of the year 1897. Octavo, pp. 248. Price, paper, $1.00 ; cloth, $1.50. Professor Wrong has proven himself, in his sympathy with Canadian literature, to be Professor "Right." The present substantial volume exhibits a marked improvement on the previous one. It embraces a list of reviews of no fewer than 144 books associated with Canada. It is an invaluable contribution to our national bibliography. This book is not one of indiscriminate eulogy, but of full and fair criticism of the works reviewed. Orders received by Methodist BookRooms, Toronto, Montreal and Halifax, or, Toronto University.

The Victorian Era Series.

Charles Dickens. A Critical Study. By GEORGE GISSING. London: Blackie & Son, Limited. Toronto: Copp, Clark Co., Limited.

This is not only a sympathetic study of Charles Dickens, but also a critical estimate of his great merits and small defects. It sketches briefly his life and

times, the development of the man and the writer, the art, veracity, and moral purpose of his works. It analyzes his style, his mode of satiric portraiture, his humour and pathos, and characterizes with excellent taste and judgment many of his immortal characters. It will add a new enjoyment to the study of this great writer.

David Lyall's Love Story. By the Author of The Land o' the Leal." Toronto: The Copp, Clark Co., Limited; William Briggs.

This is a series of short Scottish tales, each independent but having a connective thread. Some of them are as good, to

our thinking, as anything of Barrie or Crockett. They describe that deathless affection "that hopes, and endures, and is patient,"--a noble and ennobling passion that shrivels into nothingness everything base or mean. The fascination of the Lights of London Town," and the tragedy of disappointed hopes and foiled endeavour, give it an element of pathos.

Simon Dale. By ANTHONY HOPE. IIlustrated by W. ST. JOHN HARPER. Toronto: George N. Morang. Price, paper, 75 cents; cloth, $1.50.

The recent visit of Anthony Hope to Canada gives a personal interest to this narrative. This book describes with characteristic vividness some of the important historic events in the reign of Charles II. and of Louis XIV. The two kings, and many of the leading statesmen of the period, are prominent characters in the story. The book is well illustrated.

The Pride of Jennico. Being a Memoir of Captain Basil Jennico. By AGNES and EGERTON CASTLE. Toronto: The Copp, Clark Co., Limited; William Briggs.

This is a highly ingenious story. It has a good deal of historic interest and of vivid character-sketching, A young scion of an ancient English Jacobite house comes into possession of a feudal estate in Bohemia, and in time weds a princess of that country. He has many adventures both in Bohemia and in London. The character of the Princess Ottilie is a very noble and charming one. The picture of the old feudal times is very graphic. This is as good in its way as anything of Anthony Hope's.

Preliminary to Dr. Smiles' account of the crowning achievement of the Vaudois, we give an outline-sketch of their previous history, based upon the more recent history of "The Israel of the Alps," by Sophia B. Bompiani.

In the valleys of the Cottian Alps, between Mont Cenis and Mont Viso, a Bible-loving people have lived from "time immemorial. They have been persecuted and exiled by the Bible-hating power which has its seat in Rome; but they kept the faith so pure of old," spite of torture, cold, destitution, and loss of life on the Alpine mountains. They were burned, they were cast into damp and horrid dungeons; they were smothered in crowds in mountain caverns-mothers and babes, and old men and women together; they were sent out into exile of a winter night, unclothed and unfed, to climb the snowy mountains; they were hurled over the rocks; their heads were used as footballs; their houses and lands VOL. XLVII. No. 5.

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taken from them, and the little children were stolen to be educated in the religion they abhorred. Yet they refused to acknowledge the Roman Pontiff as the Vicar of Christ; to bow down to the wafer and believe it the body of Christ; to confess to priests, or to give up the Bible.

It was on behalf of the heroic Waldenses that Cromwell, moved to the depths of his strong heart by the news of the massacre of 1655, ordered a general fast and gave two thousand pounds for the survivors. The great Protector threatened the Pope that the echo of his guns should be heard in the castle of St. Angelo.

It was on their behalf, too, that Milton wrote his stirring sonnet which rang like a trumpet throughout Europe :

"Avenge, O Lord, Thy slaughtered saints, whose bones

Lie scattered on the Alpine mountains cold;

Even them who kept Thy truth so pure

of old,