Itisconsolingasoftenasdismayingtofindinwhatseemsacataclysmaltideofacertaindirectionastrongdrifttotheoppositequarter。Itissodivinable，ifnotsoperceptible，thatitspresencemayusuallyberecognizedasabeginningoftheturnineverytidewhichissure，soonerorlater，tocome。Inreform，itisthemenaceofreaction；inreaction，itisthepromiseofreform；wemaytakeheartaswemustloseheartfromit。Afewyearsago，whenamovementwhichcarriedfictiontothehighestplaceinliteraturewasapparentlyofsuchonwardandupwardsweepthattherecouldbenoreturnordescent，therewasacounter-currentinitwhichstayeditatlast，andpulleditbacktothatlamentablelevel
wherefictionisnowsunk，andtheword\"novel\"isagainthesynonymofallthatismorallyfalseandmentallydespicable。Yetthatthis，too，ispartlyapparent，Ithinkcanbeshownfromsomephasesofactualfictionwhichhappentobeitsverylatestphases，andwhichareofasignificanceashopefulasitisinteresting。Quiteassurelyasromanticismlurkedattheheartofrealism，somethingthatwemaycall\"psychologism\"hasbeenpresentintheromanticismofthelastfourorfiveyears，andhasnowbeguntoevolveitselfinexampleswhichitisthepleasureaswellasthedutyofcriticismtodealwith。
Nooneinhisdayhasdonemoretopopularizetheromanticism，nowdecadent，thanMr。GilbertParker；andhemadewayforitatitsworstjustbecausehewassomuchbetterthanitwasatitsworst，becausehewasapoetofundeniablequality，andbecausehecouldbringtoitsintellectualsqualorthegracesandthepowerswhichcharm，thoughtheycouldnotavailtosaveitfromfinalcontempt。Hesaveshimselfinhislatestnovel，because，thoughstillsolargelyromanticistic，itsprevalenteffectispsychologistic，whichisthefineranalogueofrealistic，andwhichgaverealismwhateverwasvitalinit，asnowitgivesromanticismwhateverwillsurviveit。In\"TheRightofWay\"Mr。
Parkerisnotinaworldwheremeredeterminismrules，wherethereisnothingbutthehappeningofthings，andwherethisoneorthatoneisimportantorunimportantaccordingasthingsarehappeningtohimornot，buthasinhimselfnoclaimuponthereader\'sattention。Oncemorethenovelbeginstorisetoitshigherfunction，andtoteachthatmenaresomehowmastersoftheirfate。HisCharleySteeleis，indeed，asunpromisingmaterialfortheexperiment，incertainways，ascouldwellbechosen。OneofthefewmemorablethingsthatBulwersaid，whosaidsomanyquotablethings，wasthatpureintellectualityisthedevil，andonhisplaneCharleySteelecomesnearbeingpureintellectual。Heapprehendsallthingsfromthemind，anddoestheeffectsevenofgoodnessfromtheprideofmentalstrength。
Addtotheseconditionsofhispersonalitythatpathologicallyheisfromtimetotimeadrunkard，withalwaysthedangerofremainingadrunkard，andyouhaveafigureofwhichsomuchmaybedespairedthatitmightalmostbecalledhopeless。Iconfessthatinthebeginningthisbrilliant，pitilesslawyer，thisconsciencelesslypowerfuladvocate，atoncemockerandposeur，allbutfailedtointerestme。AlittleofhimandhismonoclewentsuchagreatwaywithmethatIthoughtIhadenoughofhimbytheendofthetrial，wherehegetsoffamanchargedwithmurder，andthencruellysnubsthehomicideinhisgratitude；andIdonotquiteknowhowIkeptontothepointwhereSteeleinhisdrunkennessfirstdazzlesandtheninsultsthegangofdrunkenlumbermen，andbeginshissecondlifeintheriverwheretheyhavethrownhim，andwherehisformerclientfindshim。
FromthatpointIcouldnotforsakehimtotheend，thoughI
foundmyselfmorethanonceintheworldwherethingshappenofthemselvesanddonothappenfromthetemperamentsofitsinhabitants。Inabetterandwiserworld，thehomicidewouldnotperhapsbeathandsoopportunelytosavethelifeoftheadvocatewhohadsavedhis；butoneconsentstothis，asoneconsentstoagreatdealbesidesinthestory，whichisimaginablythesurvivalofaformermethod。Theartist\'saffairistoreporttheappearance，theeffect；andintherealworld，theappearance，theeffect，isthatoflawandnotofmiracle。
Natureemploysthemiraclesoverysparinglythatmostofusgothroughlifewithoutseeingone，andsomeofuscontractsuchaprejudiceagainstmiraclesthatwhentheyareperformedforuswesuspectatrick。WhenIsufferedfromthissuspicionin\"TheRightofWay\"IwasthemorevexedbecauseIfeltthatIwasinthehandsofaconnoisseurofcharacterwhohadnoneedofmiracles。
IhavelikedMr。Parker\'streatmentofFrench-Canadianlife，asfarasIhaveknownit；andinthisnovelitisoneoftheprincipalpleasuresforme。Hemaynothavehishabitant，hisseigneurorhiscuredowncold，buthemakesmebelievethathehas，andIcanasknomorethanthatofhim。Inlikemanner，hemakestheambient，physicalaswellassocial，sensiblearoundme:thecoldrivers，thehard，clearskies，thesnowywoodsandfields，thelittlefrozenvillagesofCanada。Inthisbook，whichishistoricalofthepresentratherthanthepast，hegivesonearealizingsenseoftheCanadians，notonlyinthecountrybutinthecity，atleastsofarastheyaffecteachotherpsychologicallyinsociety，andmakesonefeeltheirinterestingtemperamentaldifferencefromAmericans。HisMontrealersarestillEnglishmenintheirstrenuousindividuality；butinthefrankexpressionofcharacter，ofeccentricity，CharleySteeleislikeatypeoflawyerinourWest，ofanepochwhenpeoplewerenotyetcontenttowitnessidealsofthemselves，butwhentheywishedtobetheirpoetryratherthantoreadit。Inhissecondlifehehasthecharmfortheimaginationthatadisembodiedspiritmighthave，ifitcouldbemadeknowntousinthecircumstancesofanotherworld。
Hehas，indeed，madealmostascleanabreakwithhispastasifhehadreallybeendrownedintheriver。When，afterthetermofoblivion，inwhichheknowsnothingofhispastself，heisrestoredtohisidentitybyafamoussurgeontooopportunelyoutofParis，onavisittohisbrother，thecure，theproblemishowheshallexpiatetheerrorsofhispast，workouthisredemptioninhisnewlife；andtheauthorsolvesitforhimbyappointinghimtoalifeofunselfishlabor，illuminedbyactionsofpositivebeneficence。ItissomethinglikethesolutionwhichGoetheimaginesforFaust，andperhapsnootherisimaginable。Incontrivingit，Mr。Parkerindulgestheweakerbrethrenwithanabundanceofaccidentandaluxuryofcatastrophe，whichthereaderinterestedinthepsychologyofthestorymaytakeaslittleaccountofashelikes。Withoutsomuchofthemhemighthavemadeasculpturesqueromanceasclearlyandnoblydefiniteas\"TheScarletLetter\"；withthemhehasmadeamostpicturesqueromanticnovel。Hiswork，asIbeganbysaying，orhinting，istheworkofapoet，inconception，andIwishthatinsomedetailsofdictionitwereaselectastheauthor\'sverseis。
Butonemustnotexpecteverything；andinwhatitis，\"TheRightofWay\"satisfiesareasonabledemandonthesideofliterature，whileitmorethanmeetsareasonableexpectationonthesideofpsychologicalinterest。Distinctlyitmarksanepochincontemporarynoveling，andmountsfarabovetheaveragebesttowardthedayofbetterthingswhichIhopeitisnotrashtoimagedawning。
II。
IamsureIdonotmerelyfancytheaurorallightinagroupofstoriesbyanotherpoet。\"TheRulingPassion，\"Dr。HenryVanDykecallshisbook，whichrelatesitselfbyadoubletietoMr。
Parker\'snovelthroughkinshipofCanadianlandscapeandcharacter，andthroughtheprevalenceofpsychologismoverdeterminisminit。Inthesituationsandincidentsstudiedwithsentimentthatsavesitselffromsentimentalitysometimeswithgreaterandsometimeswithlessease，butsavesitself，theappealisfromthesoulinthecharactertothesoulinthereader，andnotfrombruteeventtohissensation。IbelievethatIlikebestamongthesecharmingthingsthetwosketches——theyarehardlystories——\"AYearofNobility\"and\"TheKeeperoftheDight，\"thoughifIwereaskedtosaywhy，Ishouldbepuzzled。PerhapsitisbecauseIfindinthetwopiecesnamedagreaterdetachmentthanIfindinsomeothersofDr。VanDyke\'sdelightfulvolume，andgreaterevidencethathehashimselfsothoroughlyandfinallymasteredhismaterialthatheisnolongerindangerofbeingundulyaffectedbyit。Thatisadangerwhichinhisveryqualityoflyricalpoetheismostliableto，forheisaboveallalyricalpoet，andsuchdramaasthechorususuallycommentsisthedramanexthisheart。Thepieces，infact，aresomanyidyls，andtheirrealismisaneffectwhichhehasfeltratherthanreasonedhiswayto。
Itisimplicationalratherthanintentional。Itisnonetheworsebutallthebetteronthataccount，andIcannotsaythatthepsychologismistheworseforbeingfrankly，howeveruninsistently，moralized。Ahumor，delicateandgenuineasthepoetryofthestories，playsthroughthem，andthemildemachtofsympathywitheverythinghumantransferstothepleasantpagestheforestersandfishermenfromtheirnativewoodsandwaters。Canadaseemsthehomeofprimitivecharacter；theseventeenthcenturysurvivesthereamongthehabitants，withtheirsteadfastfaith，theirpicturesquesuperstitions，theiroldworldtraditionsandtheirnewworldcustoms。Itisthelandnotonlyofthehabitant，butofhisoversoul，thegoodcure，andhisoverlordtheseigneur，nowfadedeconomically，butstilllingeringsociallyinthesceneofhislargepossessions。Theirpersonalityimpartsacharmtothemanybooksaboutthemwhichatpresentthereseemstobenoendtothemakingof；andsuchafinetouchasDr。VanDyke\'sgivesusalikenessofthem，whichifitisidealizedisidealizedbyreservation，notbyattribution。
III。
Mr。WilliamAllenWhite\'smethodisthereverseofDr。VanDyke\'s。Ifhehasheldhishandanywherethereaderdoesnotsuspectit，foritseems，withitsrelentlesspowerofrealization，tobelaiduponthewholepoliticallifeofKansas，whichitkeepsinaclutchsopenetrating，socomprehensive，thatthereaderdoesnotquitefeelhisownvitalsfreefromit。Verylikely，itdoesnotgraspthewholesituation；afterall，itisapicture，notamap，thatMr。Whitehasbeenmaking，andthephotographitself，thoughitmayinclude，doesnotrepresenteverything。Someyearsagotherewasasillyattempttoreproachthetruepaintersofmannersbycallingthemphotographic，butI
doubtifeventhenMr。Whitewouldhavemindedanysuchcensureofhisconscientiouswork，andIamsurethatnowhewouldcountithonor。Hecannotbetheadmirableartistheiswithoutknowingthatitistheinwardnessaswellastheoutwardnessofmenthathephotographs，andifthereaderdoesnotknowit，theworseforthereader。Heisnotthesortofreaderwhowillrisefromthisbookhumiliatedandfortified，asanyreaderworthyofitwill。
Theauthorhasputhisbestfootforwardintheopeningstory，\"TheManonHorseback，\"which，whenIreaditafewyearsagointhemagazinewhereitfirstappeared，seemedtomesoperfectinitswaythatIshouldnothaveknownhowtobetterit。Ofcourse，thisisagooddealforacritictosay；itissomethinglikeabdicatinghisoffice；butIrepeatit。Ittakesrathermorecourageforamantobehonestinfictionthanoutofit，forpeopledonotmuchexpectitofhim，oraltogetherlikeitinhim；butin\"TheManonHorseback\"Mr。Whiteisateverymomenthonest。Heishonest，ifnotsoimpressivelyhonest，intheotherstories，\"AVictoryforthePeople，\"\"ATriumph\'sEvidence，\"\"TheMercyofDeath，\"and\"AMostLamentableComedy；\"
andwherehefailsofperfectjusticetohismaterial，Ithinkitisbecauseofhisunconsciouspoliticalbias，ratherthananythingwilfuller。
Inthestorylastnamedthisbetraysitselfinhistreatmentofatypeofmanwhocouldnotbefaithfultoanysortofmovement，andwhoseunfaithfulnessdoesnotnecessarilycensurethemovementMr。Whitedislikes。WonderfullygoodastheportraitofDanGreggis，itwantsthefinaltouchwhichcouldhavecomeonlyfromalittlekindness。Hisstorymighthavebeencalled\"TheManonFoot，\"bythesortofantithesiswhichIshouldnotblameMr。Whiteforscorning，andI
shouldnotsayanythingofitworsethanthatitispitilesslyhard，whichthestoryof\"TheManonHorseback\"isnot，oranyoftheotherstories。Sentimentalityofanykindisalientotheauthor\'snature，butnottenderness，especiallythatsparingsortwhichgiveshislifetothemanwhoisdown。
MostofthemenwhomMr。Whitedealswitharedown，asmostmeninthestruggleoflifeare。Fewofuscanbeontopmorally，almostasfewascanbeontopmaterially；andprobablynothingwillmoresurprisethesaintsatthejudgmentdaythantofindthemselvesinsuchasmallminority。Butprobablynotthesaintsalonewillbesaved，anditissomesuchhopethatMr。Whitehasconstantlyinmindwhenmakinghisconstantappealtoconscience。
Itis，ofcourse，adramatic，notadidacticappeal。HepreachessolittleandissoeffectivelyreticentthatIcouldalmostwithhehadleftouttheprefaceofhisbook，goodasitis。Yes，justbecauseitissogoodIcouldwishhehadleftitout。Itisaperfectjustificationofhispurposeandmethods，buttheyaretheirownjustificationwithallwhocanthinkaboutthem，andtheothersarethemselvesnotworththinkingabout。Thestoriesaresobravelyfaithfultohumannatureinthatpoliticalaspectwhichisbutonephaseofourwholeaveragelifethattheyaremagnificentlyaboveallneedofexcusingordefending。Theyformasubstantialbodyofpoliticalfiction，suchaswehavesolongsighedfor，andsuchassomeofuswillstillgoonsighingforquiteasifithadnotbeensupplied。Someotherswillbeawarethatithasbeensuppliedinaformasartisticallyfineasthematerialitselfiscoarseandcommon，ifindeedanysortofhumanityiscoarseandcommonexcepttothosewhothemselvesareso。
Themeaningthatanimatesthestoriesisthatourpoliticalopportunityistrammelledonlysofaraswehavetrammelleditbyourgreedandfalsehood；andinthisaspectthepsychologyofMr。
WhiteoffersthestrongestcontrasttothatofthelatestRussianmasterinfiction。MaximGorky\'swhollyhopelessstudyofdegeneracyinthelifeof\"FomaGordyeeff\"accusesconditionswhichwecanonlyimaginewithdifficulty。AsoneadvancesthroughthemoralwasteofthatstrangebookoneslowlyperceivesthatheisinalandofNoUse，inanambientofsuchironfixityandinexorableboundsthatperhapsFoma\'swillingnesstorotthroughviceintoimbecilityisaswiseasanythingelsethere。
Itisabookthatsaturatesthesoulwithdespair，andblightsitwiththenegationwhichseemstheonlypossibletruthinthecircumstances；sothatonequestionswhethertheRussianinwhichTurgenieffandTolstoy，andevenDostoyevsky，couldanimatethevolitionandtheexpectationofbetterthingshasnotsunktodepthsbeyondanycounselofamelioration。TocomeupoutofthatBottomlessPitintothemeasurelessairofMr。White\'sKansasplainsislikewakingfromdeathtolife。Wearestillamongdreadfullyfalliblehumanbeings，butwearenolongeramongthedamned；withtheworstthereisapurgatorialpossibilityofParadise。EventheperditionofDanGreggthenseemsnottheworstthatcouldbefallhim；hemightagainhavebeengovernor。
IV。
IfthehumanbeingsinDr。WeirMitchell\'sveryinterestingnovelof\"Circumstance\"donotseemsohumanasthoseRussiansofGorkyandthoseKansansofMr。White，itisbecausepeopleinsocietyarealwayshumanwithdifficulty，andhisPhiladelphiansaremostlyinsociety。Theyarealmostreproachfullyexemplary，insomeinstances；anditiswhentheygivewaytothenaturalman，andespeciallythenaturalwoman，thattheyareconsolingandedifying。WhenMaryFairthornebeginstoscoldhercousin，KittyMorrow，atthepartywhereshefindsKittywearingherdeadmother\'spearls，andeventakesholdofherinawaythatmakesthereaderhopesheisgoingtoshakeher，sheisdelightful；andwhenKittycomplainsthatMaryhas\"pinched\"her，sheisadorable。Oneisreallyinlovewithherforthemoment；andinthatmomentofnaturethethickairofgoodsocietyseemstoblowawayandletonebreathefreely。Thebadpeopleinthebookarebetterthanthegoodpeople，andthegoodpeoplearebestintheirworsttempers。Theyaresoexclusivelywellbornandwellbredthatthefitnessofthemedicalstudent，Blount，fortheirsocietycanbeascertainedonlybyhisreferencetoaNewEnglandancestryofthehighantiquitythatcanexcuseevendubiouscuffsandfinger-nailsinadescendantofgoodprinciplesandgenerousinstincts。
ThepsychologicalproblemstudiedinthebookwithsuchartisticfinenessandscientificthoroughnessispersonallyacertainMrs。
Hunter，whomanagesthroughtheweak-mindedandselfishKittyMorrowtoworkherwaytoauthorityinthehouseholdofKitty\'suncle，whereshedisplacesMaryFairthorne，andmakestheplaceodioustoallthekithandkinofKitty。Intellectually，sheisacleverwoman，orrather，sheisawomanofgreatcunningthatrisesattimestosagacity；butsheislimitedbyabadheartandanabsenceofconscience。Sheisbolduptoapoint，andthensheistimid；shewillgotolengths，butnottoalllengths；andwhenitcomestopoisoningFairthornetokeephimfromchanginghismindaboutthebequesthehasmadeher，shehasnotquitethecourageofherconvictions。Shehesitatesanddoesnotdoit，anditisinthispointshebecomessoaestheticallysuccessful。
Theguiltoftheuncommittedcrimesismoreimportantthantheguiltofthosewhichhavebeencommitted；andtheauthordoesagoodthingmorallyaswellasartisticallyinleavingMrs。Hunterstillsomethingofaproblemtohisreader。Inmostthingssheisalmosttooplainacase；sheissly，andvulgar，anddepravedandcruel；sheisallthatamurderessshouldbe；but，inhesitatingatmurder，shebecomesandremainsamystery，andthereaderdoesnotgetridofherashewouldifshehadreallydonethedeed。Intheinferiorexigenciesshestrikesfearlessly；andwhenthemanwhohasdivorcedherloomsupinherhorizonwithdoominhispresence，shegoesandmakeslovetohim。Sheisnotthelesssuccessfulbecauseshedisgustshim；heagreestoletheralonesolongasshedoesnomischief；shehas，atleast，madehimunwillingtofeelhimselfherpersecutor，andthatisenoughforher。
Mrs。Hunterisastudyofextremeinterestindegeneracy，butI
amnotsurethatKittyMorrowisnotararercontributiontoknowledge。Ofcourse，thatsortofselfishgirlhasalwaysbeenknown，butshehasnotmettheopenrecognitionwhichconstitutesknowledge，andsoshehasthepreciousnessofafind。Sheisatoncetiresomeandvivacious；sheiscold-heartedbutnotcold-blooded，andwhensheletsherselfgoinanoutburstofpassionforthecelibateyoungritualist，Knellwood，shebecomesfascinating。Shedoesnotletherselfgowithouthavingassuredherselfthathelovesher，andsomehowoneisnotshockedathermakinglovetohim；oneevenwishesthatshehadwonhim。Iamnotsurebutthecasewouldhavebeenalittletruerifshehadwonhim，butasitisIamrichlycontentwithit。PerhapsIamthemorecontentbecauseinthecaseofKittyMorrowIfindaconcessiontorealitymoreentirethanthecaseofMrs。Hunter。
Sheisoftheheredityfromwhichyouwouldexpectherdepravity；
butKittyMorrow，wholetsherselfgosorecklessly，is，foralloneknows，aswellbornandaswellbredasthoseotherPhiladelphians。Inmyadmirationofher，asaworkofart，however，ImustnotfailofjusticetothehigherbeautyofMaryFairthorne\'scharacter。Sheisreallyagoodgirl，andsavedfromtheunrealitywhichalwaysthreatensgoodnessinfictionbythoselimitationsoftemperwhichIhavealreadyhinted。