"The scene is laid in the Philippine Islands and the important male characters, with one exception, are officers of the American army. This exception is Tom Bennett, a rich _roué_, who is touring the world in his yacht with his unhappy young wife and her sister. Bennett and his party are attacked by Moro pirates in the Sulu Sea and rescued by Capt Ballard and his men. Later they visit the island of Jolo, where Capt Ballard is stationed. Between him and Barbara, Bennett's wife, a strong friendship arises which develops into love. The story of the relations of these two attractive and well-drawn characters is varied by clever pictures of the island life, of dances, of flirtations, of drinking bouts, and of skirmishes with hostile natives. "Many real and interesting types are introduced, among them a wandering dancing girl, who calls herself La Belle Syria, but is, in spirit and in language, redolent of New York's gay irresponsibility. She uses expressive slang and is a charming, amusing creature. But her place in the novel is not solely that of the comic relief. She is partly responsible for the drunken brawl in which Bennett receives the wound which causes partial paralysis. His helpless condition brings back his wife, who had resolved to leave him. "But the story does not end here. New complications ensue, in which both Bennett and Ballard are severely tested and from which they emerge heroically. The final chapters of the book, containing a strong and unexpected dénouement, are admirable pieces of dramatic writing. They form a fitting climax to a novel which deserves serious attention as an important contribution to modern American fiction. "Capt Powers should be given especial credit for his resistance to two temptations. In the first place, although writing of Anglo-Saxon soldiers residing among Orientals, he keeps absolutely clear of the Kiplingesque. In the second place, he describes tropical nature without the sensuous extravagance beloved of Robert Hichens." SMALL, MAYNARD & COMPANY Publishers, Boston * * * * * Transcriber's Note: The following typographical errors present in the original edition have been corrected. In Chapter III, "As you will, _Marie-Antoniette_!" was changed to "As you will, _Marie-Antoinette_!", and "Belle-Helène who keeps the Harp tavern" was changed to "Belle-Hélène who keeps the Harp tavern". In Chapter V, "The explantion of its absence" was changed to "The explanation of its absence". In Chapter VI, "Monsieur de Traineuse" was changed to "Monsieur de Traneuse". In Chapter VII, "these villianous reformatories" was changed to "these villainous reformatories", and a missing quotation mark was added before "He took it from a wax mask". In Chapter X, a missing period was added after "he fancied he heard voices on the staircase".