22 TRANSACTIONS. 19OI-2 



sequent books. He afterwards removed to England, which 

 has since been his home. 



His first novel, apart from short-stories, was " Mrs. 

 Falchion," published in 1893. The scene is laid partly in 

 Western Canada and partly in the Far East. In nearly all 

 his subsequent romances the scene is laid entirely in his na- 

 tive country. His second novel was " The Trespasser ;" ^ 

 which was followed by " The Translation of a Savage," ^ in 

 which an Englishman marries a beautiful young Indian girl, 

 and carries her back with him to his English home, with 

 unhappy results to her. " The Trail of the Sword," 

 "When Valmond Came to Pontiac," * "The Seats of the 

 Mighty " '' and " The Pomp of the Lavilettes," ^ followed in 

 rapid succession, marking an almost continuous improvement 

 in the author's style and in the symmetrical treatment of his 

 theme. " The Trail of the Sword" has since been translated 

 -into French, and "The Seats of the Mighty" has been suc- 

 cessfully dramatized. In 1898 he published " The Battle of 

 the Strong," undoubtedly the strongest and most sustained 

 piece of work he has yet put forth. The scene is in the 

 Island of Jersey and in France ; the plot is intensely dramatic 

 and skillfully developed ; and the characters are drawn with 

 an assured touch 



In a recent letter Mr. Parker tells me that he has com- 

 pleted a new Canadian novel, as well as another dealing with 

 modern life in Egypt. He has also written a number of 

 sketches of Anglo-Egyptian life, some of which have appear- 

 ed in English and American magazines, and others are to 

 follow. It is to be hoped that Mr. Parker's new duties in the 

 British Parliament will not be allowed to interfere with his 

 value as a man-of-letters. "^ 



1. Pub. 1893 ; 2. 1894 ; 3. 1894 ; 4. 1895 ; 5. 1896 ; 6. 1897. 



7. Sin e this paper was read Mr. Parker has brought out the new 

 Canadian novel ref-^-rredt" ab ve. It is entiled "The Right of Way," 

 published 19(»1, and shares with tw<> otln-r Canadian books of Action 

 (by Seton-Thomson and ' Rnlph ("onnor") the distinction of headiner the 

 list of most popular books, in the United States putilishers' lists and 

 library reports, in December. 1901. The plot is of the "Enoch Arden," 

 type, and very finely worked out. 



