Preface to my book Shall I make the usual half-sincere, half-afected apology of haste and inexperience, with hits of improvement in future efforts Indeed I cannot for though this volume really is the fist novel ever printed in book form under my name. its imperfections, whatever they are, arise from no inexpericnce or undue haste, but -from absolute lack of poffer to accomplish that which I have undertaken. Nor is it probable that the points in which I have failed here, would be very greatly improved were the same book to be written again. I have endeavored to make this book a good on If I have failed it is because the power had not been granted to me by the Source of all power, and for deficiency like this, the only admissible apology woaId be for having written at all. But excuses are out of place here. The book, with all its faults, is frankly surrenderd to the public judgment, asking neither favoritism or forbearance...........