Greifenstein,  by  Francis  Marion  Craw-
ford. The  duplicity  of  a  woman  who
brings  disgrace  on  a  proud  old  family
forms  the  mainspring  of  an  exciting
narrative,  certain  episodes  of  which  are
even  startling.  Baron  von  Greifenstein
supposes  himself  to  be  legally  married
to  Clara  Kurtz.  After  twenty-five  years,
his  half-brother  Von  Rieseneck,  a  dis-
graced and  fugitive  ex-officer,  confesses
that  the  i^oman  is  his  wife,  though  he
had  long  believed  her  dead.  The  real-
ization that  his  dearly  loved  son  Greif
is  nameless  fills  the  baron  with  rage
against  Clara,  who  is  hated  not  less  by
her  lawful  husband  for  her  desertion  <rf
him.  The  two  men,  feeling  themselves
disgraced  and  degraded,  write  explana-
tory letters  to  their  respective  sons,  kill


SYNOPSES  OF  NOTED  BOOKS


269


the  woman  and  then  themselves.  The
news  reaches  Greif  at  his  university,  but
his  father's  letter  does  not  appear.  His
friend  (in  reality  his  half-brother)  Rex,
son  of  Rieseneck,  learns  all;  but  keeps
the  secret  to  himself,  and  goes  with
Greif  to  his  home.  Greif  wishes  to  re-
lease his  cousin,  Hilda  von  Sig^unds-
kron,  from  her  betrothal  vows  to  him;
but  she  refuses  to  give  him  up,  and
finally  he  assumes  the  name  of  Sig-
mundskron  and  marries  her.  After  a
happy  year  the  baron's  letter  turns  up
in  an  old  coat,  and  Greif  discovers  the
whole  truth.  He  is  plunged  into  the
depths  of  despair;  but  Hilda  tears  up
the  letter,  thus  destroying  all  evidence
of  the  ugly  secret,  and  by  her  love
and  devotion  she  finally  brings  him  to
a  more  cheerful  state  of  mind.  Mean-
time Rex  discovers  that  he  has  fallen  in
love  unwittingly  with  Hilda.  In  conse-
quence he  tries  to  shoot  himself,  but  is
prevented  from  doing  so  by  Greif  and
Hilda,  who  have  a  deep  aflFection  for
him,  and  who  finally  persuade  him  that
life  is  still  full  of  opportunity,  and,  in
time,  of  happiness.  The  events  of  the
story  occur  in  Swabia;  and  the  time  is
from  1888  onward.  The  incidental  pict-
ures of  German  university  life,  student
duels,  etc,  will  be  found  interesting.
