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on recognised in himself an ability to treat subjects which he had hitherto avoided； and was thus no longer under the necessity of detaching fragments from life。 Before this； he had largely confined himself to the adventures of roving men where women had made no entrance； or； if he treated of a settled family group； the result was what we see in THE MASTER OF BALLANTRAE。〃
In a word； between this work and WEIR OF HERMISTON we have the passage from mere youth to manhood； with its wider； calmer views； and its patience； inclusiveness； and mild； genial acceptance of types that before did not come； and could not by any effort of will be brought； within range or made to adhere consistently with what was already accepted and workable。 He was less the egotist now and more the realist。 He was not so prone to the high lights in which all seems overwrought； exaggerated； concerned really with effects of a more subdued order； if still the theme was a wee out of ordinary nature。 Enough is left to prove that Stevenson's life… long devotion to his art anyway was on the point of being rewarded by such a success as he had always dreamt of： that in the man's nature there was power to conceive scenes of a tragic beauty and intensity unsurpassed in our prose literature； and to create characters not unworthy of his greatest predecessors。 The blind stroke of fate had nothing to say to the lesson of his life； and though we deplore that he never completed his masterpieces； we may at least be thankful that time enough was given him to prove to his fellow…craftsmen； that such labour for the sake of art is not without art's peculiar reward … the triumph of successful execution。
CHAPTER XXIII … EDINBURGH REVIEWERS' DICTA INAPPLICABLE TO LATER WORK
FROM many different points of view discerning critics have celebrated the autobiographic vein … the self…revealing turn； the self…portraiture； the quaint； genial； yet really child…like egotistic and even dreamy element that lies like an amalgam； behind all Stevenson's work。 Some have even said； that because of this； he will finally live by his essays and not by his stories。 That is extreme； and is not critically based or justified； because； however true it may be up to a certain point； it is not true of Stevenson's quite latest fictions where we see a decided breaking through of the old limits； and an advance upon a new and a fresher and broader sphere of interest and character altogether。 But these ideas set down truly enough at a certain date； or prior to a certain date； are wrong and falsely directed in view of Stevenson's latest work and what it promised。 For instance； what a discerning and able writer in the EDINBURGH REVIEW of July 1895 said truly then was in great part utterly inapplicable to the whole of the work of the last years； for in it there was grasp； wide and deep； of new possibilities … promise of clear insight； discrimination； and contrast of character； as well as firm hold of new and great human interest under which the egotistic or autobiographic vein was submerged or weakened。 The EDINBURGH REVIEWER wrote：
〃There was irresistible fascination in what it would be unfair to characterise as egotism； for it came natural to him to talk frankly and easily of himself。 。 。 。 He could never have dreamed； like Pepys； of locking up his confidence in a diary。 From first to last； in inconsecutive essays； in the records of sentimental touring； in fiction and in verse； he has embodied the outer and the inner autobiography。 He discourses … he prattles … he almost babbles about himself。 He seems to have taken minute and habitual introspection for the chief study in his analysis of human nature； as a subject which was immediately in his reach； and would most surely serve his purpose。 We suspect much of the success of his novels was due to the fact that as he seized for a substructure on the scenery and situations which had impressed him forcibly； so in the characters of the most different types； there was always more or less of self…portraiture。 The subtle touch； eminently and unmistakably realistic； gave life to what might otherwise have seemed a lay…figure。 。 。 。 He hesitated again and again as to his destination； and under mistakes； advice of friends； doubted his chances； as a story…writer； even after TREASURE ISLAND had enjoyed its special success。 。 。 。 We venture to think that； with his love of intellectual self…indulgence； had he found novel…writing really enjoyable； he would never have doubted at all。 But there comes in the difference between him and Scott； whom he condemns for the slovenliness of hasty workmanship。 Scott； in his best days； sat down to his desk and let the swift pen take its course in inspiration that seemed to come without an effort。 Even when racked with pains； and groaning in agony； the intellectual machinery was still driven at a high pressure by something that resembled an irrepressible instinct。 Stevenson can have had little or nothing of that inspiriting afflatus。 He did his painstaking work conscientiously； thoughtfully； he erased； he revised； and he was hard to satisfy。 In short； it was his weird … and he could not resist it … to set style and form before fire and spirit。〃
CHAPTER XXIV … MR HENLEY'S SPITEFUL PERVERSIONS
MORE unfortunate still； as disturbing and prejudicing a sane and true and disinterested view of Stevenson's claims； was that article of his erewhile 〃friend；〃 Mr W。 E。 Henley； published on the appearance of the MEMOIR by Mr Graham Balfour； in the PALL MALL MAGAZINE。 It was well that Mr Henley there acknowledged frankly that he wrote under a keen sense of 〃grievance〃 … a most dangerous mood for the most soberly critical and self…restrained of men to write in； and that most certainly Mr W。 E。 Henley was not … and that he owned to having lost contact with； and recognition of the R。 L。 Stevenson who went to America in 1887； as he says； and never came back again。 To do bare justice to Stevenson it is clear that knowledge of that later Stevenson was essential … essential whether it was calculated to deepen sympathy or the reverse。 It goes without saying that the Louis he knew and hobnobbed with； and nursed near by the Old Bristo Port in Edinburgh could not be the same exactly as the Louis of Samoa and later years … to suppose so； or to expect so； would simply be to deny all room for growth and expansion。 It is clear that the W。 E。 Henley of those days was not the same as the W。 E。 Henley who indited that article； and if growth and further insight are to be allowed to Mr Henley and be pleaded as his justification CUM spite born of sense of grievance for such an onslaught； then clearly some allowance in the same direction must be made for Stevenson。 One can hardly think that in his case old affection and friendship had been so completely submerged； under feelings of grievance and paltry pique； almost always bred of grievances dwelt on and nursed； which it is especially bad for men of genius to acknowledge； and to make a basis； as it were； for clearer knowledge； insight； and judgment。 In other cases the pl