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Although Shorthouse produced several novels after his first published work, John Inglesant, neither these nor his short stories were able to repeat the success of that work.
The title story of this collection first appeared in Macmillan's Magazine, and is a romantic, mysterious, almost Gothic story of young Saale and his adoration of the mysterious Princess, and his mystical view of music.
I often, even in those early days, wondered why the music of the wind through the green rushes on the water's edge should have thrilled me with cheerfulness and joy, while the same wind wailing through the branches of the great trees high above my head crushed me with an unspeakable horror and dread. Doubtless in this latter was the sense of vastness and unapproachable height, infinite as it seemed to a little child--the touch, even, of the infinite must ever, it would seem, be appalling to man.
It was in this way and by these experimental methods that I began so early to recognise the mysterious connection that exists between sound and human feeling.
The marquis Jeanne Hyacinthe de St. Palaye is again set in a romanticised past, this time in France, and is a strange and touching story of love, nobility and sacrifice.
In The baroness Helena von Saarfeld Shorthouse's preoccupation is with the art of acting.
It must be remembered that the actor's life is a most exciting and wearing one, and most certain to affect the nerves and make a man irritable and suspicious. His reputation and his means of existence are dependent upon the voice of popular applause--an applause which may be affected by the slightest misunderstanding or error. It is no wonder, therefore, that he is apt to take alarm at trifles, or to resent with too much quickness what seems to be a slight or an unfairness…I found, amidst all its trivialities and vexations, the player's training to give an insight into human life in all its forms, and to encourage the study and observation of the varieties of city existence more than perhaps any other training does.
The story, of the love triangle between Count von Roseneau and the Baroness and Richter the actor, is again one of renunciation and sacrifice.
Ellie, the story of a boy and girl follows the short and ill-fated romance between young Fred and his beautiful cousin.
An apologue, which first appeared in Nineteenth century magazine is a discussion (between playing cards) on the nature of chance, Intellect and the Infinite Law
If we could sufficiently extend our insight we should see that every apparently chance contingency is but the result of previous combinations: that all existence is but the result of previous existence, and that chance is lost in law. But side by side with this truth exists another of more stupendous import, that, just as far as this truth is recognised and perceived, just so far, step by step, springs into existence a power by which law is abrogated, and the apparent course of its iron necessity is changed…We know that we possess a power by which the fall of the cards is systematised and controlled. To a higher intelligence than ours, doubtless, combinations which seem to us inscrutable are as easily analysed and controlled.
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