Abstract: A latch mechanism for securement to an edge portion of a closure element, and more particularly, but not exclusively, a sliding door. The door latch mechanism has a housing with a slide member having keeper engaging hook members to engage a keeper secured to a door jamb for locking and unlocking the door within a door frame. The slide member is guided along a straight axis and is connected to a finger engaging knob to displace it along that axis to lock and unlock the mechanism with the keeper. The slide member has one or two elongated through bores extending co-extensively with the straight axis and a load transfer pin-like member extends through the bores and connected on opposed sides to transfer lateral loads applied to the slide member to the door latch mechanism housing and door stile.