various learning,
fine presence, subtle intellect or polished eloquence of Rolph, nor even
to the high but less marked qualities of the Bidwells, but the time was
at hand when he was to prove that he possessed the power to move
audiences, by his voice as well as by his pen. In person he would have
been pronounced by a casual passer-by to be rather insignificant, being
exceedingly short in stature, and not well proportioned as to his
figure, which was slight, wiry, and--owing to a restless habit and a
highly-strung nervous system--seldom in repose. Still, no one who
contemplated his features with attention would ever have dreamed of
pronouncing him commonplace. His intellectual vigour and determination
were attested by his large head, massive brow, keen, light-blue eyes and
firmly-set mouth. His physical energy was placed equally beyond doubt by
the nervous activity above mentioned. Until he was long past the prime
of his manhood he was never still for many consecutive moments during
his waking hours. When labouring under any unusual excitement his frame
seemed to be set on steel springs. As his temper was easily aroused, it
was no uncommon thing to see him in one of these phases of excitement.
But though he was thus quickly moved to anger, it could not with justice
be said that his temper was bad, for, so far from being implacable, he
was readily appeased, and always quick to forget and forgive.
Altogether, he had an active but ill-balanced organization. His
sympathies were too quick and strong for his judgment, and he frequently
acted from impulse and hot blood. From his cradle to his grave he was
never fit to walk alone and without guidance through any great
emergency.

No two human beings could well be more unlike than were William Lyon
Mackenzie and John Rolph. They were compelled to work together in a
common cause for many years, but the two entities were thoroughly
antagonistic, and there was never much personal liking between them. The
structure of their bodies was not more dissimilar than was that of their
minds. The one, slight, wiry, and ever in motion, seemed as though it
might be blown hither and thither by any strong current. The other,
solid almost to portliness, was suggestive of fixity--of
self-dependence, and unsusceptibility to outside influences. The one was
suggestive of being in a great measure the creature of circumstances;
the other of being a law unto himself--one who would be more likely to
in