- Grace Marks the murderess was in fact a model prisoner and eventually pardoned.[1] In the novel, she maintains a carefully respectful demeanour. She is more intelligent and observant than she lets on. While she very much resents being made a spectacle as the famed murderess, she is grateful for the effort being made to have her pardoned.
- Thomas Kinnear was a wealthy Scottish farmer who was murdered in his home in Richmond Hill, Ontario.
- Nancy Montgomery, Kinnear's mistress and housekeeper and the murder victim of James McDermott and Grace.
- James McDermott was convicted of the murder of Kinnear and executed. He was employed as a stableman and handyman at Kinnear's. He was reputed to be a rough character, a rebellious Irishman, resentful of the English. In the novel, being told to answer to Kinnear's housekeeper, Nancy Montgomery, infuriated McDermott.
- Simon Jordan, M.D., is a fictional character, a well-traveled and educated young physician who intends to make his career in mental health, planning to open a private asylum someday.
- Mary Whitney is a fictional character, a maid, and friend of Grace. Mary believes in herself and in Canada as a place that a hard-working girl can earn her way. She plans to save her wages for a dowry so she can marry a farmer and be mistress of her own home.
- Jeremiah Pontelli is a fictional character. Jeremiah the peddler, alias Geraldo Ponti, magician, alias Dr. Jerome DuPont, "Neuro-Hypnotist", first met Grace when she was a new housemaid and he was peddling house to house in Toronto. When he called at the Kinnear house, he told her he feared she might be in danger there and told her a glimpse into her future.
This content is from Wikipedia. GradeSaver is providing this content as a courtesy until we can offer a professionally written study guide by one of our staff editors. We do not consider this content professional or citable. Please use your discretion when relying on it.
