On the second Sunday in August 1846, a mass was held in the provincial capital of Maderia, Funchal, in honour of the patron saint, Our Lady of the Mount. Excitement among her devotees was at fever pitch. The cathedral was packed, the crowd even spilling over into the square outside. From the pulpit a canon of the cathedral harangued the crowds, inciting them to violent action. The atmosphere was tense. The impatient multitude awaited the signal to act. Outside in the square that signal was given; a rocket swished into the air and led by the canon, still in his priestly vestments, the crowd surged out into the Cathedral Square and on through the narrow streets chanting, ‘Long live our Lady of the Mount'; ‘Long live the Holy Mother Church'; ‘Death to the Bible readers'; ‘Death to Dalley - the Wolf from Scotland'.

This is the gripping story of Robert Reid Dalley, telling of the work of God in bringing the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Portuguese island of Madeira and to the people of Brazil. Kalley's work, largely unknown, rightly takes its place amongst the great missionary endeavours of men such as William Carey, David Livingstone and Adoniram Judson. His evident love for his hearers and his simple everyday witness in the course of his work will be a stirring challenge to the reader.