What Do Men Want?

As described in a film magazine, at the girls school gymnasium in the small town of Oakdale everyone is happily discussing the upcoming ball with the exception of Bertha (Kessler), who is left to herself by the other girls because her father is in an insane asylum and she is poor and plain. At the ball, the belle is Hallie (Windsor), who is sought by all the young men while Bertha looks on, a lonely wall flower. Brothers and automobile mechanics Frank (Glendon) and Arthur (Hackathorne) are both in love with Hallie, and at Frank's request Arthur asks Bertha to dance. Her gratitude causes her to fall in love with him, and a series of events finally lead to her end her life by drowning. In the meantime Frank and Hallie are married and, owing to the success of an invention of his, living comfortable and happy lives. Several children come and the home is apparently an ideal one. Then Frank is seized by the spirit of unrest and for several years domestic happiness is conspicuous by its absence from the home. Frank takes up a residence in the city and becomes entangled with the fast set, his particular attraction being to "the other girl." Hallie devotes her time to her children and unavailing efforts to hold her husband's waning love. In her loneliness she is about to surrender to the blandishments of Yost (Cooley), the evil influence of the village, when her inherent honesty asserts itself and she sends Yost away. But Frank has arrived on one of his visits to his home just in time to have seen Yost enter the house, and waits outside, intending to see Hallie alone to ask her forgiveness and seek reconciliation for all that he has done. After a long wait, not seeing Yost leave the house, Frank rushes in and accuses Hallie. He then leaves, intending to go away forever, when he meets his brother Arthur, who explains matters and convinces Frank of Hallie's innocence. After a real reconciliation with his wife, Frank discovers the answer to the title's question.