明(ming)代山(shan)(shan)陽(yang)縣(xian)書生熊(xiong)友(you)蘭、熊(xiong)友(you)蕙兄弟(di)(di),父母早亡(wang),家(jia)境(jing)貧寒。兄友(you)蘭別弟(di)(di)外出(chu)謀(mou)生,友(you)蕙則(ze)(ze)留家(jia)攻(gong)讀。友(you)蕙與(yu)鄰(lin)居馮(feng)玉(yu)(yu)(yu)吾(wu)(wu)的童養媳侯三(san)(san)姑隔墻而(er)(er)居。一(yi)日(ri),馮(feng)玉(yu)(yu)(yu)吾(wu)(wu)將(jiang)(jiang)金環(huan)(huan)(huan)一(yi)對及寶(bao)鈔十五(wu)(wu)(wu)貫(guan)(guan)交三(san)(san)姑收藏,夜(ye)間老鼠(shu)將(jiang)(jiang)金環(huan)(huan)(huan)銜(xian)(xian)到(dao)友(you)蕙的書架上(shang),十五(wu)(wu)(wu)貫(guan)(guan)錢(qian)(qian)則(ze)(ze)被銜(xian)(xian)入鼠(shu)洞。友(you)蕙見環(huan)(huan)(huan)大(da)喜,第(di)二(er)日(ri),將(jiang)(jiang)金環(huan)(huan)(huan)往(wang)馮(feng)店換錢(qian)(qian)使用。馮(feng)玉(yu)(yu)(yu)吾(wu)(wu)疑為(wei)(wei)(wei)玉(yu)(yu)(yu)姑私(si)贈,當即(ji)命子(zi)(zi)找三(san)(san)姑索環(huan)(huan)(huan),其(qi)子(zi)(zi)誤食(shi)藥鼠(shu)面餅中(zhong)(zhong)毒而(er)(er)死(si),馮(feng)玉(yu)(yu)(yu)吾(wu)(wu)即(ji)以(yi)(yi)金環(huan)(huan)(huan)為(wei)(wei)(wei)證,告友(you)蕙與(yu)三(san)(san)姑通奸,謀(mou)財害(hai)命。山(shan)(shan)陽(yang)縣(xian)縣(xian)官(guan)(guan)過(guo)(guo)于(yu)執將(jiang)(jiang)二(er)人屈(qu)打(da)成招,定(ding)為(wei)(wei)(wei)死(si)罪(zui),并要友(you)蕙賠償十五(wu)(wu)(wu)貫(guan)(guan)寶(bao)鈔。卻說友(you)蘭在(zai)船上(shang)做舵(duo)手(shou),一(yi)日(ri)聞客述(shu)山(shan)(shan)陽(yang)一(yi)案(an)(an),知弟(di)(di)遭(zao)難,急(ji)欲前往(wang)。無(wu)(wu)錫客商陶復朱贈銀十五(wu)(wu)(wu)貫(guan)(guan),即(ji)夕(xi)啟行(xing)。再說無(wu)(wu)錫有開肉鋪的游(you)葫(hu)蘆,因無(wu)(wu)本錢(qian)(qian),停業已(yi)久,其(qi)姐贈給他十五(wu)(wu)(wu)貫(guan)(guan)錢(qian)(qian)合(he)伙開業。游(you)葫(hu)蘆背(bei)負十五(wu)(wu)(wu)貫(guan)(guan)錢(qian)(qian)深夜(ye)歸(gui)家(jia),趁(chen)酒(jiu)興(xing)戲謂其(qi)養女蘇戍(shu)(shu)娟(juan)(juan),說這十五(wu)(wu)(wu)貫(guan)(guan)錢(qian)(qian)是她的賣身錢(qian)(qian),戍(shu)(shu)娟(juan)(juan)害(hai)怕,連(lian)夜(ye)出(chu)逃。戍(shu)(shu)娟(juan)(juan)走后,賭(du)徒(tu)無(wu)(wu)賴(lai)婁阿鼠(shu)潛入游(you)家(jia)偷錢(qian)(qian),因被游(you)葫(hu)蘆發覺,情(qing)急(ji)中(zhong)(zhong)將(jiang)(jiang)游(you)殺死(si)后攜錢(qian)(qian)逃竄。天明(ming)后,鄰(lin)居報官(guan)(guan),認為(wei)(wei)(wei)戍(shu)(shu)娟(juan)(juan)可疑,連(lian)忙(mang)追趕。戍(shu)(shu)娟(juan)(juan)逃至高橋,正遇(yu)友(you)蘭,因為(wei)(wei)(wei)同路,結伴同行(xing)。官(guan)(guan)差趕到(dao),見友(you)蘭攜錢(qian)(qian)適(shi)符(fu)十五(wu)(wu)(wu)貫(guan)(guan)之數,即(ji)以(yi)(yi)此(ci)為(wei)(wei)(wei)贓證,將(jiang)(jiang)二(er)人收監(jian)。這時過(guo)(guo)于(yu)執已(yi)調任常州府理刑(xing),此(ci)案(an)(an)便(bian)由過(guo)(guo)于(yu)執審理,竟又(you)定(ding)為(wei)(wei)(wei)死(si)罪(zui)。兩(liang)案(an)(an)囚犯一(yi)同被押解至蘇州,由太守況鐘監(jian)斬。況鐘看出(chu)冤情(qing),便(bian)連(lian)夜(ye)請示巡按周忱要求復査,以(yi)(yi)官(guan)(guan)印為(wei)(wei)(wei)質方被應允。況鐘深入調査研(yan)究,從山(shan)(shan)陽(yang)友(you)蕙家(jia)鼠(shu)洞中(zhong)(zhong)找到(dao)被銜(xian)(xian)去的十五(wu)(wu)(wu)貫(guan)(guan)錢(qian)(qian)和藥鼠(shu)面餅,真相大(da)白。又(you)至無(wu)(wu)錫扮(ban)作測字先(xian)生私(si)訪,從婁阿鼠(shu)口中(zhong)(zhong)探得真情(qing),并安(an)排他自投羅網,于(yu)是兩(liang)案(an)(an)昭(zhao)雪。況鐘收蘇、侯二(er)女為(wei)(wei)(wei)義女,又(you)百般撮合(he)她倆和熊(xiong)氏兄弟(di)(di)的婚(hun)事,終于(yu)在(zai)熊(xiong)氏兄弟(di)(di)衣錦榮歸(gui)時,請過(guo)(guo)于(yu)執為(wei)(wei)(wei)媒(mei),友(you)蘭與(yu)戍(shu)(shu)娟(juan)(juan),友(you)蕙與(yu)三(san)(san)姑結為(wei)(wei)(wei)夫婦。
該劇(ju)目有《古本戲(xi)曲叢刊(kan)》三(san)集影(ying)印舊抄本,又有上海古籍出版社1983年(nian)排(pai)印的校(xiao)注本。