明(ming)代山(shan)陽(yang)縣(xian)書生熊友蘭(lan)(lan)、熊友蕙(hui)兄(xiong)弟(di)(di),父母早亡,家(jia)(jia)境貧(pin)寒。兄(xiong)友蘭(lan)(lan)別弟(di)(di)外出謀(mou)(mou)生,友蕙(hui)則(ze)留家(jia)(jia)攻讀。友蕙(hui)與(yu)(yu)鄰居(ju)馮(feng)(feng)玉(yu)吾的(de)童(tong)養(yang)媳侯三(san)姑隔(ge)墻(qiang)而居(ju)。一(yi)日,馮(feng)(feng)玉(yu)吾將金(jin)環(huan)(huan)一(yi)對及寶鈔十(shi)(shi)五(wu)貫(guan)(guan)交三(san)姑收(shou)藏,夜間老鼠(shu)(shu)將金(jin)環(huan)(huan)銜到友蕙(hui)的(de)書架上,十(shi)(shi)五(wu)貫(guan)(guan)錢(qian)則(ze)被(bei)銜入(ru)鼠(shu)(shu)洞(dong)。友蕙(hui)見(jian)環(huan)(huan)大(da)喜(xi),第(di)二(er)日,將金(jin)環(huan)(huan)往(wang)馮(feng)(feng)店換(huan)錢(qian)使用。馮(feng)(feng)玉(yu)吾疑為(wei)(wei)(wei)玉(yu)姑私(si)贈(zeng)(zeng),當即命(ming)子(zi)找三(san)姑索環(huan)(huan),其(qi)子(zi)誤食藥鼠(shu)(shu)面(mian)餅中(zhong)毒而死,馮(feng)(feng)玉(yu)吾即以(yi)金(jin)環(huan)(huan)為(wei)(wei)(wei)證,告友蕙(hui)與(yu)(yu)三(san)姑通奸(jian),謀(mou)(mou)財(cai)害命(ming)。山(shan)陽(yang)縣(xian)縣(xian)官過(guo)于(yu)(yu)執將二(er)人屈打成招,定為(wei)(wei)(wei)死罪,并(bing)要友蕙(hui)賠償十(shi)(shi)五(wu)貫(guan)(guan)寶鈔。卻說(shuo)友蘭(lan)(lan)在船上做舵手(shou),一(yi)日聞(wen)客(ke)述山(shan)陽(yang)一(yi)案(an)(an),知(zhi)弟(di)(di)遭難,急欲前往(wang)。無(wu)錫客(ke)商陶復朱(zhu)贈(zeng)(zeng)銀(yin)十(shi)(shi)五(wu)貫(guan)(guan),即夕啟行(xing)(xing)。再說(shuo)無(wu)錫有開肉鋪的(de)游(you)(you)葫蘆(lu),因(yin)無(wu)本錢(qian),停業已(yi)久,其(qi)姐贈(zeng)(zeng)給他(ta)十(shi)(shi)五(wu)貫(guan)(guan)錢(qian)合伙(huo)開業。游(you)(you)葫蘆(lu)背負十(shi)(shi)五(wu)貫(guan)(guan)錢(qian)深夜歸(gui)家(jia)(jia),趁(chen)酒(jiu)興戲謂其(qi)養(yang)女蘇戍(shu)娟(juan)(juan),說(shuo)這十(shi)(shi)五(wu)貫(guan)(guan)錢(qian)是她(ta)(ta)的(de)賣(mai)身錢(qian),戍(shu)娟(juan)(juan)害怕,連夜出逃。戍(shu)娟(juan)(juan)走后(hou),賭徒無(wu)賴(lai)婁(lou)(lou)阿鼠(shu)(shu)潛入(ru)游(you)(you)家(jia)(jia)偷錢(qian),因(yin)被(bei)游(you)(you)葫蘆(lu)發覺,情(qing)急中(zhong)將游(you)(you)殺死后(hou)攜錢(qian)逃竄。天明(ming)后(hou),鄰居(ju)報官,認為(wei)(wei)(wei)戍(shu)娟(juan)(juan)可疑,連忙追(zhui)趕(gan)。戍(shu)娟(juan)(juan)逃至(zhi)(zhi)高橋,正遇友蘭(lan)(lan),因(yin)為(wei)(wei)(wei)同(tong)路,結伴同(tong)行(xing)(xing)。官差趕(gan)到,見(jian)友蘭(lan)(lan)攜錢(qian)適(shi)符十(shi)(shi)五(wu)貫(guan)(guan)之數,即以(yi)此為(wei)(wei)(wei)贓證,將二(er)人收(shou)監(jian)(jian)。這時(shi)過(guo)于(yu)(yu)執已(yi)調任常州(zhou)府(fu)理刑,此案(an)(an)便由過(guo)于(yu)(yu)執審理,竟(jing)又(you)定為(wei)(wei)(wei)死罪。兩案(an)(an)囚(qiu)犯一(yi)同(tong)被(bei)押解至(zhi)(zhi)蘇州(zhou),由太守(shou)況鐘監(jian)(jian)斬(zhan)。況鐘看出冤情(qing),便連夜請(qing)示(shi)巡按周忱要求復査,以(yi)官印為(wei)(wei)(wei)質方被(bei)應允。況鐘深入(ru)調査研究,從山(shan)陽(yang)友蕙(hui)家(jia)(jia)鼠(shu)(shu)洞(dong)中(zhong)找到被(bei)銜去的(de)十(shi)(shi)五(wu)貫(guan)(guan)錢(qian)和藥鼠(shu)(shu)面(mian)餅,真(zhen)相大(da)白(bai)。又(you)至(zhi)(zhi)無(wu)錫扮作(zuo)測字先生私(si)訪,從婁(lou)(lou)阿鼠(shu)(shu)口中(zhong)探得真(zhen)情(qing),并(bing)安排(pai)他(ta)自投羅網(wang),于(yu)(yu)是兩案(an)(an)昭雪(xue)。況鐘收(shou)蘇、侯二(er)女為(wei)(wei)(wei)義女,又(you)百般撮合她(ta)(ta)倆和熊氏兄(xiong)弟(di)(di)的(de)婚事,終于(yu)(yu)在熊氏兄(xiong)弟(di)(di)衣(yi)錦榮歸(gui)時(shi),請(qing)過(guo)于(yu)(yu)執為(wei)(wei)(wei)媒,友蘭(lan)(lan)與(yu)(yu)戍(shu)娟(juan)(juan),友蕙(hui)與(yu)(yu)三(san)姑結為(wei)(wei)(wei)夫婦。
該劇(ju)目(mu)有《古本戲(xi)曲叢刊》三集影印舊抄本,又有上(shang)海古籍出版社(she)1983年(nian)排印的校注本。