明代山陽縣(xian)書生熊(xiong)(xiong)友(you)蘭(lan)、熊(xiong)(xiong)友(you)蕙兄弟(di),父母早亡,家境貧寒。兄友(you)蘭(lan)別弟(di)外(wai)出謀(mou)生,友(you)蕙則(ze)(ze)留(liu)家攻(gong)讀。友(you)蕙與(yu)(yu)鄰居(ju)(ju)馮玉(yu)(yu)吾(wu)的(de)童養媳(xi)侯三(san)(san)姑(gu)隔(ge)墻而(er)居(ju)(ju)。一(yi)日,馮玉(yu)(yu)吾(wu)將(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)金(jin)環(huan)(huan)(huan)一(yi)對(dui)及寶鈔(chao)十(shi)(shi)(shi)五(wu)貫(guan)交三(san)(san)姑(gu)收(shou)藏,夜(ye)間老鼠(shu)將(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)金(jin)環(huan)(huan)(huan)銜(xian)到友(you)蕙的(de)書架上(shang),十(shi)(shi)(shi)五(wu)貫(guan)錢(qian)(qian)(qian)則(ze)(ze)被銜(xian)入(ru)鼠(shu)洞。友(you)蕙見環(huan)(huan)(huan)大(da)喜,第二日,將(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)金(jin)環(huan)(huan)(huan)往(wang)馮店換錢(qian)(qian)(qian)使用。馮玉(yu)(yu)吾(wu)疑為(wei)(wei)(wei)玉(yu)(yu)姑(gu)私贈,當即(ji)命子(zi)(zi)找三(san)(san)姑(gu)索環(huan)(huan)(huan),其子(zi)(zi)誤食藥(yao)鼠(shu)面餅中毒而(er)死,馮玉(yu)(yu)吾(wu)即(ji)以(yi)金(jin)環(huan)(huan)(huan)為(wei)(wei)(wei)證,告友(you)蕙與(yu)(yu)三(san)(san)姑(gu)通奸,謀(mou)財(cai)害(hai)命。山陽縣(xian)縣(xian)官(guan)過(guo)(guo)于(yu)執(zhi)將(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)二人屈打成(cheng)招,定為(wei)(wei)(wei)死罪,并要(yao)友(you)蕙賠償十(shi)(shi)(shi)五(wu)貫(guan)寶鈔(chao)。卻說(shuo)友(you)蘭(lan)在船上(shang)做(zuo)舵手,一(yi)日聞客述山陽一(yi)案,知弟(di)遭難,急欲前往(wang)。無(wu)錫客商(shang)陶(tao)復(fu)(fu)朱贈銀(yin)十(shi)(shi)(shi)五(wu)貫(guan),即(ji)夕(xi)啟行。再(zai)說(shuo)無(wu)錫有開肉鋪的(de)游(you)葫(hu)蘆,因(yin)(yin)無(wu)本錢(qian)(qian)(qian),停業已久(jiu),其姐贈給他十(shi)(shi)(shi)五(wu)貫(guan)錢(qian)(qian)(qian)合伙開業。游(you)葫(hu)蘆背負(fu)十(shi)(shi)(shi)五(wu)貫(guan)錢(qian)(qian)(qian)深夜(ye)歸(gui)家,趁酒興(xing)戲(xi)謂其養女蘇(su)(su)戍(shu)娟,說(shuo)這(zhe)十(shi)(shi)(shi)五(wu)貫(guan)錢(qian)(qian)(qian)是(shi)她(ta)的(de)賣身(shen)錢(qian)(qian)(qian),戍(shu)娟害(hai)怕,連(lian)夜(ye)出逃。戍(shu)娟走后(hou),賭(du)徒(tu)無(wu)賴婁(lou)(lou)阿(a)(a)鼠(shu)潛入(ru)游(you)家偷(tou)錢(qian)(qian)(qian),因(yin)(yin)被游(you)葫(hu)蘆發覺,情(qing)急中將(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)游(you)殺死后(hou)攜(xie)錢(qian)(qian)(qian)逃竄。天明后(hou),鄰居(ju)(ju)報(bao)官(guan),認為(wei)(wei)(wei)戍(shu)娟可疑,連(lian)忙追趕。戍(shu)娟逃至(zhi)高橋,正(zheng)遇友(you)蘭(lan),因(yin)(yin)為(wei)(wei)(wei)同路,結伴同行。官(guan)差趕到,見友(you)蘭(lan)攜(xie)錢(qian)(qian)(qian)適符十(shi)(shi)(shi)五(wu)貫(guan)之數,即(ji)以(yi)此為(wei)(wei)(wei)贓證,將(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)二人收(shou)監。這(zhe)時過(guo)(guo)于(yu)執(zhi)已調任常(chang)州(zhou)府理刑,此案便(bian)由過(guo)(guo)于(yu)執(zhi)審理,竟又(you)定為(wei)(wei)(wei)死罪。兩案囚犯一(yi)同被押解(jie)至(zhi)蘇(su)(su)州(zhou),由太守況(kuang)(kuang)鐘監斬。況(kuang)(kuang)鐘看出冤情(qing),便(bian)連(lian)夜(ye)請示巡(xun)按周忱(chen)要(yao)求復(fu)(fu)査(cha),以(yi)官(guan)印為(wei)(wei)(wei)質方被應允。況(kuang)(kuang)鐘深入(ru)調査(cha)研究(jiu),從(cong)山陽友(you)蕙家鼠(shu)洞中找到被銜(xian)去的(de)十(shi)(shi)(shi)五(wu)貫(guan)錢(qian)(qian)(qian)和藥(yao)鼠(shu)面餅,真(zhen)相(xiang)大(da)白。又(you)至(zhi)無(wu)錫扮(ban)作(zuo)測字先(xian)生私訪,從(cong)婁(lou)(lou)阿(a)(a)鼠(shu)口中探(tan)得真(zhen)情(qing),并安排他自(zi)投羅網,于(yu)是(shi)兩案昭雪。況(kuang)(kuang)鐘收(shou)蘇(su)(su)、侯二女為(wei)(wei)(wei)義女,又(you)百般撮合她(ta)倆(lia)和熊(xiong)(xiong)氏兄弟(di)的(de)婚(hun)事,終于(yu)在熊(xiong)(xiong)氏兄弟(di)衣(yi)錦榮歸(gui)時,請過(guo)(guo)于(yu)執(zhi)為(wei)(wei)(wei)媒(mei),友(you)蘭(lan)與(yu)(yu)戍(shu)娟,友(you)蕙與(yu)(yu)三(san)(san)姑(gu)結為(wei)(wei)(wei)夫(fu)婦。
該劇目有《古本戲曲叢刊》三集影印舊(jiu)抄本,又有上(shang)海古籍出版社1983年排印的校注本。