明代山陽(yang)縣書(shu)(shu)生熊友蘭(lan)(lan)、熊友蕙(hui)兄(xiong)弟(di)(di),父(fu)母早亡,家(jia)境貧寒。兄(xiong)友蘭(lan)(lan)別弟(di)(di)外(wai)出謀生,友蕙(hui)則留家(jia)攻讀。友蕙(hui)與(yu)鄰(lin)居(ju)馮玉吾的童養媳(xi)侯三(san)(san)姑(gu)(gu)(gu)隔墻而居(ju)。一日(ri),馮玉吾將(jiang)(jiang)金環(huan)一對及寶鈔十五(wu)(wu)貫(guan)(guan)交三(san)(san)姑(gu)(gu)(gu)收(shou)藏,夜間老鼠(shu)將(jiang)(jiang)金環(huan)銜到(dao)友蕙(hui)的書(shu)(shu)架上,十五(wu)(wu)貫(guan)(guan)錢則被銜入(ru)鼠(shu)洞。友蕙(hui)見環(huan)大喜,第(di)二(er)(er)日(ri),將(jiang)(jiang)金環(huan)往馮店換錢使(shi)用。馮玉吾疑(yi)為(wei)(wei)玉姑(gu)(gu)(gu)私(si)贈,當即命(ming)子找三(san)(san)姑(gu)(gu)(gu)索環(huan),其(qi)子誤食藥鼠(shu)面餅中(zhong)(zhong)毒而死,馮玉吾即以金環(huan)為(wei)(wei)證,告友蕙(hui)與(yu)三(san)(san)姑(gu)(gu)(gu)通奸,謀財害命(ming)。山陽(yang)縣縣官過(guo)于(yu)執(zhi)(zhi)將(jiang)(jiang)二(er)(er)人屈打成招,定(ding)(ding)為(wei)(wei)死罪,并要(yao)友蕙(hui)賠償十五(wu)(wu)貫(guan)(guan)寶鈔。卻說(shuo)(shuo)友蘭(lan)(lan)在船上做舵手,一日(ri)聞客(ke)述山陽(yang)一案(an),知(zhi)弟(di)(di)遭(zao)難,急欲前往。無錫客(ke)商陶復朱贈銀十五(wu)(wu)貫(guan)(guan),即夕啟行(xing)。再(zai)說(shuo)(shuo)無錫有開肉鋪的游(you)(you)葫(hu)蘆(lu),因無本錢,停業已久,其(qi)姐贈給他十五(wu)(wu)貫(guan)(guan)錢合伙開業。游(you)(you)葫(hu)蘆(lu)背負十五(wu)(wu)貫(guan)(guan)錢深(shen)夜歸家(jia),趁酒興戲謂其(qi)養女(nv)蘇(su)戍(shu)娟(juan)(juan),說(shuo)(shuo)這(zhe)(zhe)十五(wu)(wu)貫(guan)(guan)錢是(shi)她的賣身錢,戍(shu)娟(juan)(juan)害怕(pa),連夜出逃。戍(shu)娟(juan)(juan)走后(hou),賭徒(tu)無賴婁(lou)阿鼠(shu)潛入(ru)游(you)(you)家(jia)偷(tou)錢,因被游(you)(you)葫(hu)蘆(lu)發覺,情急中(zhong)(zhong)將(jiang)(jiang)游(you)(you)殺死后(hou)攜(xie)錢逃竄(cuan)。天明后(hou),鄰(lin)居(ju)報官,認為(wei)(wei)戍(shu)娟(juan)(juan)可疑(yi),連忙追趕。戍(shu)娟(juan)(juan)逃至(zhi)高橋,正遇(yu)友蘭(lan)(lan),因為(wei)(wei)同路(lu),結伴同行(xing)。官差趕到(dao),見友蘭(lan)(lan)攜(xie)錢適符(fu)十五(wu)(wu)貫(guan)(guan)之數,即以此為(wei)(wei)贓證,將(jiang)(jiang)二(er)(er)人收(shou)監(jian)(jian)。這(zhe)(zhe)時過(guo)于(yu)執(zhi)(zhi)已調(diao)任常州(zhou)(zhou)府(fu)理刑,此案(an)便由(you)過(guo)于(yu)執(zhi)(zhi)審理,竟(jing)又定(ding)(ding)為(wei)(wei)死罪。兩(liang)案(an)囚犯一同被押解至(zhi)蘇(su)州(zhou)(zhou),由(you)太守(shou)況(kuang)鐘(zhong)監(jian)(jian)斬。況(kuang)鐘(zhong)看出冤情,便連夜請示巡按周忱(chen)要(yao)求復査,以官印為(wei)(wei)質方被應允。況(kuang)鐘(zhong)深(shen)入(ru)調(diao)査研究(jiu),從山陽(yang)友蕙(hui)家(jia)鼠(shu)洞中(zhong)(zhong)找到(dao)被銜去的十五(wu)(wu)貫(guan)(guan)錢和藥鼠(shu)面餅,真(zhen)相大白。又至(zhi)無錫扮(ban)作測字先生私(si)訪,從婁(lou)阿鼠(shu)口(kou)中(zhong)(zhong)探得(de)真(zhen)情,并安排他自投羅網(wang),于(yu)是(shi)兩(liang)案(an)昭雪。況(kuang)鐘(zhong)收(shou)蘇(su)、侯二(er)(er)女(nv)為(wei)(wei)義女(nv),又百般(ban)撮合她倆和熊氏兄(xiong)弟(di)(di)的婚事(shi),終于(yu)在熊氏兄(xiong)弟(di)(di)衣錦榮(rong)歸時,請過(guo)于(yu)執(zhi)(zhi)為(wei)(wei)媒(mei),友蘭(lan)(lan)與(yu)戍(shu)娟(juan)(juan),友蕙(hui)與(yu)三(san)(san)姑(gu)(gu)(gu)結為(wei)(wei)夫婦(fu)。
該(gai)劇目有《古本戲曲叢刊》三集影印舊抄(chao)本,又有上海古籍(ji)出版社1983年排(pai)印的校(xiao)注本。