English Original
There was once a young soldier who fought bravely. When peace came, he was dismissed. With no home or family to return to, he wandered into a vast heath and despaired of his future.
Suddenly, a strange man in a green coat appeared. He offered the soldier endless wealth in exchange for a seven-year pact: the soldier must not wash, comb his hair, cut his nails, or pray. He must wear a bearskin cloak and sleep on it. If he died within seven years, his soul would belong to the stranger; if he lived, he would be free and rich forever. The soldier, recognizing the stranger as the Devil, agreed.
The Devil gave him a magical green coat with pockets always full of money and the skin of a bear he had just slain. The soldier became known as Bearskin.
For years, Bearskin roamed the world, his appearance growing monstrous with matted hair, long nails, and filth. People fled from him, but his gold always secured him shelter, especially as he gave generously to the poor, asking for their prayers.
In the fourth year, at an inn, he heard an old man weeping. Moved by compassion, Bearskin paid the man's debts and gave him a purse of gold. In gratitude, the old man offered him one of his three beautiful daughters as a wife.
The two eldest daughters were horrified by Bearskin's appearance and rejected him. The youngest, however, honored her father's promise, saying, "He who helped you must be a good man." Overjoyed, Bearskin gave her half of a broken ring as a token and left to complete his seven years, asking her to pray for him.
The faithful bride waited in black, enduring her sisters' mockery. Bearskin continued his travels, doing good deeds.
When the seven years ended, Bearskin met the Devil on the heath. The Devil angrily demanded his green coat back, but Bearskin insisted on being cleaned first. Reluctantly, the Devil washed him, combed his hair, and cut his nails, restoring his handsome appearance.
Bearskin, now clean and rich, arrived at his bride's house in a grand carriage. No one recognized him. The father and the two eldest daughters fawned over the handsome stranger. Only the youngest bride sat silently in black.
When Bearskin asked for a bride, the two eldest rushed to beautify themselves. Alone with his true bride, he dropped his half of the ring into her wine glass. She found it, matched it with her half, and realized he was her betrothed. He revealed himself, and they embraced.
The two jealous sisters, enraged that the handsome man was Bearskin and had chosen their younger sister, met tragic ends: one drowned herself, the other hanged herself. That evening, the Devil returned and told Bearskin, "See, I have now got two souls in the place of your one!"
中文翻译
从前有一位年轻的士兵，作战英勇。和平到来后，他被遣散了。无家可归的他流浪到一片荒原，对自己的未来感到绝望。
突然，一个穿着绿外套的陌生人出现了。他许诺给士兵无尽的财富，但条件是要订立一个七年之约：士兵不得洗漱、梳头、剪指甲或祈祷。他必须披着一张熊皮，睡在上面。如果七年内死去，他的灵魂将归陌生人所有；如果活下来，他将永远自由且富有。士兵认出陌生人是魔鬼，同意了。
魔鬼给了他一件魔法绿外套，口袋永远装满钱，还有一张刚被杀死的熊的皮。士兵从此被称为“熊皮人”。
多年里，熊皮人在世间游荡，外表变得像怪物一样：头发打结、指甲长长、浑身污垢。人们见到他就逃跑，但他的金子总能换来栖身之所，尤其是他慷慨施舍穷人，请求他们为他祈祷。
第四年，在一家旅店，他听到一位老人哭泣。熊皮人心生怜悯，替老人还清了债务，还给了他一袋金子。老人感激不尽，提出将自己的三个美丽女儿中的一个许配给他作为报答。
两个大女儿被熊皮人的外貌吓坏了，拒绝了他。然而，小女儿尊重父亲的诺言，说：“帮助您的人一定是个好人。”熊皮人欣喜若狂，将半枚断戒指作为信物交给她，然后离开去完成剩下的七年之约，请她为他祈祷。
忠贞的新娘身着黑衣等待，忍受着姐姐们的嘲弄。熊皮人则继续游历，行善积德。
七年期满，熊皮人在荒原上见到了魔鬼。魔鬼怒气冲冲地索要绿外套，但熊皮人坚持要求先把自己弄干净。魔鬼不情愿地打来水，给他洗澡、梳头、剪指甲，恢复了他英俊的容貌。
熊皮人如今干净而富有，乘着豪华马车来到新娘家。无人认出他。父亲和两个大女儿都对这位英俊的陌生人殷勤备至。只有那位身着黑衣的小女儿默默坐着。
当熊皮人提出要娶一位新娘时，两个大女儿急忙跑去梳妆打扮。单独与真正的新娘在一起时，他将自己的半枚戒指丢进了她的酒杯。她发现后，与自己的半枚戒指配对，认出他就是自己的未婚夫。他表明了身份，两人相拥。
两个嫉妒的姐姐发现这位英俊男子就是熊皮人，并且选择了妹妹，愤怒不已，结局悲惨：一个投井自尽，一个上吊身亡。当晚，魔鬼回来对熊皮人说：“看，我用你的一个灵魂换来了两个！”